In an unusual move during last Friday’s prayers “Supreme Leader” Ali Khamenei mentioned Rafsanjani. Rafsanjani is the Chairman of the Assembly of Experts and the Chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council of Iran. An appointed position that serves to resolve legislative conflicts between the Majlis (Iranian parliament) and the Council of Guardians. As such he hold the power to remove Khamenei from power.
During the last elections Ahmadinejad attacked Rafsanjani’s reputation on behalf of Khamenei. Rafsanjani is possibly the most powerful man in Iran, having the support of army and the majority of the Revolutionary Guard. People in Iran know that Rafsanjani ideologically opposes Khamenei and Ahmadinejad and to this day Rafsanjani has remained awkwardly silent about allegations of vote rigging in Iran’s last election.
The arrest of his daughter and subsequent release seems to have triggered something in the man. Rafsanjani is now waiting for the government to show the world the full extent of suppression Iranian feel under the current regime. He hopes that it will translate in a wave of support growing both in and outside Iran as he slowly erodes support for Khamenei amongst Iran’s politicians from behind the scenes. Politics in Iran is a more complicated matter than ever. As Rafsanjani builds his support he remains cautions about whom to trust. He allows the Revolutionary Guard commanders to choose their own sides. Either with the people or against them.
Once it’s clear who stands where, Rafsanjani will have the military, financial and clerical power to mobilize and execute his plans. The process may be slow but certain. When Rafsanjani speaks his followers listen.
Meanwhile violent protests continue all over Iran and despite the regime’s attempts to blackout information coverage news manages its way out. Much like the Washington Times journalist that was arrested, so was the entire staff and journalists at Kalame Newspaper last night.
Outside the UK embassy in Tehran, a Government and Basij organized demonstration is being held with chants like “Death to England” and “Death to the BBC”, but what the majority in Iran truly think is literally the writing on the wall in Tehran: “Death to the Dictator”.
Source : Tweets from Iran
Latest updates:
- The Nobel Peace Laureat Shirin Ebadi calls for International Political sanctions against the Iranian Government.
- IRNA journalist Maryam Zolfeghar was arrested today.
Author: Tanin
Tanin in an information technology consultant specializing in complex heterogeneous environments. He can be reached through multiple social networking sites including Twitter.
Unlike some other people I could mention, I will refrain from referring to myself in the third person. My name is Tanin Ehrami. You may know me from such plug-ins as 
