Ahmadinejad’s resistance “most audacious challenge to Khamenei”

NCRI – In a story about crisis at the very top of the Iranian regime, The Washington Post wrote: “Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the nation’s intelligence chief Heidar Moslehi remain in a cold war after Ahmadinejad wanted him gone but Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered him to stay, in a public slap to the president.”

The Post wrote: “Ahmadinejad lavishly praised Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But he added some jabs at those who sided with Khamenei in the showdown…. Ahmadinejad’s half-step contrition could say much about the tone of his final two years in office: humbled and diminished to some degree, but showing no intention of drifting quietly into a lame duck exit.”

Quoting experts, Washington Post added that the main message is that “Ahmadinejad has lost his favored-son status among the ruling clerics.”

When Ahmadinejad forced the resignation of the Intelligence Minister Haidar Moslehi, Khamenei “tossed it all back, reinstating Moslehi and prompting a 10-day disappearing act by Ahmadinejad, who stayed away from Cabinet meetings and other duties.”

Washington Post added: “The no-shows were interpreted as his most audacious challenge to Khamenei, the pinnacle of the Islamic leadership. Clerics, lawmakers and others warned Ahmadinejad to back down and return to work — which he did last week, but at a clear price.”