Even before Ebrahim Raisi’s win, it had long been apparent that some members of the office of the Supreme Leader were more acutely involved in the process than others. Deputy media director Mehdi Fazeli, for instance, waded into the public debate to insist that Khamenei’s views had no effect on the Guardian Council’s selections or the final result. Vahid Haghanian was not thought to be one such person. Some readers have interpreted his comments as an attempt to bolster his own waning relevance; others, to internal disputes he may be having with fellow officials in the Supreme Leader’s office. Either way, he remains a steward for Khamenei and without this, has little to no political clout of his own.
