They reluctantly played with liberal reform, relishing the legitimacy which a popular president like Mohammad Khatami brought between 1997 and 2004, but progressively undermining his policies.

• 他们很不情愿地同意进行自由主义改革，品味着当时很受欢迎的总统哈塔米1997年到2004年间带来的这个改革的合法性，而是逐步削弱他的政策。