The 2013 Iranian Presidential Election is seen as possibly telling us what is happening with the second horn’s attempt at displacing the supreme leader as top ruler in Iran. The winner of the election may give us an indicator of how close the IRGC is to seizing power. Any displacement of the supreme leader would be part of the opening scene of the Second Signpost.
We figured it was a fairly sure thing that Rafsanjani and Mashaei would be rejected as candidates for the 2013 Iranian Presidential Election coming up in June. Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani would represent moderates and reformers which would simply encourage a repeat or worse of the 2009 riots when he doesn’t win. As it has become apparent from the 2009 election, the only candidate that will win is the one that the IRGC wants to be the winner. And Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei is an ally of Ahmadinejad who has fallen out of favor with both the supreme leader and the IRGC.
What these two eliminations mean is that there is no chance for Iran’s regime to have any reform giving more freedoms, and there is no chance of the regime deviating from the IRGC’s purposes. This story from the Wall Street Journal –
Iran Bars Prominent Candidates From Ballot
Vetting Panel Stops Reformist, Ahmadinejad Aide From Vying in June Presidential Vote, Limiting Hopefuls to Tehran Loyalists
Categories: In The News, Signpost #2: Iran
THE FOUR SIGNPOSTS 
It won’t be long now to see what the strength of the IRGC really is and the coming election will be a litmus test in that respect. Any tolerance by the IRGC of even minimal freedoms for the average Iranian is seemingly lost and Iran is doomed to continue the maddening ideology of radical Islam as they seek to fulfill what they see as their mission in life. There is still time for a possible change at the last minute, but if not then which hard-liner will win is now the question. Time will tell. Keep reporting, Mark!