The Dueling Ayatollahs
It's a rivalry rooted in esoteric religious debate, but this clash - between the two most dominant figures of Shiite religious authority - promises major consequences, both for Iran's clerical establishment, as well as their influence over Shiites around the globe. The most immediate impact is being felt in next-door Iraq - as it charts its own political path in the shadow of its neighbor.
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![The Dueling Ayatollahs The Dueling Ayatollahs](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2018/05/dueling-ayatollahs.jpg/dueling-ayatollahs.jpg?h=ba045b8c&itok=fc_sXgR5)
It's a rivalry rooted in esoteric religious debate, but this clash - between the two most dominant figures of Shiite religious authority - promises major consequences, both for Iran's clerical establishment, as well as their influence over Shiites around the globe. The most immediate impact is being felt in next-door Iraq - as it charts its own political path in the shadow of its neighbor.