While some political circles interpreted recent attacks by Ahmadinejad and his supporters ‎against the faction close to Hashemi Rafsanjani (who is a former President and Majlis ‎leader, and currently head of the Experts Assembly on the Leadership, among his other ‎posts) as signs of increasing control of hardliners over the Islamic Republic’s leadership, ‎recent anti-Ahmadinejad remarks from one of Qom Seminary School’s most prominent ‎ayatollahs and the Friday prayer leader of Shemiran (in northern Tehran) indicate that ‎Hashemi’s supporters among the clerics are not ready to abandon him in political ‎disputes just yet. ‎

Attacks by Ahmadinejad’s supporters against Hashemi and his close allies have ‎intensified in recent days. Ahmadinejad’s remarks at the University of Science and ‎Technology (Elam va Sanaat) pointed to the willingness of the ruling faction to challenge ‎the most important of its opponents. With Basiji students filling the audience, ‎Ahmadinejad attacked the Azad University’s managers and accused them of engaging in ‎politicking [Hashemi Rafsanjani serves on the board of directors of Azad University]. ‎

Ahmadinejad also attacked opponents of his nuclear policies and accused them of ‎supporting the enemy. He also implicitly confirmed “spying” charges against Hossein ‎Mousavian, former top nuclear negotiator and a close ally of Hashemi Rafsanjani. ‎

Ahmadinejad accused Hashemi’s supporters of pressuring the judge in the case to clear ‎Mousavian of spying charges. One of Hashemi’s supporters accused Ahmadinejad of the ‎same thing. Mohammad Atrianfar said, “They do not allow the judge in this case to close ‎the case, and have kept this case still open.” ‎

Political disputes between supporters of Hashemi and Ahmadinejad have been prevalent ‎in the two years since the 2005 presidential election. Often, with Iran’s Supreme ‎Leader’s involvement, the two end their disputes for a short time. ‎

A while ago Ahmadinejad admitted to the Supreme Leader’s involvement in a dispute ‎between him and Hashemi. When a student supporter of Ahmadinejad asked him why he ‎had not carried out his promise to reform the Azad University system, Ahmadinejad ‎implicitly admitted that he was asked by superiors not to allow new problems to surface ‎for the country in light of the nuclear crisis. ‎

It now seems that Ahmadinejad is facing a strong hurdle against his mission to ‎consolidate power: a traditional clergy that is challenging the empowerment of the new ‎radical forces at the expense of the traditional faction. ‎

A prominent religious instructor at the Qom Seminary School and high-ranking ayatollah, ‎Javadi Amoli, reportedly addressed Ahmadinejad this week, “Your recent actions have ‎endangered the reputation of Islam and the Quran.” This famous ayatollah turned down ‎an invitation from the President to attend a Quran festival. ‎

Hojatol-eslam Doagoo, Shemiran’s Friday prayer leader, also criticized the Ahmadinejad ‎administration. Noting Rafsanjani’s achievements, Doagoo attacked efforts to belittle ‎Rafsanjani’s achievements and role in the nuclear development. ‎