The Tiananmen Option
The BBC covers Khamenei’s speech: Ayatollah backs election result
Iran’s supreme leader has issued a stern warning that protests against the country’s disputed presidential election results must end.
In his first public remarks after days of protests, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the outcome had to be decided at the ballot box, not on the street.
He said political leaders would be blamed for any violence.
…Responding to allegations of electoral fraud, the ayatollah insisted the Islamic Republic would not cheat.
“There is 11 million votes difference,” the ayatollah said. “How can one rig 11 million votes?”
…
He said the election was a “political earthquake” for Iran’s enemies – singling out Britain as “the most evil of them” – whom he accused of trying to foment unrest in the country.
“Some of our enemies in different parts of the world intended to depict this absolute victory, this definitive victory, as a doubtful victory,” the Supreme Leader said.
The UK government summoned the Iranian ambassador to protest against the ayatollah’s remarks.
I’ve mentioned before that the BBC was offering the best coverage of the events, and the ayatollah seems to agree, having elevated the UK to the position of “Greater Satan”.
By tying himself to Ahmadinejad, Khamenei is making this an all or nothing situation which means violent suppression is in the offing. This will test the loyalty of a lot of Iranians. The thugs among the Basij and the Revolutionary Guard will use this as a license, but this is how the revolution against the shah started.
I fear that the situation in Iran is only going to deteriorate.
7 comments
Oh wow. This is a **it-hit-the-fan moment indeed. Khamenei just drew a line in the sand and dared people to cross it. The notion that someone’s not going to cross that line just doesn’t pass the laugh and giggle test, and what happens after that… oh my.
Chances of situation resolving peacefully just went down dramatically :-(.
.-= ´s last blog ..Wingnut fail =-.
No surprise sadly. Khamenei has offered the protestors blood – their blood
.-= ´s last blog ..So Cats really aren’t as clever as dogs and psychologists? =-.
Khamemei has never had the standing to make a statement like this and reasonably expect people to go along with it. He is treating the voters like children, and they don’t like it. The “G-d is Great” calls are ringing out this evening.
The best that can be hoped for is that the Assembly of Experts meets and decides he needs to retire. That will put things on hold for a while.
These people are following the Shah’s playbook, and we know how that turned out.
The key question will be, Jams, how will the security forces react?
If a the other Grand Ayatollahs start speaking in opposition to this move, the system will disintegrate.
You are not alone in that fear.
.-= ´s last blog ..Where Rugged Individualism Fails =-.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jun/19/iran-election-mousavi-ahmadinejad
Above item by Kandahar director Mohsen Makhmalbaf. He has certainly been a major advocate for Mousavi.
I will be trying to get in touch with friends in Tehran tomorrow. I so want to hear from them and what they have to say about the most recent developments
.-= ´s last blog ..So Cats really aren’t as clever as dogs and psychologists? =-.
I don’t see a good end to this. There is no one with the ability to broker a compromise. Khamenei has cut off any possibility of compromise by tying his rule to Ahmadinejad, a foolish decision.
Khamenei has forgotten what the revolution was like, and will be put in the position of the Shah.