Iran's power struggle

[Al-khiyal]

[Al-khiyal]

[Al-khiyal]

[Al-khiyal]

[Al-khiyal]

Iran's president admits rift with ayatollah and senior Islamic figures

June 7, 2011 -- Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has admitted for the first time that a rift has developed between him and some of the most senior figures of the Islamic regime. In a press conference in Tehran on Tuesday, the first since news emerged of his power struggle with the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the president said: "It is very clear now that we are 180 degrees away from them – we are actually on opposite sides." He pointed the finger at ruling conservatives, who have accused the government of "revolutionary deviancy", while playing down suggestions that he has been at odds with Ali Khamenei.

In recent months, conservatives close to the supreme leader have launched an extensive campaign against the president and his allies, who they believe is undermining the supremacy of the leader. Senior figures in the powerful revolutionary guards and some of the most prominent clerics in the country who have supported Ahmadinejad in the past are now distancing themselves from him. Those who remain in his camp have faced accusations of "sorcery", "deviancy" and even espionage, and some presidential aides have been arrested.

"They arrested those people. Good for them," Ahmadinejad said. "Now they should let us continue our job. The government is seeking for nothing rather than serving the people and fulfilling the revolutionary aims." He refused to answer further questions about the power struggle and said: "Our position at the moment is to stay silent. An inspiring unity silence." Ali Khamenei's supporters believe Ahmadinejad has not publicly given his full backing to the supreme leader after they clashed over cabinet appointments in April.

Asked about Iran's nuclear programme, the president denied recent allegations made by the chief executive of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Yukiya Amano, that the country may be working on developing weapons. "With America's orders, the IAEA has written some things in a report that are against the law and against the agency's regulations. These have no legal value and aside from harming the agency's reputation it will have no other effect," Ahmadinejad told reporters. He also said no offer from world leaders could stop Iran enriching uranium and accused the U.S. and its allies of meddling in Syria and Bahrain.