as the leader of Iraqi Shias. Shahrudi opened an office in Najaf several weeks ago, further feeding the speculation, although Shahrudi did not appear in Najaf for the opening. Now Shahrudi has moved to bury all the talk. His office issued a statement saying flatly that Shahrudi was not moving to Najaf. Shahrudi is an ethnic Persian who was born in Najaf (where his father was a cleric) and speaks fluent Arabic. Sistani is also an ethnic Persian, but speaks Arabic with a thick Persian accent. More importantly, Sistani will have nothing to do with the Khomeini governing philosophy of velayat-e faqih or rule by a senior clergyman. Sistani sticks by the old tradition that clerics should stay out of government. Shahrudi was the chairman of Iran’s Judiciary for 10 years. Since leaving that post in 2009, he has been one of the 12 members of the Council of Guardians.