Iran News Round Up

Guardian Council discovers poll irregularities; Larijani urges authorities to listen to protesters; Mousavi receives warnings; government authorities step up crackdown on media; several journalists arrested; Karrubi reiterates call for election result to be nullified; Ahmadinejad thanks Supreme Leader for support; 475 individuals arrested during Saturday’s demonstrations; monarchist group claims responsibility for alleged bombing at Khomeini’s mausoleum; 300 reformist election campaign managers reportedly arrested; Larijani warns Western countries against meddling in Iran’s internal affairs; Mousavi blamed for recent turmoil in Iran; Ahmadinejad warns U.S., UK against intervening in Iran’s domestic affairs; IRGC accused of military coup; Iran’s ambassador to IAEA says Islamic Republic will continue production of nuclear fuel.

Politics

• Guardian Council Spokesman Kadkhodayi rejects Rezai's claim that the voter turnout was over 100 percent in more than 170 cities, and says the irregularity took place only in 50 cities.
• Guardian Council member Mohammad Yazdi says the Islamic Republic will defend the law and force its opponents to retreat. 
• Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani hails 85 percent voter participation in the presidential elections, but urges the authorities to listen to protesters. 
• Karrubi spokesman Morteza Alviri says difference between words and deeds of the candidates has dashed any hope of correcting the result of the fraudulent elections, and says that is the reason why Karrubi did not attend the Guardian Council's meeting. 
• Petroleum Ministry’s senior official Akbar Torkan, who is a vocal critic of Ahmadinejad, is replaced with Ebrahim Radou-Afzoun.
• Speaking to an assembly of clerics from Tehran, Ahmadinejad expresses gratitude for the record high voter turnout in the elections. 
• Alef News Agency condemns Mousavi's latest open letter to the Guardian Council, accusing him of breaching the law. 
• Moetalefeh Faction Secretary General Asgar-Owladi urges Mousavi not to follow the path of the first president of the Islamic Republic Abdul-Hassan Bani-Sadr and that of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization.
• Alef News claims Mousavi is considering quitting all of his official positions in the Islamic Republic. 
• University deans renew their allegiance to the Supreme Leader.
• Khatami discreetly criticizes arrests during the past days. 
• Ali-Akbar Nateq-Nouri thanks the Supreme Leader for neutralizing conspiracies by the enemies of the revolution. 
• Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi says "Mousavi is showing his true nature and the regime is not obliged to convince him of the health of the elections. Voting is voluntary and no-one has been forced to vote to a certain candidate… Mr. Mousavi declared himself winner even before the ballot boxes were opened and this is illegal." 
• Parliamentarian Assadollah Badamchian says Mousavi's harsh official statements are to blame for the unrest. 
• Gooya News claims Mousavi was present at Saturday's demonstrations in Tehran.
• Iranian movie director Mohsen Makhmalbaf presents himself as Mousavi's official spokesman outside Iran in an interview with the Guardian. Makhmalbafsays Iran has experienced 20 percent democracy and 80 percent dictatorship over the past thirty years.
• Mousavi's fifth official statement with regard to the presidential election: "Looking at the situation, I consider it a scenario for a goal much greater than imposing an undesired government upon the nation. It is imposition of a new way of political life upon the entire country..."
• Mousavi writes an open letter to Shi'a sources of emulation in Qom: "Greetings to you! I am convinced that you have followed the affairs of the tenth presidential election. Although use of lies and countless use of public and governmental opportunities in order to propagate for the dominant candidate clearly show the determination of a certain group for victory at any cost, no-one imagined this degree of manipulation of the vote in the face of the wondering eyes of the world. All this was done by a government which considers implementation of justice as one of its religious pillars. Today we are witnessing all this rogue theft of popular vote and all the roads to establishment are closed. The silence of the clergy and sources of emulation amounts to ignoring of the nation which has a greater impact than manipulation of the vote..."
• Aut News claims Karrubi had declared willingness to attend Saturday's demonstration, and was ready to pay the price of being under house arrest.
• Arrests:
  • Gooya News reports arrest of journalists Zhila Bani-Yaghoub and Bahman Ahmadi Amouyi.
  • Mohsen Mirdamadi arrested.
  • Four hundred family members of arrested individuals demonstrate in front of the Revolutionary Tribunal headquarters.
• The Interior Ministry releases detailed ballot-by-ballot vote count result from 25 provinces. 
• Supreme Leader Khamenei's speech at Friday prayer in Tehran. Video. 
• Karrubi asks the Guardian Council to nullify the election results and rerun the polls. 
• Mousavi in his fifth official statement declares that he "will not recognize the election result under any circumstance." 
• Ahmadinejad thanks Supreme Leader for his speech on Friday, June 19: "Your Holiness Ayatollah Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Revolution...I find it necessary to thank you sincerely for your kind decision and the historical presence of the Wise Leader in the great and epic scene of the Tehran Friday prayer, uttering words of guidance and forcefully insisting on rights of the people in important affairs of the time. Doubtlessly you hoisted the banner of dignity and awareness of the Iranian nation in the face of the imperialists and showed the line of solidarity, unity and national dignity, preference of national interests to personal and factional interests, legal, fundamental and consistent dealing with inflated demands and economic corruption, execution of justice without any consideration, and unprecedented mutual and deep trust between the people and the government,..."    
• Assembly of Experts issues an official statement in support of Supreme Leader Khamenei: "The Assembly of Experts of the Leadership thanks the glorious and epic participation of the people in presidential election and expresses its decisive support of the illuminating, unifying and wise statements of the Supreme Leader at Tehran Friday prayer. It thanks God for the unparalleled and great blessing that is the Guardian Jurist, a pillar of the pillars of the revolution, which calls upon all to abide by the decrees and guidance of that excellence. It is hoped that the Iranian nation, by understanding the current circumstances and by realizing those words, once again display calm, unity and solidarity of the Islamic community of believers to the desperation of the enemies of this realm. We beg God for a long life for the Supreme Leader and for dignity and respect of the sacred regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran." 
• Guardian Council Secretary Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati in an open letter to the Supreme Leader describes the presidential election as another sign of "divine benevolence" towards the Islamic Republic of Iran. 
• Combatant Clergy Association declares support for Khamenei's statements on Friday. 
• Parliamentarian Khosh-Chehreh urges the public to abide by the orders of the Supreme Leader. 
  • Ayatollah Nouri-Hamedani makes a similar call. 
  • So does the Supreme Council of Theological Seminaries.
• Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani says the institution of Imamate in Shi'a Islam protects the country against problems and that the Guardian Jurist is in continuity of the Imamate. 
• Ayatollah Qoreishi says the words of the Supreme Leader were the wish of the entire nation. 
• The Supreme Leader's representative in the Hajj Pilgrim Organization, Ayatollah Mohammadi Reyshahri, says it is the "religious and national duty of Iran and Islam to abide by guidance of the Supreme Leader at Tehran Friday prayers." 
• Jahan News depicts Mousavi as a person who is against Ahmadinejad's fight against the "aristocracy" in Iran. 
• Jahan News attacks what it calls "18 innovations of Mousavi." 
• Asr-e Iran's analyst discusses Mousavi's dilemma after Supreme Leader Khamenei's speech: "...Mousavi was expected to consider the statements of the Supreme Leader final, pursue his defiance of the vote results through legal and civic paths, and demand his supporters at this delicate and sensitive juncture to stop staging gatherings and wait for the final vetting by the Guardian Council. But Mousavi has not shown any reaction so far and has chosen silence...After the Supreme Leader's speech, the issue has become a fundamental issue...under such conditions, Mir-Hossein Mousavi is under the heaviest pressure from his supporters to declare his position. One of the most important and most serious options present is that instead of continuing the present situation, he should establish a party and pursue his and his million supporters' demands through legal and civic channels. Such a party critical of the government could play an important role in the political atmosphere of the country in future and prove serious and effective. This could be a way of balancing the current situation. And it will be a way of preparing for the next city council elections slated for next year, parliamentary elections and finally presidential elections. This helps achieve goals not possible under current circumstances. Insisting upon [the current path] can only lead to casualties..." 
• Report rejects news on Rafsanjani's children having lost the right to leave the country.
• Fars News Agency discloses full text of Mousavi's letter of complaint to the Guardian Council, in which he mentions the following instances of irregularity at the elections: 1. Unsealed ballots; 2. lack of presence of candidates’ representatives at the ballots; 3. too many mobile ballots; 4. lack of voting forms in certain constituencies; 5. shortening of the voting period in certain constituencies; 6. unguarded transportation of the ballots to the governor's offices. 
• Shafaf News releases trivial information about Ahmadinejad's marriage. 
• The Guardian Council accepts to recount ten percent of the vote through random selection of the votes in order to reexamine the result. 
• Guardian Council Secretary Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati in an open letter to Supreme Leader Khamenei says the Council is ready to investigate allegations made against the health of the election. 
• Rezai is the only defeated presidential candidate attending the meeting of the Guardian Council to discuss the elections.  
• Mousavi and Karrubi refuse to attend the Guardian Council's meeting. 
• Tehran mayor Qalibaf denies earlier reports claiming Mousavi supporters had managed to mobilize three million demonstrators in Tehran. 
• Combatant Clergy Association cancels Mousavi supporters' rally on Saturday. 
  • Mousavi says today's demonstration "deviates" from his campaign. 

Military and security

• The deputy of the Armed Forces Command Council says the velvet revolution in Iran is doomed to failure. 
• According to the Law Enforcement Forces, 475 individuals were arrested during Saturday's demonstrations in Iran. 
  • Shahab News says 300 campaign managers of Mousavi and Karrubi have been arrested across Iran.
  • Quoting CNN, Shahab News says 19 people died as a result of Saturday's clashes between the Revolutionary Guards, anti-riot police and protestors. Unofficial sources set the number of casualties as high as 150.
  • Baztab claims 13 died at Saturday's demonstration.
  • Fars News claims 10 people were killed and 100 wounded during Saturday's unrest in Tehran, which according to Fars, was planned and executed by "terrorist elements." 
  • BBC video of Saturday's clashes.
  • Mousavi's office dismisses earlier reports on Mousavi's presence at Saturday's demonstration. 
  • Fars News claims armed members of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization were arrested by the Law Enforcement Forces.  
  • Fars News claims several protesters arrested at Saturday's demonstration have confessed they are members of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization. 
  • Fars News quotes a telegram by the Associate Press claiming some of those involved in unrest have taken refuge at foreign embassies. 
  • Video clips from Saturday's demonstrations in Tehran.
  • BBC World's coverage of Saturday's demonstrations in Tehran.
• IRNA refutes news of an explosion in Azadi Square. 
• Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Ministry's Ideological and Political Indoctrination Bureau claims a monarchist group has taken responsibility for the alleged bombing at Khomeini's mausoleum in the outskirts of Tehran.
• Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee held a special session to discuss "foreign intervention in recent unrest in Iran." 
• Tabriz branch of Ansar-e Hezbollah vigilante organization in an open letter to Law Enforcement Forces Deputy Radan declares its readiness to “fight the hypocrites.” 
• An unnamed government official has told Fars News Agency that former president Rafsanjani’s daughter, Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani, and other family members were arrested in order to protect them against potential terrorist acts by the “hypocrites”. [ed. A term usually used to describe the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization, but now also refers to Mousavi’s supporters]. 
  • Alef News claims Rafsanjani’s family members were arrested while leading demonstrations on Saturday. 
• Iran’s Air Force to stage maneuvers.
• Eye witnesses say “hooligans” destroyed the Lowlagar Mosque in Azarbaijan Street of Tehran during Saturday's demonstration. 
• The Student Basij condemns Mousavi's position and warns of decisive action against him if he is about to abandon the "path of the Imam [ed. Khomeini] and the Guardianship of the Jurist." 
• Ala al-Din Boroujerdi, the president of Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Affairs Committee, says plain-clothed agents are not members of the Basij, condemns the role of the BBC in inciting unrest in Iran. 
• Student demonstrations in support of Mousavi at Shahroud University of Technology.
• Student sit-ins at Sistan and Baluchistan University for the sixth consecutive day. Eleven university students arrested in Mazandaran.
• Aut News claims arrested student activists in Tehran are being tortured in the cellar of the Interior Ministry.
• Editorial in Sobh-e Sadegh, mouthpiece of the Revolutionary Guards, praises the election result and warns Mousavi that he will be held responsible for whatever his supporters commit and stresses that they will be considered as "mercenaries of the foreigners." 
  • Secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council issues a similar letter of warning to Mousavi.
• The Chief of the Revolutionary Guards’ Political Department, Yadollah Javani, says the post election unrest is a velvet revolution directed by foreigners, and accuses Mousavi of being responsible for those who have lost their lives during the unrest by not accepting his defeat. 
• Sobh-e Sadegh accuses Rafsanjani and his children of instigating unrest both prior to and after the presidential election.  
• A closed session of Parliament planned for Sunday has been cancelled. Unnamed "informed sources" claim it is the Basij, the Revolutionary Guards, the Law Enforcement Forces and the security agencies which are carrying out the orders of dispersing public assemblies following Supreme Leader Khamenei's speech.   
• Tehran completely controlled by the security forces. 
• Ham-Mihan reports widespread unrest and several clashes between protesters and the Law Enforcement Forces at Azadi (Freedom) Street in Tehran. 
  • According to Shahab News, the number of protesters was small. 
  • Four university professors at Qazvin University arrested. 
• Incomplete list of arrested political activists and journalists. 
  • Report on arrest of Mohsen Safayi Farahani. 
• Sixty lawyers in an open letter condemn harsh methods used by the Law Enforcement Forces in dealings with the protestors. 
• Law Enforcement Forces Deputy Radan says 400 members of his force have been wounded in street clashes in Tehran. 
• Larijani for the second time condemns attack of the riot police and plain-clothed vigilante organizations against the Tehran University Campus. 
• The Revolutionary Guards construction companies to engage in tunnel building. 
• Kermanshah Public Prosecutor says the province is calm and that 60 individuals arrested during the unrests over the past days have been released. 
• Law Enforcement Forces Chief Esmail Ahmadi-Moghaddam warns Mousavi of the consequences of continued demonstrations. 
• According to Asr-e Iran, the Riot Police has the situation under control in Tehran. 
• Report says suicide bombing at Khomeini's mausoleum in the outskirts of Tehran kills two people. 
  • Fars News Agency says the suicide bomber was identified by the authorities at the site and he activated the bomb while trying to flee. 
• Report says E'temad-e Melli editor Mohammad Qouchani and other journalists and political activists supporting Karrubi and Mousavi have been arrested. 
• Tabnak News reports disruption in the e-mail service. The disruption comes after eight days without SMS service in Iran. 
• According to ILNA, Rafsanjani has denied having made any official statements about the events of the past week. 

Media

• Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting in a statement accuses foreign enemies of plotting against Iran, calls demonstrations "an act of treason" and "betrayal of the blood of the martyrs." 
• Jomhouriat News blocked.
• BBC's journalist expelled from Iran.  
• Resalat editorial warns of a "sort of dictatorship" following the presidential elections.
• Javan thanks God that Mousavi was not elected because of "his hatred of the law." 

Diplomacy

• Ahmadineajd warns Britain and the United States, demanding an end to their "interventionist line" in Iran. 
• Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani warns Western countries against meddling in Iran’s internal affairs. Larijani directly attacks leaders of the United States, Germany and the UK. Following Larijani's speech, parliamentarians shouted "Death to America" and "Death to England." 
• Alef News claims Obama has said his government favors demonstrations in Iran. 
• Foreign Ministry spokesman Ghashghavi claims "British and American networks constitute the war room of the recent unrest." 
• Carl Bildt, Sweden's Minister of Foreign Affairs, welcomes direct diplomatic engagement between the United States and Iran. 
• Sobh-e Sadegh discusses the "necessity of diplomatic activity in the backyard of America." 

Religion, culture and society

• Simin Behbahani's latest poem openly attacks the Islamic Republic.
• Clerical philosopher Ahmad Qabel describes the June 12 elections as a military coup by the Revolutionary Guards.
• Senior members of the clergy did not attend the Friday prayer in Qom in protest against recent events in the Islamic Republic. 
• Singer Shajarian demands the Islamic Republic of Iran Voice and Vision to stop playing his songs as a protest against the presidential election. 
• Ayatollah Sanei declares solidarity with victims of the events in Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan and Tabriz. 

Nuclear issue

• The Islamic Republic's Ambassador to the IAEA says Iran will continue production of nuclear fuel. 
• The British Treasury confiscates $1.6 billion of Iran's savings in Britain as a part of sanctions against Iran's nuclear program. 

Photo of the day

• Baztab News releases the photo of an armed man who is allegedly a protester taking part in Saturday's demonstration.
• Pictures from Saturday's demonstration in Tehran showing several individuals in clerical garbs demonstrating in support of Mousavi.
• Tehran Friday Prayer.