Tehran Denies Discord in Response to Airliner Downing

Earlier this week, Rafsanjani sought to encourage international condemnation of the United States and to gain sympathy for the Iranian people. But not everyone in Tehran agrees with his pragmatism.Grand Ayatollah Hussein Ali Montazeri, who is considered Khomeini's likely successor and is without doubt Rafsanjani's leading rival for power, has called for attacks against American interests and property in response to the downing of the jet. However, the apparent difference between the two leaders may not be as sharp as it would seem at first.In fact, Rafsanjani denied that there were any such differences among senior leaders of the Iranian government. He said the seeming contradictions between his views and those of Ayatollah Montazeri were all part of a complementary policy debate. Read full story