Opposition leaders condemned by Iran supreme leader

Ayatollah Khamenei

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei accused reformist leaders of the “great crime” of making “baseless” claims that the recent elections were “false.” Mr. Khamenei maintained that in the early hours of the elections, he sent a “private” message to “manipulating elements” telling them that “you are about to start certain issues that will be exploited by others and you won’t be able to control the consequences.”

Mr. Khamenei was referring to MirHosein Mousavi publicly announcing his certain victory on the eve of June 12 which was later refuted by the establishment and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was announced as the winner of the presidential elections. For the first time Mr. Khamenei has referred to sending “private” messages to reformist leaders in the recent events.

The outcome of the tenth presidential elections has been challenged by disputing candidates Mehdi Karroubi, MirHosein Mousavi and numerous reformist groups. Ayatollah Khamenei has repeatedly confirmed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s victory.

The leader of the Islamic Republic who spoke today to a group of experts said: “Those who enter the political scene, have to be like an expert chess player calculating and predicting the next moves in the scene.” He claimed “enemies” of the Islamic Republic and the regime have used the “moves and actions of certain people in the establishment” to foment the post-election events.

In the course of protests to the election results which has started from June 13 and still goes on, tens have been killed and hundreds have been injured. In his Friday sermon on June 19, Mr. Khamenei announced that the responsibility for the consequences of the people’s presence in the streets lies with those who have rallied people into protests.

Today he remarked: “Dismissing the enemy’s incitements, listening to all that is being said and thinking and choosing the best statements freely are the basis of true progress of truly free elements.”