The story: With around nine months to go before Iran’s next legislative elections, there are reports of growing discord among conservatives amid talk of a political comeback by the moderate camp. Speculations are rife that former president Hassan Rouhani (2013-21) and ex-parliament speaker Ali Larijani (2008-20)—both of whom hold moderate views—are planning to contest the parliamentary elections early next year.

This comes as Iran’s supreme leader has appeared in a one-to-one interview on the state broadcaster for the first time in almost a decade.

The coverage: Larijani, who opted against running for a seat in the parliament in 2020 after serving as its speaker for...