Ahmadinejad power in decline?

WASHINGTON, May 26 (UPI) -- The power of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is declining following a very public row with the country's ruling cleric, political analysts say.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei backed Ahmadinejad after bloody clashes erupted in opposition to his contested re-election in 2009. Meanwhile, Iranian officials are moving against Ahmadinejad as he tried to reshuffle parts of his administration, including at the key Oil Ministry.

Alireza Nader, an Iranian expert at the U.S. think tank Rand Corp., told CNN that Ahmadinejad's latest troubles show his power is in decline.

"I think it's a symptom of the general dissatisfaction with President Ahmadinejad that his powers and movement are being curtailed by the various power centers in Iran," he said.

Several of the members of Ahmadinejad's inner circle are the recent targets of investigations in Iran, including one official accused of sorcery.

Ahmadinejad has been at odds with Khamenei over a series of ministerial positions. Ahmadinejad tried to sack Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi because the intelligence agency was allegedly spying. Khamenei blocked the move, however.

Haleh Esfandiari, director of Middle Eastern studies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center, told CNN that Ahmadinejad is up against the wall in Tehran.

"I think Ahmadinejad underestimated the power of Khamenei, and he overestimated his own power," he said. "You can step on anybody's toes, but not on his toe."