THE AYATOLLAH OUTRANKS MAHMOUD:

Iran's judiciary chief lauds U.S.-Iraqi pact (AP, 11/17/08)

[T]he positive comments by judiciary chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi and in the state media signaled Tehran may be taking a realistic view — that no matter what it dislikes in the deal, it will eventually mean the departure of the Americans. [...]

Shahroudi is very close to Iran's top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and his comments reflect thinking of conservatives within the ruling system, but not all hard-liners or President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

State media in Iran also toned down its opposition to the agreement.