to a select few which include the country's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, former nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani, former foreign minister Ali Akbar Velayati and the mayor of Tehran, Mohammad Baler Qalibaf, making it increasingly clear that the Supreme Leadership is pushing for a loyal conservative. For

tiator, has been mentioned, but generally there are few hardliners with national exposure. Other names mentioned have been former foreign minister Ali Akbar Velayati, who may have crossover appeal among all principlist wings, and former speaker of the Parliament Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, who will be the most like