Iran cleric: Khamenei, Rafsanjani have 'fundamental differences'

An official from an important clerical body in Iran has publicly discussed some major differences between two of the most powerful clerics in Iran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani.

“Mr. Hashemi [Rafsanjani], in reality, has fundamental differences on some issues with Imam [late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini] and also Supreme Leader [Ayatollah Khamenei],” said Hojat al-Islam Abulghassem Alizadeh, political deputy head for the Council for Policy of Friday Prayer Leaders. The council is a powerful body that operates under purview of the supreme leader’s office. It designates Friday prayer leaders across the country and disseminates key points for Friday sermons.