While Iran’s leadership continues to repress liberal dissenters, it feels secure enough to talk of “reconciliation” with parts of the “loyal” opposition – Ahmadinejad’s conservative and reform-oriented adversaries who want to preserve the Islamic system as such. Within the president’s camp as well, there are discussions about the post-Ahmadinejad era and possible successors to him – all, however, assuming regular presidential elections in 2013.