Demoted. The regime has issued a public notice (which they cannot do as an ayatollah is not a formal position) that Rafsanjani should no longer be referred to as an ayatollah in the Press or official correspondence and only a Hojat-ol-eslam (mid-level cleric).
Clerical titles depend on the number of followers you CLAIM to have and when you think yo have enough prominence you declare yourself an ayatollah.
A Grand Ayatollah requires two ayatollahs to declare that you are their religious mentor or source of religious advice.
Last week Khamenei dclared himself an Imam, on a par with Ayatollah Khomeini, founder of the regime. He is thus the direct emissary of Allah and must be obeyed just as Allah would be. Power play.
It seems regime infighting is getting serious. I wonder what move Rafsanjani would make by using his vast wealth. With such amount of money, he can certainly bankroll lots of activities.
Hmmm. What happens when two imams give conflicting orders?
Somebody.... PLEASE liberate Persia from the stench of Islam. This is another example of desecration of a World Heritage element. Persian culture is thousands of years old and is FAR more precious and far richer and deeper than any made up religion. These thugs should be shown the door (or the gallows) and Persia restored to its rightful place as preeminent culture on Earth. LIBERATE Persia!