Posted on 10/23/2007 5:30:46 AM PDT by Schnucki
TEHRAN, Iran: Hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may have gained greater powers in the short term by replacing Iran's top nuclear negotiator, but the move has alienated even conservatives who were once his supporters in a new weakening of his support at home.
The surprise resignation of Ali Larijani over the weekend has been widely interpreted as a victory for Ahmadinejad that could bring about an even tougher stance in ongoing nuclear talks with the West.
The move adds to questions over how much support Ahmadinejad has from Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the country's often murky internal politics. Larijani reported directly to Khamenei, who has final say in all state issues, and his replacement could not have occured without Khamenei's consent.
But that consent may not be a sign of the supreme leader's backing for the controversial Ahmadinejad. Some observers said Khamenei, who has been silent over the changes, may be giving the president more leeway on the nuclear dossier to be in a better position to reel him in if his policies lead to a new round of U.N. sanctions on Iran.
"Larijani's replacement leaves no pretext for Ahmadinejad to justify his failures in the future. His failures, despite being given a free hand, will only facilitate his humiliating exit from Iranian politics," political analyst Hamid Reza Shokouhi said.
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
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