I'm not sure if this is a reason to celebrate yet, but Former Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani, who already heads the Expediency Council, received 41 votes to become the chairman of the Assembly of Experts -- "a group of 86 senior clerics charged with monitoring Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and choosing his successor." (NYT)
The Expediency Council arbitrates between legislators and another influential body called the Guardian Council, a hard-line constitutional watchdog.The 73-year-old former president is considered more moderate than current hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Rafsanjani defeated Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, an extremist within the hard-line camp who received 34 votes for the Assembly of Experts leadership, state-run television reported.
While Jannati is among the proponents of the theory that the legitimacy of Iran's clerics to rule the country is derived from God, Rafsanjani is believed to side with pro-democracy reformers who believe the government's authority is derived from popular elections.
Analysts said Tuesday's vote showed that moderate conservatives were gaining ground in Iran, where there is growing discontent directed at ruling hard-liners over rising tensions with the West and a worsening economy.
Publius Pundit asks, "What do you think about U.S. military action against Iran?" The general consensus here at Right Truth is --- BOMB BOMB BOMB IRAN. Go vote here.
See "Iran Gets Clean Bill of Health from IAEA." at Talking Liberties.
Get a roundup of Iranian news at The Corner.
My feeling is this -- unless they suddenly stop making their bomb (highly unlikely!), who becomes their next bigwhig is going to quickly become a moot point.
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