The Leader said two of the members’ core tasks are to “counsel the Leader on the general policies of the Islamic system and regulate the execution of those policies.” But Rafsanjani said last year that the council can’t do any enforcement because Khamenehi has so far failed to approve the by-laws for how the council would discipline recalcitrant agencies. President Ahmadi-nejad, seated on the other side of the Supreme Leader, has boycotted Expediency Council meetings for almost three years. But Mohsen Rezai (at far left of the leadership row), secretary to the council, said Ahmadi-nejad has promised to cooperate more with the council in the future.