Khamenei and Rouhani Dispute; Confrontation or Difference of Opinion?

Last week, the political scene in Iran witnessed a dispute between the Supreme Leader and the President. Ayatollah Khamenei expressed concern over the polarization of society, stating that the experience of 1979 and the presidency of Abolhassan Banisadr, which divided the people into supporters and opponents, should not be repeated. In response, Hassan Rouhani quoted the first Imam of Shia Islam, who believed that governance should be based on the will and votes of the people. Where will the disagreements between Khamenei and Rouhani lead? What do these disputes signify? In this week's program, we have discussed this topic with two experts: Mohammad Javad Akbarin, a religious scholar and political analyst in Paris, and Farrokh Negahdar, a political analyst in London. Farrokh Negahdar believes that the difference of opinion between the leadership and the presidency has a long history and that there has never been a period in the life of the Islamic Republic without some form of disagreement between the two. He argues that there is no confrontation or clash between Khamenei and Rouhani. Conversely, Mohammad Javad Akbarin states that Khamenei wants to exceed the boundaries set for him by the Constitution, and while past presidents have tolerated this, Rouhani has realized that tolerance is ineffective.