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The "Second Islamic Revolution" in Iran: Power Struggle at the Top

(MEMRI) A. Savyon - Ahmadinejad's win in Iran's presidential elections signaled the coming of the "Second Islamic Revolution." The reformist camp has disappeared from the Iranian political scene, and the regime's center of gravity has shifted to the fundamentalist militaristic conservative group, which centers on clerics such as Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Mesbah-e Yazdi, and on members of the security establishment, particularly the Revolutionary Guards, the Basij, and the intelligence apparatuses. Unlike his predecessors, Ahmadinejad does not fear conflict with Europe and the international community, even at a high price to Iran. His statements, along with those of other senior Iranian officials, have made it clear that Iran is headed in the direction of conflict. According to the London daily Al-Hayat, former Iranian President Khatami said that Iran's extremists aspired "to imitate bin Laden" and were "giving the best justification for enemies to attack Islam and Iran." He added, "They are competing with the Taliban in calling for violence and in carrying out extremist crimes that are counter to the religion."
2005-11-17 00:00:00
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