Despite numerous efforts by rival political groups in Tehran to oust the ultra-conservative mayor, Alireza Zakani, he remains firmly in power. He operates with considerable autonomy and has effectively evaded all attempts at accountability. Following the presidential election in June, which saw a surge of hardliners from the presidential palace, the Tehran mayor has come under attack from both his conservative allies and his rival reformist politicians. The fracture within the conservative front has led to a backlash from his former allies, while the reformists seize the opportunity to expand …