Khamenei and Ahmadinejad defend Iran's presidential elections

In their New Year messages to Iranians, Ayatollah Khamenei and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad once more defended disputed the results of the June presidential elections.

Iran’s Supreme Leader declared that following the elections, the people of Iran defeated “a vast conspiracy,” and Ahmadinejad said that “people’s firm will” in electing him defined the “bright path of tomorrow” for the country.

Ayatollah Khamenei called the coming year, the year of “double the toil and effort" for the people.

Mahmoud Ahmadiejad claimed that the “immense” election of the past year “confirmed the glory and righteousness of the nation’s path in the world,” and went on to say that the New Year will be a “more beautiful and happy” year for the people.

The “victory” of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been challenged by his opponents and given rise to over nine months of protests where protesters claim that the ballot was rigged and their votes were stolen.

Government’s heavy crackdown on protesters has resulted in thousands of arrests and tens of deaths.

Chief opponent of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, MirHosein Mousavi also issued a statement on the occasion of the new year urging protesters to show “patience and perseverance” against government pressure.

Mehdi Karroubi, the other disputing candidate of the elections also issued a message for Norouz condemning the policies of the Islamic Republic against protesters and confirmed that the opposition would not retreat from its demands.