Return to Iran and the Farda Experiment
After earning his PhD, Tavakoli returned to Iran with renewed energy and launched another newspaper, Farda. This publication aimed to create an independent platform for elite and intellectual discourse, distinct from the prevailing partisanship of Iranian media.
Though Farda was short-lived, largely due to financial constraints and Tavakoli’s refusal to allow political factions or the state to fund it, it represented an early and bold attempt at independent journalism in post-revolutionary Iran. Political analyst Saeed Hajjarian once accused Tavakoli of misusing a loan to buy a printing press for Farda, but he later formally apologized, recognizing Tavakoli’s sincerity in pursuing anti-corruption ideals.
Legislative Career: Three Decades of Parliamentary Work
Tavakoli was elected to the first Majlis (1980–1984) as the representative from his hometown of Behshahr. Decades later, he returned to parliamentary politics as a conservative representative from Tehran in the seventh, eighth, and ninth Majlis (2004–2016). His influence peaked when he headed the Research Center of the Majlis, a position he held from the beginning of the seventh term to the start of the ninth.
Known for his sharp speeches, detailed economic critiques, and unwavering commitment to accountability, Tavakoli was one of the more independent-minded conservatives in the parliament. His critiques were not limited to reformists but extended to fellow conservatives and even presidents who were nominally aligned with his own camp.
He ran unsuccessfully in the 10th Majlis elections, securing only 35th place on the conservative coalition list in Tehran, thus failing to regain a seat.