Khamenei orders Ahmadinejad to reverse VP choice

According to Press TV, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution has ordered President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to reverse his VP pick in a letter, “The removal of Rahim-Masha’i from key positions and presidential deputies is the collective decision of the political establishment.”

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has come under major criticism within his own circle of allies after appointing the controversial figure and his son’s father-in-law, Esfandyar Rahim-Masha’i as his vice president, according to Haaretz.

Mashaei has been quoted as saying, “Today, Iran is friends with the American and Israeli people,” by Fars News Agency, according to PrintEnNews. This remark has brought forth a flood of criticism in the country against Mashaei and now President Ahmadinejad.

Twitterers shadowed in green sense a possible rift in the regime:

zorinsmom RT @oxfordgirl Ironic Ahmadinejad in trouble for Vp pick because the guy said that Israeli ppl not Iran’s enemy. #Iranelection #Iran #gr88 21 Jul 2009 from web

Simurgh6 The amount of dissent a gov’t tolerates is a measure of strength, not weakness. Khamenei, your gov’t is weak. #gr88 #neda #iranelection 21 Jul 2009 from web

GreenQuran Very soon Khamenei will appear on TV & say, “sorry I was wrong & I’m going to correct d regime”, but now d movement is irreversible #iran 21 Jul 2009 from web

persianbanoo Today Khamenei ordered Ahmadi’s 1st deputy to resign.Ahmadi officialy responded “NO”. #iranelection http://twubs.com/iranelection 21 Jul 2009 from Twubs

ksquared3 “Rift In The Regime? Showdown between Khamenei and Ahmadi?” http://tinyurl.com/kjggzw Daily Dish 21 Jul 2009 from web

DavidForbes For those of you still following events in Iran — Khamenei and Ahmadinejad split over VP choice. http://bit.ly/19JJlE Protests continue. 21 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck

AnneDanmark RT @vimal55 …name of the new game: Khamenei aigainst Ahmadinejad….hope both loose and you win a new #iranelection 21 Jul 2009 from web

Dputamadre Khamenei Fires Ahmadinejad’s Deputy; Ahmadinejad Aid Fights Back http://bit.ly/15bicN via @AddToAny #iranelection 21 Jul 2009 from AddToAny

nostosd3 RT @oxfordgirl: RT @libra0071: possible plot by Khamenei & son to assassinate AN & blame Moussavi or SoG http://elections.7rooz.com/ 21 Jul 2009 from web

iranlaya RT @EANewsFeed: #IranElection: Press TV Sides w #Khamenei over #Ahmadinejad in dispute over 1st VP http://bit.ly/1LEXOM #iran #politics 21 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck