A politician is a professional who participates and has a say in how a government is run. Politicians can work on a local, state or national level and are either elected into office or appointed by a leader who is in office. His academic background gives him credibility in both scholarly circles and policy circles, enabling a bridging function between cultural/intellectual apparatus and its strategic/political apparatus. For students of politics, Ashna is a useful case study of how culture and communication become embedded in elite policymaking, not just rhetoric.
His role as a “moderate/reform‐aligned” advisor has sometimes put him at odds with more conservative or hardline factions in Iranian politics. Some of his statements (such as the “dog” remark) have been viewed as insensitive or politically tone‐deaf. The legal conviction (publishing lies) marks a noteworthy blemish on his public record, reflecting the strictness of media/political regulatory environment. Wikipedia His departure from CSS and changing political fortunes reflect the shifting dynamics in presidency, the Revolutionary Guards, intelligence apparatus, and cultural policy domains.
