Iran's supreme leader said Friday that the country's disputed presidential vote had not been rigged, sternly warning protesters of a crackdown if they continue massive demonstrations demanding a new election. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sided with hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and offered no concessions to the opposition. He effectively closed any chance for a new vote by calling the June 12 election an "absolute victory."The speech created a stark choice for candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi and his supporters: Drop their demands for a new vote or take to the streets again in blatant defiance of the man endowed with virtually limitless powers under Iran's constitution.
If they drop their demands and go home, they'll be hunted down by the Basiji and the secret police.
| They'll be dragged from their homes in the dead of night and taken to detention facilities. They'll either be put on ice for a long, long time or they'll just be murdered. That is the choice: do you go home and wait to be arrested, or do you go down fighting? |
Khamenei accused foreign media and Western countries of trying to create a political rift and stir up chaos in Iran. Iranian leaders often blame foreign "enemies" for plots against the country, but Khamenei's comments suggest Iran could remain cool to expanding dialogue with the West and the offer of opening talks with Washington.
"Some of our enemies in different parts of the world intended to depict this absolute victory, this definitive victory, as a doubtful victory," he said. "It is your victory. They cannot manipulate it."
| Well, it's your victory ... |
Later, when Khamenei said the United Kingdom's government was the "most treacherous" and described it as "evil," the crowd responded with chants of "Death to the UK, Israel and America."
| The usual crowd, bussed in from the usual places ... |
Ahmadinejad watched the sermon from the front row. The Times reported earlier that Khamenei instructed Mousavi to stand next him when he makes his speech or face deportation from Iran; it was not clear whether the report was accurate, but Mousavi was not to be seen during Khamenei's address.
So far, the government has not stopped the protests with force despite an official ban on them. But Khamenei opened the door for harsher measures. "It must be determined at the ballot box what the people want and what they don't want, not in the streets," he said. "I call on all to put an end to this method. ... If they don't, they will be held responsible for the chaos and the consequences."
Khamenei said Iran would not see a second revolution like those that transformed the countries of the former Soviet Union.
| I'm pretty sure he's studied those carefully. The Rose Revolution. The Orange Revolution. The Cedar Revolution. The 1989 and 1991 revolutions. He's not stupid and both he and Short Round began planning four years ago to keep this from happening. |
Khamenei said the street protests would not have any impact. "Some may imagine that street action will create political leverage against the system and force the authorities to give in to threats. No, this is wrong," he said.
The supreme leader left open a small window for a legal challenge to the vote. He reiterated that he has ordered the Guardian Council, an unelected body of 12 clerics and Islamic law experts close to the supreme leader, to investigate voter fraud claims. The Council has said it was prepared to conduct a limited recount of ballots at sites where candidates claim irregularities.
| Which of course won't matter ... |