In an article about the public battle at the very top of the regime, the New York Times wrote on June 22 that: Khamenei would find it difficult to break with Ahmadinejad entirely. Pushing Ahmadinejad into open opposition “would create further instability within a system still shaky after the pro-democracy protests that were violently suppressed in 2009. “
The New York Times quoted an author as saying that if Ahmadinejad sits at home and throws hand grenades, he will be difficult to control.
The Times added: “Some analysts suggested that Mr. Ahmadinejad might try to escalate the confrontation with world powers over Iran’s secretive nuclear program in an effort to prevent his own early demise.”
Regarding the power struggle at the highest level of the mullahs’ regime, the New York Times wrote that the current tug of war was expected to continue and that “if the fight becomes too pronounced, Ayatollah Khamenei might move to impeach him.”
