This little tidbit should not fall under the radar with all that is happening on the nuclear front.Despite opening a session of the Assembly of Experts, Hashemi Rafsanjani was absent from the governing body during the second day of meetings, leaving hardliner Ahmad Khatami to instead deliver closing remarks.
In a written statement, the Assembly expressed appreciation for Khamenei's "wise policies" and renewed the body's faith and allegiance to the Supreme Leader. Moreover, congratulations were formally given to Ahmadinejad from the body, all while reiterating accusations of Western plots to overthrow the Islamic Republic.
This directly contradicts the stance that Rafsanjani, the head of the Assembly Experts, has taken publicly. His absence from the second day of this much-anticipated meeting is highly significant, for it undoubtedly relates to the tug-of-war that is going on behind the scenes between Khamenei and the more moderate clerics - Rafsanjani included. This is Rafsanjani's Assembly; why wouldn't he preside over it?
Moreover, in the closing statement Khatami said that the Rafsanjani "was in agreement with every line of the assembly's final statement." This is obviously doubtful, as Rafsanjani has already made his allegiances known, if so subtly. Either Khatami was putting out pro-regime propaganda (and thereby undercutting Rafsanjani), or as some are speculating, some sort of "deal" is brewing between Rafsanjani and Khamenei.
This would partially explain the top cleric's absence at the Assembly on the second day. If rumor is to be believed, his support for the Supreme Leader will beget concessions, and allegedly, Ahmadinejad's marginalization if not outright dismissal, impeachment, or resignation. It's another question, however, whether the coup government would ever surrender so easily, and that question is directly linked to the administration's actual loyalty to the Supreme Leader.
