Iran's Ahmadinejad Could Be Forced to Resign

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may involuntary resign in the coming weeks following a recent political crisis, reports London's The Independent.

Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaee, a close friend and the president’s chief of staff, may lead the charge against Ahmadinejad, following the firing of two intelligence ministers and incensing of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei.

Three of Rahim-Mashaee’s confidants have been ousted in just three days this past week after being arrested by security agencies while Ahmadinejad stood by silent, The Independent reports.

Politicians are already contemplating who will succeed the president. Ali Akbar Salehi, the foreign minister and head of Iran’s atomic agency for four years, is currently the frontrunner.

Among the president’s staff, Mohamed Sharif Malekzadeh, who served briefly as foreign minister; Ali Asghar Parhizkar, director of the Arvand free trade zone; and Ali-Reza Moqimi, have all been accused of corruption.

This charge carries heavy implications in the Islamic world as “corruption on earth” and “an enemy of God” are only divided by a fine line that is often blurred.