The biggest issue is not the process of dismissing the supreme leader, but selecting his replacement. Amidst the intense and serious struggle among the diversified fractions within the system, there is no general acceptance and legitimacy for another candidate. The absence of a supreme leader would be a threat to the integrity of the Islamic Republic and pose as a cause for collapse – which is perhaps why Rafsanjani has been silent during the protests. Sadegh Zibakalam, a close analyst of Rafsanjani says: “his main apprehension is keeping the system safe.” The Islamic Republic newspaper, which is known as Rafsanjani’s bulletin, was strongly supporting Moussavi in the elections but changed its tone after Ayatollah Khamenei’s speech: “All people, groups and strands have to respect the Supreme Leader for the sake of high expedients of the regime.” This is perhaps why a day after the Friday prayers in Tehran on 19 June, the Assembly of Experts demanded that people obey Ayatollah Khamenei’s orders. Even a moderate member of the assembly, Ayatollah Hashemzadeh Harisi – who is close to reformists – stated that “following the Supreme Leader’s commands is a religious obligation.”
