TEHRAN: Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, now head of a powerful conservative arbitration body, said Friday recent pro-democracy protests have only served to bolster Iran's current political system. Hundreds of people converged on the streets around Tehran University Wednesday in defiance of an official ban on gatherings for the anniversary of violent student unrest in 1999 when one person was killed. The protest was the first to take place after authorities vowed to crack down on any unrest following the arrest of 4,000 people in 10 nights of sometimes violent protests across the country in June. "The incidents we have had since last month consolidated the system," Rafsanjani said during Friday prayers in Tehran.
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He said the protests by "anti-revolutionaries" and "US infantry and soldiers" had been put down without having to use the army, the revolutionary guards or the Basij forces.
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Basij forces are fiercely loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, Iran's most powerful figure, and outside the control of moderate President Mohammad Khatami. Rafsanjani, who heads the conservative-dominated Expediency Council, said Khamenei had not intervened in the protests issue. "The officials and leader had not even entered the discussion," he said in comments broadcast live on radio. Some Iranian officials blamed Washington and US-based Iranian satellite channels for playing a key role in stirring up the unrest and encouraging people to join last month's protests. Rafsanjani called on young people to remain vigilant. "What I want to say to young people and students is ... be aware you are deceived and do not put others in more trouble and go back to your studies," he said. Some 800 students were among the 4,000 people arrested during and after June's demonstrations. Dozens of others were seriously injured when hard-line Islamic vigilantes burst into dormitories to attack students with chains, knives and clubs. |