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The Dueling Ayatollahs

It's a rivalry rooted in esoteric religious debate, but this clash - between the two most dominant figures of Shiite religious authority - promises major consequences, both for Iran's clerical establishment, as well as their influence over Shiites around the globe. The most immediate impact is being felt in next-door Iraq - as it charts its own political path in the shadow of its neighbor.

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It's a rivalry rooted in esoteric religious debate, but this clash - between the two most dominant figures of Shiite religious authority - promises major consequences, both for Iran's clerical establishment, as well as their influence over Shiites around the globe. The most immediate impact is being felt in next-door Iraq - as it charts its own political path in the shadow of its neighbor.

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