Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was sworn in Wednesday for a second term in office as president of Iran, appealing for national unity and denouncing foreign interference in his inauguration speech before parliament.

During an April meeting of leaders from various countries in the Americas, President Barack Obama warmly, and very visibly, shook the hand of Hugo Chavez, Venezuela’s supremo for life, or for as long as he wants to be. Chavez gave Obama a book of anti-U.S. rants. The White House cautioned the administration did not expect gestures such as handshakes to change Chavez’s hostile attitudes and behavior. Nevertheless, critics argued that the high-profile nature of the Obama-Chavez exchange elevated Chavez’s international image.

Scenes of Iranian protests against the dubious re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad truly inspire. This takes real courage. Iran has not seen opposition demonstrations of this dimension since the Islamic Revolution brought down the Shah. As we said in an editorial following the election, the ayatollahs run the show. The New York Times reports that a power struggle could be occurring among the mullahs. The machinations are not easy for outsiders to fathom.

Hopes soared. NPR, for instance, aired reports of eager campaign crowds rooting for the election of Mir Hossein Mousavi as Iran’s new president. Mousavi rated as a relative moderate who promised reform and who enjoyed the support of the young. A Mousavi-led Iran presumably would be more open to the West and would allow for the liberation of social mores, particularly regarding women.

On Friday, Iran will hold a presidential election. Will voters grant Mahmoud Ahmadinejad four more years? Reports from the scene suggest Mir Mossein Mousavi, a former prime minister, has a chance. Although not a liberal in the Scandinavian sense, he represents the forces of reform. Iran’s economy is a mess. Mousavi’s more moderate image (he has criticized Ahmadinejad for denying the Holocaust) likely would elevate Iran’s international standing, thereby opening opportunities for investment and trade. Mousavi would govern with a lighter hand, too, although ultimate power in Iran rests not with the president and legislative bodies but with the grand ayatollah. The country remains an Islamic republic.

During the United Nations conference on racism, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivered a speech laced with anti-Semitism and filled with hatred of Israel. Diplomats from many nations walked out; the U.S. and others previously decided to boycott the proceedings precisely because they knew Israel-bashing would occur. From time to time experts detect signs of moderation in Iran. The young wear jeans, we are told, watch videos, and listen to hip-hop. The Iranian people share a curiosity about American culture as well. Serious sources speak of engaging Iran in profitable exchanges. The hostage crisis seems as ancient as the era of Cyrus—the Persian who allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem, their capital and home. It is time to move on.