Esfandyar Batmanghelidj
A key misunderstanding about Iran is the belief that "clerics" hold significant power. This power has been consistently eroded since 1979. There are clerics who have recently been in positions of authority, with the ability to shape state policy, (Rouhani, Taeb, Raisi etc.), but
Gregg Carlstrom
"Military hardliners are grabbing power from clerics. That could mean they try to extricate themselves from the war now in order to fight another day. But in the medium term it could signal that the regime becomes more extreme, not more pragmatic." https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2025/06/23/fierce-hardliners-are-grabbing-power-in-iran