Iranian rulers must face demands of population

Iran's theocratic rulers have seen off a US military campaign but their real problems may be about to begin: managing the competing demands of hardliners buoyed by surviving the onslaught and those of ‌an impoverished, angry people.

Iran's powerful hardliners are energized by a three-month confrontation they feel Iran has won.

They want the leadership to take a tough stance in coming talks with the US and prioritise rearming, confident they can halt any internal dissent with force.

Ordinary Iran ...