The conflict between Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and religious leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei may result in Ahmadinejad’s resignation, an Armenian expert said.

“Even if the resignation doesn’t take place, it’s obvious that Iran is preparing for this,” Noravank Foundation deputy chairman Sevak Sarukhanyan told a news conference in Yerevan.

“The religious leader is governing the country, what can be seen from local media publications,” he noted.

“According to unofficial data, the head of Ahmadinehad’s administration and possible designee for the presidential post, Rahim Mashaei is under house arrest on accusations of misappropriations and black art,” Sarukhanyan said. “What’s going on is a confrontation between the old and young generations of the Iranian authorities. The country is preparing for the political struggle expected during the 2012 parliamentary election.”