To start with, all prominent figures of the “loyal opposition” boycotted the event at the last minute. Of the three defeated candidates, only retired Gen. Mohsen Rezai Mir-Qaed put in an appearance. Nearly half the members of the Islamic Majlis, Iran’s ersatz parliament, were absent — along with most members of the Assembly of Experts, a body of 92 mullahs who are supposed to supervise the work of the “Supreme Guide.” Some senior members of the military-security establishment were also absent, indicating that the split affects even the so-called “deep state.”…

Mousavi and Mehdi Karrubi, the other defeated candidate, had agreed to lead a mass march to the university campus to highlight Khamenei’s increasing isolation — but later changed their minds, deciding not to force a confrontation that could have led to either the downfall of the regime or bloody repression by the security forces.

Instead, they have called for mass public prayers today throughout Iran with the promise of keeping on the pressure at least until the end of the 40-day period of mourning for the 19 protesters killed by the security forces in Tehran, Tabriz and Shiraz.

The showdown is set to continue. Ahmadinejad has all but disappeared from view, leaving Khamenei as field commander — something unprecedented in the 30-year history of the Khomeinist regime.