Iran News Round Up

Politics

• Demonstrators marching home from Friday prayers led by Supreme Leader Khamenei shout slogans such as "God is great, Khamenei is the Leader", "We are all brethren, we follow the line of the Leader", "Death to America", "Death to Israel", "Death to the Hypocrite", "Shame on you instigator of unrest." A group of demonstrators carried placards saying: "Our strength for the past thirty years is a thorn in the eyes of America", "We all long for martyrdom, we are all combatants of the Guardian", "I'm a Basiji, I'm a Basiji, I'm a follower of Seyyed Ali", and "BBC=Bahai". Some demonstrators, spotting a group of foreign reporters, shouted: "Death to BBC, Death to England", and other similar chants. 
• Assembly of Experts to meet Mousavi, Rezai and Karrubi on Saturday. 
  • (E) The Guardian Council invited the presidential candidates “to the meeting to be held early next week to express their ideas and ask any questions in the presence of the Guardian Council's members” about the election results.
• Demonstrations in Tabriz cancelled because of the Supreme Leader’s. 
• Hojjat al-Eslam Hadi Azimi, professor at the Qom Theological Seminary, accuses Rafsanjani of causing all the problems of the past 27 years.
• Mohammad-Hassen Ghadiri Abyaneh, former press advisor to the Expediency Council, says Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani, son of the former president, also had unrealistic expectations about his father's performance at the 2005 presidential elections and caused distress and disinformation by claiming that his father had won the race. 
• Alef News Agency condemns Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani's call to the public to provide evidence of fraud in the 2009 presidential election. 
• Fakhr al-Sadat Mohtashamipour tells the tale of her trip to Qom with other women, as a protest to reelection of Ahmadinejad. 
•  (E) Ahmadinejad blamed Iran’s enemies for causing the post-election unrest, stating: “Our enemies and their media have hired some opportunist and mischievous elements and have misused the simple-mindedness of some people to cause unrest.”
• (E) Mousavi supporters wore black during rallies to mourn those killed in previous       protests.
•  (E) Head of Iran's Parliament Cultural Commission Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel challenged Mousavi to a televised debate.
  • (E) Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel added that Persian BBC could not be trusted for its election coverage, stating that “the network is the voice of Bahaism. They are foreigners and they became sympathetic of Iranian people.”
• (E) The Association of Combatant Clerics has asked Tehran’s governor to hold a pro-Mousavi rally on Saturday.
•  Supreme Leader Khamenei, delivering the Friday Prayer sermon in Tehran, is greeted with slogans such as "The blood in our veins is a gift to our Leader", "All this army has come because of devotion to the Leader", "Answering the call of Khamenei is answering the call of Hossein" [ed. third Imam of the Shias], "God forbid should Khamenei should issue me a religious edidct [fatwa] for Jihad", and the like. Khamenei said: "Political excitement should not make us lose sight of God. Political chatter should not led us astray so we don't know where we are headed and how we want to go...Our people are devout, even those whose looks suggest otherwise. We see that their hearts attends to God...I don't want to exaggerate when addressing others, but in this case regardless how much I exaggerate there would not be a problem. You have done a great deed. The June 12th election was a great display of spirit of participation in administration of the country...The young generation showed that the very same political enthusiasm of the first generation is also present among them, with the difference that back then there was revolutionary excitement and the war and today they are not present. What there is, enthusiasm and reason, is valuable...There is a collective devotion to preserve the country and the revolution...O, people! This election was a political earthquake for your enemies and a historical celebration for your friends. It was renewal of allegiance with the Imam [Khomeini] and the revolution and provided the regime with new opportunity to regenerate. This election showed religious democracy to the entire world and the entire world saw what religious democracy is...Confidence in the regime was shown at this election and the enemies want to crush this confidence. This confidence is the greatest asset of the regime. The enemies want to create doubt about this election. The enemies want to take away this confidence. The cost of such a thing is much more than setting a bank or a bus ablaze...The elections were totally free, serious and transparent and everyone saw this. This rivalry and the debates were so clear, frank and transparent that some protested and they are to some degree right...These four candidates were all elements of the regime and belonged and still belong to the regime. One of them is the serving president who is trusted. One has been my own Prime Minister for eight years. One of them is a commander of the Guards and was one of the main commanders of the Sacred Defense. And one of them was Speaker of the Parliament for two terms. This rivalry was within the regime and between elements belonging to the regime whom I know all well and I know their behavior and I have worked closely with them all. Certainly I don't accept all their viewpoints and I consider some of them more suitable for serving the country than others but the choice belongs to the people. My choice was not disclosed to the people and it was not necessary for the people to abide by it...In elections, the fight is not between the regime and what is outside the regime...The people too acted within the framework of the regime...The debates were an innovation, a blow in the mouth of those claiming that the rivalry is only show. The debates had positive effects, but also some shortcomings. The fact that everyone spoke clearly and free was the positive point. Also, a flood of criticism started and everyone was forced to answer. Position of individuals and groups was displayed before the eyes of the public. People felt that in an Islamic regime, they are not considered foreigners and the regime has not "andarouni va birouni" [ed. a place for guests and a place for members of the household]. This was most certainly one of the reasons behind increased participation. The debates also took place in the streets, entered the houses...and strengthened the ability to choose...Of course, such dialogues must not reach a point where they lead to sorrow. It is good to continue such debates at executive levels (off course without the short comings which I will mention) and the people should expose themselves to criticism and answer. Such debates should continue within the four years [of presidential tenure]...In some cases, debates took a destructive shape. Painting a black picture of state of affairs now and before was seen and both were unacceptable. Allegations were made which have not been proved. Injustice was done to this government and previous government. The gentlemen became emotional and among good words, other words were uttered...This is true of the both sides. Here, making the sermon I have to tell the truth. Both parties had this shortcoming. From one side the frankest insults were made against the legal president of the country and this was continuation of a trend for some months...They accused the legal president of the country of telling lies...They accused the president of shameful things such as superstition...On the other side, the work done during the thirty years of revolution was shown as unimportant. At these debates, names of individuals were mentioned who have used their entire life for the regime. I'll not mention any names, but since names have been named I will mention names too and will clearly mention Mr. Hashemi [ed. Rafsanjani] and Nategh Nouri. I have known Mr. Hashemi...for the past 52 years. He was one of the most central individuals of the struggle. Also, after the victory of the revolution, he was one of the most effective individuals besides the Imam [ed. Khomeini] and after that besides the Supreme Leader until today. This man has gone to the edge of martyrdom on several occasions and before the revolution he used his belongings for the revolution and the youth should know this. After the revolution, I am not aware of a single case that he should have capital made out of the revolution. I have of course had differences of opinion with Mr. Hashemi [ed. Rafsanjani], which is natural but the people should not be delusional. Of course, there is difference of opinion between him and Mr. President, both in foreign problems and domestic problems and the view point of the Mr. President is closer to mine...The same is true of Mr. Nategh Nouri. He too is a servant and there is no doubt in his devotion to the regime and the revolution. Back then, I warned Mr. President since I knew it would affect him...The rivalry has now finished. All those who have voted for the four individuals will be rewarded by God, God willing. The line of the revolution delivered 40 million votes and not the 24.5 million who voted for the president elect...How can one cheat with 11 million votes? If anyone has problems it should be pursued through the legal channels...I'll not tolerate illegal innovations. If the legal frameworks are broken today, in the future no election will be safe...the politicians should abstain from extremism...otherwise, they want it or not they will be responsible for revolt and bloodshed...It is through the ballot that one must find out what the people want, not at street level. If we, after every election, see street-level mobilization of both parties, what is the need for elections? What is the fault of the people? What sin have they committed since they have to pay for our display of supporters?...What is better for terrorists than hiding among the masses? Who is responsible for those killed? Heart of man bleeds because of some matters. Those who go to the University Campus and make trouble for the youth, and devout and revolutionary students - not for those involved in unrest?...Street-level power struggle after election is not a good deed. I want that all should stop this method and if they don't they are responsible for what follows. It would be wrong of them to think that they through street-level pressure can force the authorities to submit. Submitting to illegal demands is the beginning of dictatorship...If anyone wants to continue, I'll come and talk more directly to the people...The problem of the enemies of Iran is that they don't know the Iranian nation. They thought this is Georgia so they can start a velvet revolution...The Americans who today portray themselves as concerned about the Iranian nation and human rights are those who burned members of a Davoudi sect alive in a house in America - women, men and children burned alive. This happened during the presidency of this lady [reference to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton] who these days are saying such things...O, my Lord and my master! My life is worthless (people assembled cry), my body is incomplete, I have a little dignity which was given to me by you. I sacrifice all that to the revolution and to you. Our Lord and our master, pray for us, you are the owner of this revolution." 
• Karrubi in a statement says he does not recognize Ahmadinejad as president. 
• Mousavi, in a letter to the Interior Ministry, complains of plainclothes agents beating protesters at demonstrations. 
  • (E) Mousavi and Khatami expressed their concern about the brutality against protestors in a letter to Iran's Judiciary head Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi-Shahroudi.
• Ali-Akbar Mohtashami-Pour, head of the Committee for Defense of the Vote of the Mousavi Campaign: "The sweetness of presence of the Tehran population [ed. in pro Mousavi demonstration] was lost because of events made by some individuals who turned it violent. They are infiltrators, probably belonging to the rival camp, which does not accept popular vote. They set a car ablaze, enter the armed forces and martyrdom of seven people is all their deed. I send condolences to the mourning families and I warn the Talebanist, Khawarej [ed. sectarian movement in early years of Islam] which is violent and does not want to see the Islamic movement of you people, and wants to - through violence - stop popular movement, that your path is wrong and you can't reach any result...You will be judged in the court of justice of God and the court of justice of the Iranian people..." 
• Ham-Mihan News claims 20,000 students organized a sit in at Arak University yesterday. 
• Shahab News claims Thursday's pro-Mousavi demonstration at Imam Khomeini [Toupkhaneh] Square managed to mobilize 300,000 people. 
• Tehran Mayor Qalibaf claims Mousavi had managed to mobilize 3 million people at Azadi Square. 
• The Assembly of Experts congratulates 85 percent popular participation in the presidential election, deplores conspiracies of the enemy, which "can't tolerate the resistance, dignity, respect and solidarity of the nation" and has planned unrest "through its agents." 
• Election Headquarters Chief Kamran Daneshjou says he will not release detailed number of the vote from each ballot. 
• The Iranian Presidency's Public Relations Bureau: "The great and memorable epic of the noble people of Islamic Iran on June 12, 2009 shaped by an unprecedented 40 million participation of informed and free Iranians was a new vote signifying efficacy of the sacred regime of the Islamic Republic...the honorable President called those few individuals plain dirt who are incapable of presenting their being in the face of the pure flood of the nation..." The Presidency's Office also condemns "those individuals" who claim Ahmadinejad's usage of the term "plain dirt" has been a general comment to all those Iranians who did not vote for Ahmadineajd. 
• Rezai, in an open letter to Supreme Leader Khamenei, thanks the Supreme Leader for the meeting he and other presidential candidates were granted by Khamenei the other day and stresses: "The great Iranian nation, which considers you to have the final say in such matters, will following your guidelines with regard to developments of late, never bind their political destiny with the will of the enemies and will depart from those revolting." 
• Rezai, speaking on Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Channel 2: 
  • "The Voice and Vision [ed. of the Islamic Republic] should also invite the other candidates and provide them with the opportunity to speak from the national media so in the end people can decide...
  • June 12th was a historical event which must be recorded in the national history of Iran...If the Guardian Council from the very beginning says that no irregularity has taken place people lose hope and if the people from the very beginning say that the Guardian Council and the government are one and the same and follow a path outside the framework of the law we will not achieve any result... 
  • Doubt was made after the election. Some said there was fraud, some called it miscalculation and others said that the computer system had been hacked and problems were made. There are also those who say the elections were healthy. In this issue the legal path must be followed but there are some problems in this regard including the fact that the Interior Ministry does not cooperate with the candidates and they say things which do not work in the direction of solving the problems...
  • After the election, in a message, I congratulated the participation of the Iranian nation and expressed my complaint, but the Voice and Vision [of the Islamic Republic] broadcast gave the impression that I had congratulated a certain individual...
  • The Supreme Leader has the final say [fasl al-khetab]. He has stressed that if any irregularity has been done, one must attend to it. In a humble manner, he accepted those active in the election headquarters and told them to say whatever they please. Incidentally, my representative at that meeting, Mr. Danesh-Ja'fari, spoke much more boldly than others since we believe that sycophants and those giving wrong information are not good people. We must convey correct information but at the same time abide by the Leadership. 
  • The people of Iran belong to a big and intelligent family and they know how to solve their conflicts and foreign intervention is detrimental to their own interests. An interesting point is the fact that Obama has entered the Iran issue very cautiously. 
  • From the friends in the Law Enforcement Forces, I demand to establish security with the help of the people themselves. The people must depart their line from the line of those engaged in revolts and if they see someone doing sabotage, setting a bank ablaze for example, the people themselves should arrest this person and deliver him to the Police. The Police should maintain its calm...
  • The Guardian Council should abstain from making provocative statements...
  • In 170 constituencies the number of votes cast is between 95 and 140 percent of eligible voters. This is no mean issue. This is one of those issues against which we have protested. 
  • As a small soldier of the nation, I ask the people to participate at the Friday prayer so we can show our national unity to the entire world. We will not abandon our rights, but we must show that we stick together." 
• (E) Iran's Electoral Office rejected Rezai’s request to release details of the ballot box results.
• (E) The three defeated presidential candidates filed 646 election violations complaints, says the Guardian Council.
• Islamic Republic of Iran Chief Inspeactorate head Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi, in a letter to Mousavi, warns against "discord" among Iranians and says he had "higher expectations" from a person "who was a loyal companion of the blessed Imam [ed. Khomeini] and a sincere servant of the revolution, the Supreme Leader and the people." 
  • (E) One of Mousavi’s campaign advisors stated that violent protesters are "not supporters of, or linked to Mousavi or his camp.”

Religion, Society and Culture

• Mehdi Khazali, son of Ayatollah Khazali, says his father has distanced himself from him under pressure from Hossein Shariatmadari and Hassan Shayanfar. 
• Members of the Iranian national soccer team, in a match with South Korea, wore green wrist bands in solidarity with Mousavi. 
• Theological students in Qom demonstrate to renew their allegiance with the Supreme Leader. 
• According to Asr-e Iran, Friday prayer in Tehran, which will be led by Ayatollah Khamenei, also will feature prayers from the provinces. 
• Ayatollah Khazali commenting his son's appearance on VOA Persian, says his son has been diverted from the path of virtue. 

Military and Security

• (E) Iranian intelligence officials have reported that terrorist groups connected to Israel planned to bomb several locations on Election Day.
  • The Intelligence Ministry claims to have identified several terrorist networks who attempted terror bombings on Iran’s election day. Arrested individuals confess to have cooperated with the Mossad. 
• Spokesman of Tehran Mayor Qalibaf says no incident has been reported from Tehran during the past 24 hours. 
• Tehran University refutes rumors of the deaths of five students during the riot police's raids at the Tehran University Campus. 
• According to Shahab News, SMS service has been out of order since Thursday, Tehran’s mobile network is irregular, and Yahoo Messenger is blocked. 
• Shiraz University professors condemn assault of plainclothes officers against the campus and officers’ beating of students. 
• Parliamentarian Ahmad-Reza Dastgheib demands investigation into the raid against Shiraz University campus raid. 
• Shahab News reports on arrest of hundreds of political activists from the Mousavi campaign, the most well known among whom are: 
  • Wednesday: Said Leylaz, Mohammad-Reza Jalayi-Pour, Ali Mohaghghar, Mohammad Tavassoli, Ebrahim Yazdi arrested in Tehran. Arrests in Mashhad and Bandar Abbas: Mansour Nabi-Zadeh, Ahmad Moradi, Javid Ramezanpour, Rouhollah Shahvar. 
  • Tuesday: Mohammad Atrianfar, Mohammad-Ali Abtahi, Said Hajjarian, Behzad Nabavi, Mohsen Aminzadeh, Jahanbakhsh Khanjani, Abdolfattah Soltani, Hossein Zaman, Said Allahbodashti. 
  • Arrests between Saturday and Monday: Mostafa Tajzadeh, Mohsen Mirdamadi, Mohammadreza Khatami, Safayi Farahani, Abdollah Ramezanzadeh, Zahra Aghajari, Said Shariati, Karim Arghandehpour, Ali Bagheri, Javad Emam, Ahmad Zeydabadi, Keyvan Samimi, Hoda Saber, Taghi Rahmani, Reza Alijani, Emad Behavar, Ahmad Afjehi, Ali Mehrdad, Said Zeraatkar, Rouhollah Shafifi. 
  • Individuals released upon Speaker of the Parliament Ali Larijani's intervention: Mohammad-Reza Khatami and Zahra Aghajari. 
• According to Alef News Agency, an informed source claims Mehdi and Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani, son and daughter of the former president, have, due to "involvement in incitement of the public to revolt", have lost the right to leave Iran. 
• Asr-e Iran reports a Special Forces raid against residential areas in Sa'adat Abad housing where several members of the parliament whose children shouting of "God is Great" in support of Mousavi was recorded on close circuit cameras. 
• Ghasem Ravanbakhsh, pro-Ahmadinejad theologian, discloses that the authorities arrested the widow of former Prime Minister Rajai as she and a group of other women, such as Jamileh Kadivar, Mohtashami-Pour and others, attempted to start a sit in at the mausoleum of Ma'soumeh in Qom and spread unrest. 
• Basij of the University Professors, in a statement stresses that the decisive support of the people to Ahmadinejad is in continuity of the line of the Imam [Khomeini] and the Supreme Leader. 

Diplomacy

• (E) Iranian and Venezuelan officials meet to discuss joint projects to strengthen diplomatic ties.
• Shahab News wonders why there are so few congratulations to Ahmadinejad upon his reelection. 
• The Islamic Republic of Iran's Presidency displays which heads of state have congratulated Ahmadinejad upon his reelection. 
• The Foreign Minister of Iraq says he has no problem with the reelection of Ahmadinejad since he knows Iraq’s positions on various issues. 
• Hezbollah of Lebanon General Secretary Nasrallah urges the March 14th Group members not to have faith in "the recent acts of sabotage in Iran." Speaking on Al-Manar Television Nasrallah continues: "Where in the world have you witnessed that 85 percent of the people of a country participate in elections? This is a sign of the level of awareness of the people of Iran about the political affairs of their country...I am convinced that the Islamic Republic of Iran will also pass through this sensitive phase...Those who during the recent elections [ed. in Lebanon] discussed our belief in Guardianship of the Jurist [Velayat-e Faqih] used it as an instrument to instigate fear among the people...Guardianship of the Jurist is a part of our beliefs but has nothing to do with elections in Lebanon and no one is allowed to insult our beliefs." 
  • (E) Hezbollah leader Nasrallah commented on Iranian election protesters, stating “all those people who are dreaming and analyzing and holding up hopes otherwise, they are in illusion.”

Media

• Asr-e Iran reports delay or lack of publication of newspapers such as Hayat-e Now, Asrar, Hambastebi, Aftab-e Yazd, Khabar, and Jomhouri-ye Eslami. 

Photo of the Day

• Karrubi among the demonstrators.