With the bulk of seats decided in Iran’s parliamentary elections on Sunday, it appears the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, will have outright control of parliament and the political cover he needs to eliminate the position of President entirely. Khamenei suggested last October that Iran would be better off governed under a parliamentary system that chose the country’s prime minister. But Khamenei is not expected move against the office of president until Mr. Ahmadinejad’s second term expires in June 2013.

Many observers wonder what possible effect the political shift could have on Iran as it grapples with potentially more crippling sanctions or even military action from Israel and the West.

To discuss the ramifications of yesterday’s election results is Ahmed Sadri, professor of Islamic World Studies and Sociology at Lake Forest College.