Iran's Supreme Leader says Western News Media Attempting to "Poison" Iran: Via Voice of America.

Iran's supreme leader says Western media are to blame for his country's recent political unrest.  

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is pointing his finger at Western news media for inciting political friction in Iran.

His statement follows protests against the re-election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at Friday's al-Quds day or Jerusalem day, an annual event to sympathize with Palestinians and condemn Israel.
( Read more ... )

Top Revolutionary Guard Official Wants Moussavi and Khatami Tried: Via Voice of America.

The political chief of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard force says opposition political leaders should be put on trial for inciting violence during weeks of unrest after Iran's disputed June 12 presidential elections.

Iran's smoldering political rift is intensifying, after a key figure in Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard demanded Iran's top opposition leaders be put on trial for inciting unrest, following the country's disputed June 12 presidential election.

Iran's official news agency (IRNA) reports that Yadollah Javani, the head of the Guard's political bureau, wants opposition leader Mirhossein Moussavi, former President Mohammed Khatami, and defeated presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi to be tried for inciting violence.
( Read more ... )

Iranian Cleric Demands Apology From Opposition Leaders: Via Voice of America.

The leader of Tehran's Friday prayer sermon, hardline Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati threw down the gauntlet to Iran's opposition leaders, demanding that they apologize for inciting unrest in the country. Meanwhile, Iran's foreign minister accused foreign powers of contributing to violence.

It was a biting, accusatory Friday prayer sermon by hardline Ayatollah Ahmed Jannati, and his finger was pointed squarely at opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi and his allies, whom he accused of responsibility for weeks of unrest and violence:

He tells Mousavi and ally Mehdi Karroubi that they must apologize to the people, and let them know that they are sorry for all those who were killed because of their treason. If the unrest had not taken place and you had not incited it, he insists, no one from either side would have been killed.
( Read more ... )

Iran's Supreme Leader Calls for Politicians to Stop Fomenting Unrest: Via Voice of America.

A group of reformist Iranian religious leaders is calling for a popular referendum to determine the fate of a disputed presidential election.

At the same time, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is warning the country's political elite not to foment unrest that "abets Iran's enemies" while again lashing out at the West for allegedly meddling in Iran's internal affairs.

The Ayatollah used thinly veiled language to address the country's reformist leaders, without naming them, to insist that they be careful about what they say or do.

He says that the country's top echelon must be aware that their words and actions help those [foreign enemies] who are acting against the nation. [For this reason], he adds, we must be vigilant.
( Read more ... )

VOA News - Iranian Newspaper Accuses Opposition Leader of Treason: Via Voice of America.

A top Iranian newspaper is calling for reformist challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi to be tried for treason.

An editorial Saturday in the conservative daily Kayhan accuses Mr. Mousavi of working with foreign governments after he was defeated in last month's presidential vote.  It accuses the former prime minister of acting on orders from the United States to incite the post-election riots.

The editorial by hardline cleric Hossein Shariatmadari, a close aide to Iran's supreme leader, also called for Iran's former president and leading reformist, Mohammad Khatami, to be tried for treason.

Mr. Khatami has accused Iran's leaders of a "coup" against democracy for upholding the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad .
( Read more ... )