Immortal Khamenei?
Rumors that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has died began circulating yesterday in Tehran’s bazaar. Today, Iranian bloggers report an “abnormal atmosphere in the city” and increased presence of plainclothes agents in the capital. Such rumors circulate from time to time. Obviously, every rumor about Khamenei’s death to date has been false, but the ferocity of the rumors both reflect the opacity of information about Iran’s decision-making class, and the wishful thinking of a public that blames Khamenei and his cohorts for betraying the promises of freedom and democracy which underpinned the revolution.
It is worth considering, however, that one day, rumors of Khamenei’s demise will be true. Like taxes, death is certainty. What is uncertain, however, is what would follow.
The passing of Khamenei would represent a seismic shift in the Islamic Republic’s power equations. With no successor-designate, Khamenei’s death would unleash a huge power strugglehttp://blog.american.com/?p=6148
Source: Journal of American Enterprise Institute
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