In an interview with Iran Press Service, Dr. Mozaffari, a veteran analyst of Iranian affairs said if Mr. Khatami succeeds in his bid to replace Mr. Khameneh'i as leader, the present theocracy, which is battered by rivalries and feuds between the ruling conservatives and the classic reformers in the one hand and plagued by economic hardship could be saved from collapsing.

"With reforms being almost shelved and Mr. Khatami not being able to implement any of his electoral promises, the Islamic Republic is approaching fast the end of its road. But if the conservatives accept Khatami replacing Mr. Khameneh'i, then the situation might reverse", Mr. Mozaffari said during a telephone conversation from his residence in Copenhagen.

In his view, the appointment of Mr. Khatami as leader not only is compatible with the regime's interests, but it would also preserve the system.

Dr. Mozaffari cited the example of the late Grand Ayatollah Roohollah Khomeini who, despite his immense influence and power, would never intervene in the running of the government, leaving it to the then Prime Minister, Mr. Mir Hoseyn Moosavi.

In his opinion, clerics at the Assembly of Experts, the only institution that has the possibility of demoting the leader, the revolutionary guards, the bulk of the nation inside Iran, in the one hand, the United States and the European Union, on the other, would all welcome Khatami as leader.

He pointed out that the election of Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Khatami as president in 1997 provided the Islamic Republic with a new legitimacy both at home and outside. "The election of Mr, Khatami saved the regime from isolation, offered the western, mercantilist powers the occasion to co-operate with the Islamic Republic, while pushing the dissidents to defensive position", Dr. Mozaffari said.

He said that in order that to "please" the hard liners, Khatami opposed the idea of organising a referendum aimed at amending the Constitution, saying whoever talks about referendum is a traitor.

He also noted that the hard line "Keyhan" newspaper which is the mouthpiece of radical hard liners not only do not attack anymore Mr. Khatami, but it even criticise the neo-reformists and others who criticise the president over his record sheet.

"The fact is that some reformists, knowingly or not, have accepted the essence and fundaments of the Islamic fascism, and are trying, against some advantages, put a mask on the face of one of the ugliest regimes of the world", he further added.

Mr. Mozaffari said though until now the idea of reforms had stabilised the theocracy and saved it from possible collapse, but now new forces, who might be described as "neo-reformers" have overtaken the old guard, calling not for reforms, but outright changes, starting with the concept of velayat, or leadership.

He said though it is very difficult to discern what the Iranian people exactly want, yet, observing the dangerous level of unemployment, the widespread of young prostitution and use of hard drugs, generalised corruption at high places and among the clerical leaders, the dangerous brain drain etc, one can conclude that the people are not satisfied from this regime.