Disputed Letter Reports Victory by Mousavi

'Zionists' and BBC are exploiting protests, Khamenei says

(NEWSER) - The supreme leader of Iran called for "peace and tranquility" in his first public speech since the contested presidential election, Al Jazeera reports. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei defended the legitimacy of the vote and told protesters to stop, notes the New York Times. "Street challenge is not acceptable," he said, adding that opposition leaders would be "held responsible for chaos." He blamed "Zionists, evil media" for trying to exploit divisions. More»

Could we see a new revolution—or the next Tiananmen?

(NEWSER) - Iran’s election aftermath seems to have come as a surprise to its key figures. With protesters showing no sign of relenting, Tony Karon of Time offers four possible conclusions:

• A repeat of the 1979 revolution. But that’s unlikely, because “an unarmed popular movement can only topple an authoritarian regime if the security forces switch sides or stay neutral”—not the case here.

Khamenei accedes to Mousavi's request for vote fraud investigation

(NEWSER) - Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered a probe into Iran's allegedly rigged presidential election, reports CNN. The country's supreme leader has already endorsed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's supposed victory as "a divine miracle," but Khamenei today requested that a clerical body investigate Mir Hossein Mousavi's claims of widespread fraud. The ayatollah's reversal comes amid continued reports that opposition figures are being arrested. More»

(NEWSER) - Iran arrested more than 100 opposition members as clashes between anti-government protesters and police continued today, the New York Times reports. Opposition candidates Mir Hussein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi called for yesterday’s disputed election, which saw incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad win easily, to be overturned. Mousavi backers called for a march tomorrow, asking "mullahs to give fatwas that Ahmadinejad is not our president," Reuters and ABC News report. More»

(NEWSER) - This might seal it: Iran supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denied challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi’s request to overturn the results of the presidential election, the Guardian reports. Khamenei, perhaps dashing Mousavi's only chance to upend an outcome the challenger claims was rigged, called Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s win a “divine assessment.” Hundreds of Mousavi protesters, meanwhile, clashed with riot police in the streets of Tehran. More»