We must institutionalize reforms. But that means many things to many people. Across Iran's huge capital, from the gritty bazaar district in the south to the walled villas in the north, there are countless interpretations and expectations about the anticipated Khatami landslide. Other concerns may come from rural and more traditional areas, but Tehran's sprawl of nearly 10 million people offers a reflection of the country's spectrum from almost medieval poverty to Western-standard affluence. Khatami has planted seeds for change.
Money is king in the bazaar.
I like Khatami. But I'd like him even more if he starts creating some jobs. Official unemployment is 16 percent, but some experts place it close to 30 percent. A vast segment of Iran's 62 million people struggle in deep poverty in a nation with extensive oil and gas reserves. But not all are suffering.