Tuesday
Jul142009
Iran: Facing the Rubicon of the Supreme Leader's Authority
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 15:29
The Latest from Iran (14 July): Ripples on the Surface
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Long, off-the-record discussion with some well-informed Iranian colleagues this morning. They spoke of the divisions amongst Iran's clerics over the conduct of the election and its aftermath. One indication that can be revealed is the closing statement of Ayatollah Reza Ostadi, leading Friday prayers at Qom, that he would not do so again in the near-future. Ostensibly, this was for health reasons, but the impression is that Ostadi and other ayatollahs wish to avoid public appearances until there is some resolution.
One colleague made the important point that there is a debate over whether the Iranian system of velayat-e-faqih, granting the ultimate powers to clerical leadership, extends to the holder of the office. In other words, while the general position of Supreme Leader is to be respected as the highest authority, that respect does not necessarily have to be given to an individual who does not fulfil the duties of the position, in this case, Ayatollah Khamenei.
It is that Rubicon that both Iranian politicians and clerics now face and that they hesitate at crossing. In that sense, the statements of Ayatollah Montazeri are above the waterline of the current challenge. The wider and more important issue is not a question of whether the clerics are supporting the Supreme Leader or the President but whether they dare to raise the issue of Khamenei's authority openly. The issue is whether political leaders like Rafsanjani or Mousavi push dissent to the point where the system itself is strained.
And it is because of those issues that the search for compromise has intensified in recent days. If that compromise is not possible, then it is once more back to the Rubicon.
Receive our latest updates by email or RSS- SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEED
Long, off-the-record discussion with some well-informed Iranian colleagues this morning. They spoke of the divisions amongst Iran's clerics over the conduct of the election and its aftermath. One indication that can be revealed is the closing statement of Ayatollah Reza Ostadi, leading Friday prayers at Qom, that he would not do so again in the near-future. Ostensibly, this was for health reasons, but the impression is that Ostadi and other ayatollahs wish to avoid public appearances until there is some resolution.One colleague made the important point that there is a debate over whether the Iranian system of velayat-e-faqih, granting the ultimate powers to clerical leadership, extends to the holder of the office. In other words, while the general position of Supreme Leader is to be respected as the highest authority, that respect does not necessarily have to be given to an individual who does not fulfil the duties of the position, in this case, Ayatollah Khamenei.
It is that Rubicon that both Iranian politicians and clerics now face and that they hesitate at crossing. In that sense, the statements of Ayatollah Montazeri are above the waterline of the current challenge. The wider and more important issue is not a question of whether the clerics are supporting the Supreme Leader or the President but whether they dare to raise the issue of Khamenei's authority openly. The issue is whether political leaders like Rafsanjani or Mousavi push dissent to the point where the system itself is strained.
And it is because of those issues that the search for compromise has intensified in recent days. If that compromise is not possible, then it is once more back to the Rubicon.