This development increases the cooperation between Iran and Russia in the energy sector, a field where Russia is seeking to play a more prominent role. It also reduces the mutual interests between Iran and EU. This adds to incessant decline in the volume of trade between Iran and EU countries.

An increasing number of Iranian businesses, both semi-private ones and private entrepreneurs, had to start working with Chinese and Russian counterparts. Their European partners halted their business dealings with Iran following the sanctions. This has weakened those who advocate accommodating EU countries and UN Security Council over its nuclear issues. They had been arguing that Iran’s persistence has cost its economy dearly. However shifting the major business interest to Russia and China has enabled the government to argue that Iranian businesses do not have any common ground with EU any more.

The unfortunate fact is that EU partners in Iran are mainly private sector, while Iranian firms in the new business ventures are either publicly owned or are related to the public institutions. One wonders if sanctions are hurting Iranian private sector most, the only group that actually have incentives to encourage moderation.

According to Islamic law a man and a woman can say their vows themselves and be married, as simple as that, however like everywhere else marriage is no simple affair in Iran. Usually a clergy or a licensed person or sometimes a well-established judge performs the ceremony and then the marriage is registered in the official registry. In the past centuries performing marriage ceremony has been one of the sources of income for the clergies, although it never has been their monopoly.

Still in this ceremony the authority is not that of the office, but it rests with the couple. Those who perform the ceremony ask for the power of attorney first to perform the ceremony and they say their religious vows on behalf of the couple. (This is the part that a bride should wait three times to say; “yes”)

It has been a long and ancient custom to have this ceremony performed by an individual of high standing in the society and good reputation. Thus many grand ayatollahs, Sufis, men famous for their honesty or virtues are usually asked to perform this ceremony. Former President Khatami is no exception in this matter. The photo, taken from http://www.webneveshteha.com/, shows him after performing the ceremony for Amir Mehdi Jouleh a screenplay writer.

What is interesting about this photo? Well in a society where wearing a tie is officially and usually discouraged how often you see a former president with a groom who is wearing a pink tie!