Rafsanjani makes peace with Khameni

While Mousavi continues to challenge the establishment and demand a new vote altogether, Rafsanjani one of his richest most powerful supporters has distanced himself from him and even moreso from the protesters. Some of Sanjani's relatives were involved in the demonstrations and were even briefly arrested. The family patriarch has no doubt laid down the law rather than joining them in a direct confrontation. None of the defeated candidates have chosen to bring their complaints before the official body.

These quotes are from PressTV.

"The developments following the presidential vote were a complex conspiracy plotted by suspicious elements with the aim of creating a rift between the people and the Islamic establishment and causing them to lose their trust in the system," Rafsanjani said Sunday. "Such plots have always been neutralized whenever the people have entered the scene with vigilance."

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Hashemi-Rafsanjani urges fair vote probeSun, 28 Jun 2009 18:22:44 GMTHead of Iran's Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani has called for a "fair and thorough" study of the legal complaints made about the disputed presidential election. "The developments following the presidential vote were a complex conspiracy plotted by suspicious elements with the aim of creating a rift between the people and the Islamic establishment and causing them to lose their trust in the system," Rafsanjani said Sunday. "Such plots have always been neutralized whenever the people have entered the scene with vigilance." Following the June 12 election, which saw President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad re-elected to a second four-year term, Iran became the scene of rallies with defeated candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi rejecting the result as fraudulent and demanding a re-run. In his Sunday remarks, Rafsanjani praised the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei for extending by five days the Guardian Council's deadline to review issues pertaining to the elections and removing the ambiguities surrounding it. "This valuable move by the Leader to restore the people's confidence in the election process was very effective," he said. He expressed hope that "those who are tasked with this issue (election) can thoroughly and fairly review and study the legal complaints." On Saturday, the Expediency Council called on all defeated candidates in the disputed presidential election to legally pursue their complaints through the proper channels. “As the best and most appropriate way, the Expediency Council asks all to observe the law and resolve conflicts and disputes [concerning the election] through legal channels,” the council said in a statement. The statement came after the Guardian Council on Thursday announced that it would form a special committee to investigate the June 12 election. Mousavi has rejected the offer of a partial recount, refusing to cooperate with the Guardian Council's special commission. Karroubi has also refused to send a representative to the commission. He has criticized what he considers the "lack of impartiality" among the group's members, some of whom have publicly supported President Ahmadinejad. The third candidate, Mohsen Rezaei, will not be sending a representative to the commission either. SF/HGH
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Even the BBC shows a glimmer of understanding of the power struggle in Iran.

This is from the BBC. This should be contrasted with CNN in its Iran 101 a supposed intro lecture on what is happening. CNN does not even mention the power struggle between Khameni and Rafsanjani and does not even have a profile of Rafsanjani as if he is of no importance! As this article points out Rafsanjani is the head of the Assembly of Experts who elect, surpervise and can theoretically dismiss the Supreme Leader. I do not even see this group mentioned in the CNN coverage. I didn't look at Fox News if anyone knows if they have done a better job let me know! The United States would no doubt like Rafsanjani to win out. He is corrupt, rich, and for accomodation with the West if it will make him even richer and more powerful! Obama is rightly being very subdued in his reactions although the State Dept. asked Twitter not to shut down for maintenance in order that protesters could continue using it. Of course the standard refrain in the western media is that Ahmadinejad stole the election rather than that Mousavi having lost is now trying to steal it through demonstrations and his ability to rally large numbers of people, at least in Tehran.

Deep rivalry
Meanwhile, a separate power play is going on at the top of the political system.

Former President Rafsanjani is backing the opposition
Ayatollah Khamenei has staked his political life on his unequivocal support for President Ahmadinejad's re-election victory.
He has many cards in his hand. He is the supreme commander of the armed forces. He is also loyally supported by the Guardian Council, which is reviewing the election result. Until now , no-one ever dared question his authority - at least openly.
But on the other side is former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who has been backing the opposition campaigns.
As the election began, it became clear he wanted revenge against President Ahmadinejad, who beat him in the presidential election four years ago.
And there is probably a deeper rivalry with the supreme leader himself, whom Mr Rafsanjani helped to power when he succeeded Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989.
The rivalry really erupted when President Ahmadinejad accused Mr Rafsanjani's family of corruption during one of the televised presidential debates.
They may be arguing over a disputed election. But they are really arguing over the future of the country. A momentous, titanic struggle, whose outcome no-one can predict
It is an accusation many Iranians might suspect is true, but the manner in which it was made caused outrage.
Mr Rafsanjani wrote an unprecedented letter to the supreme leader, calling him to act, and issuing a remarkable threat.
If nothing was done, "the volcanos fed inside burning chests will appear in society, as exemplified by gatherings we have seen in streets, squares and universities".
The flames, Mr Rafsanjani warned, would spread "through the elections and beyond".
Mr Rafsanjani has some powerful tools.
He heads the Assembly of Experts, the body of clerics in charge of electing, supervising and dismissing the supreme leader.
For them to take action would indeed be unprecedented. But Mr Rafsanjani recently won re-election with a big majority. And Ayatollah Khamenei has many enemies amongst the clerical establishment.
Mr Rafsanjani also heads the Expediency Council, which mediates on disputes between other organs of government. Not to mention his almost legendary wealth.
Do not underestimate the fervour of supporters on both sides.
There may be government supporters encouraged or bussed to demonstrations, but there are many who also genuinely adore Mr Ahmadinejad.
And for the opposition, the disputed election has unleashed years of frustration over a system that prevents them from meeting their aspirations.
They may be arguing over a disputed election. But they are really arguing over the future of the country. A momentous, titanic struggle, whose outcome no-one can predict.