Iran Revolutionary Guards condemn protests as preconceived conspiracy

Commander Ali Fazli

Revolutionary Guards commander Brigadier-General Ali Fazli, who was in charge of suppression of the post-election protests in Iran, claimed the “sedition” was organized with the potential of four army divisions. The Revolutionary Guards were in charge of Tehran’s security for two months following the disputed presidential elections in Iran. During these two months numerous political activists were arrested and tens of people died in the violent crackdown on protesters.

While the opposition has repeatedly denied the charge that the mass demonstrations which followed the disputed announcement of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s victory were pre-arranged, the conservatives and the Revolutionary Guards in particular, have tried to portray the outburst of protests as a preconceived plan.

According to Fars news agency, Commander Fazli claimed the “sedition” was organized from three months prior to the June elections with the potential of four army divisions and twenty active committees. He added that the committees aimed at attacking the conservative candidates to secure the election of the reformist candidates and if “this did not happen, to spread the allegation of fraud and along these lines, they lit the fire of sedition.”

MirHosein Mousavi, the disputing candidate of the presidential elections, announced his victory on the night of the election. According to Commander Fazli, this announcement was Mr. Mousavi’s signal to start the “sedition” and the following day was the start of gathering crowds and “destruction of public property.”

According to the Revolutionary Guards Commander, in the post-election events, “suspicious elements” attacked Basij headquarters in 11 major cities.

Mr. Fazli described the post-election protesters and their leaders as a “seditious group” trying to topple the government and destroy the “supreme leadership.”

MirHosein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, the two disputing candidates of the elections, have repeatedly announced that they simply want the annulment of the elections and that their demands are completely in line with the Islamic Republic constitution.