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AFP: Iran to 'confront' opposition groups: Khamenei
Iran to 'confront' opposition groups: Khamenei
By Jay Deshmukh (AFP) – 17 hours ago
TEHRAN — Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned opposition groups they will be "confronted" if they jeopardise the nation's security, in an address during Friday prayers in Tehran.
"Those who draw swords against the regime will be confronted," said Khamenei, who has the final say on all national issues, as he led the weekly prayers at Tehran university.
"Differences of views should not lead to conflicts ... the policy of the regime is to work with the majority. But if opposition groups have ideas that are against the nation's security and the principles of the regime, they will be confronted," he said.
In response, hundreds of worshippers chanted: "Oh, our free-spirited leader, we are ready, we are ready."
The Islamic republic is engulfed in its worst crisis following the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the June 12 poll, which his rivals claim was the result of massive vote rigging.
The all-powerful Khamenei has steadfastly defended Ahmadinejad's victory.
Khamenei also said Iran was not afraid of Western powers, especially the United States and Britain.
"The US government and the British government have 200 years of wicked attitude towards Iran. So be it. This will not intimidate anyone," the country's top spiritual said to cries of: "Death to America! Death to Israel!"
Khamenei again defended Iran's decision to pursue nuclear technology.
"We must stand firm for our rights. If we give up our rights, whether nuclear or other rights, this will lead to decline (of the society)," he said.
The university was packed with worshippers and black-clad supporters of Khamenei who shouted "We are here because of our love for the leader" and "The hand of God is on our head ... Khamenei is our leader."
Top officials and clerics were present to hear the sermon, among them Ahmadinejad, parliament speaker Ali Larijani and chief of judiciary Sadeq Larijani.
Since June when Tehran was rocked by protests, Khamenei has regularly defended Ahmadinejad and ruled out any major fraud in the presidential poll.
He also warned that defeated candidates would be held accountable over the street violence.
Ahmadinejad's rivals however have remained steadfast in opposing his victory and have refused to recognise his government.
One opposition leader, Mehdi Karroubi, on Friday charged that the authorities were preventing doctors from issuing medical certificates to protesters wounded during the post-election unrest.
Karroubi said on his website Etemad Melli that a military commander had told the health ministry not to issue medical certificates to protesters seeking treatment for injuries sustained in the turmoil or while later detained in prison.
The certificates could potentially be used in court by protesters seeking legal redress after the violent crackdown on protests.
"I am now more persistent to know why there is so much intimidation when I see a commander of a military body ordering in a letter to the health ministry that no documents be issued to injured protesters," Karroubi said in an open letter to judiciary chief Larijani which was posted on his website.
The cleric gave no further details but reformist websites norooznews.ir and mowjcamp.com also posted the letter and said Karroubi was referring to Iran's Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Ali Jafari.
In the aftermath of the June election, members of Iran's volunteer Islamic militia, Basij, were mobilised to crack down on protesters, along with the security forces. Basij is a unit of the Revolutionary Guards.
Iran's deputy parliament speaker Mohammad Reza Bahonar warned on Friday that if Karroubi does not prove his claims "he will be committing a big crime."
Etemad Melli also said Mohammad Ozlati Moghaddam, an aide to main opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, was arrested on Thursday night at his home.
Iran to 'confront' opposition groups: Khamenei
By Jay Deshmukh (AFP) – 17 hours ago
TEHRAN — Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned opposition groups they will be "confronted" if they jeopardise the nation's security, in an address during Friday prayers in Tehran.
"Those who draw swords against the regime will be confronted," said Khamenei, who has the final say on all national issues, as he led the weekly prayers at Tehran university.
"Differences of views should not lead to conflicts ... the policy of the regime is to work with the majority. But if opposition groups have ideas that are against the nation's security and the principles of the regime, they will be confronted," he said.
In response, hundreds of worshippers chanted: "Oh, our free-spirited leader, we are ready, we are ready."
The Islamic republic is engulfed in its worst crisis following the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the June 12 poll, which his rivals claim was the result of massive vote rigging.
The all-powerful Khamenei has steadfastly defended Ahmadinejad's victory.
Khamenei also said Iran was not afraid of Western powers, especially the United States and Britain.
"The US government and the British government have 200 years of wicked attitude towards Iran. So be it. This will not intimidate anyone," the country's top spiritual said to cries of: "Death to America! Death to Israel!"
Khamenei again defended Iran's decision to pursue nuclear technology.
"We must stand firm for our rights. If we give up our rights, whether nuclear or other rights, this will lead to decline (of the society)," he said.
The university was packed with worshippers and black-clad supporters of Khamenei who shouted "We are here because of our love for the leader" and "The hand of God is on our head ... Khamenei is our leader."
Top officials and clerics were present to hear the sermon, among them Ahmadinejad, parliament speaker Ali Larijani and chief of judiciary Sadeq Larijani.
Since June when Tehran was rocked by protests, Khamenei has regularly defended Ahmadinejad and ruled out any major fraud in the presidential poll.
He also warned that defeated candidates would be held accountable over the street violence.
Ahmadinejad's rivals however have remained steadfast in opposing his victory and have refused to recognise his government.
One opposition leader, Mehdi Karroubi, on Friday charged that the authorities were preventing doctors from issuing medical certificates to protesters wounded during the post-election unrest.
Karroubi said on his website Etemad Melli that a military commander had told the health ministry not to issue medical certificates to protesters seeking treatment for injuries sustained in the turmoil or while later detained in prison.
The certificates could potentially be used in court by protesters seeking legal redress after the violent crackdown on protests.
"I am now more persistent to know why there is so much intimidation when I see a commander of a military body ordering in a letter to the health ministry that no documents be issued to injured protesters," Karroubi said in an open letter to judiciary chief Larijani which was posted on his website.
The cleric gave no further details but reformist websites norooznews.ir and mowjcamp.com also posted the letter and said Karroubi was referring to Iran's Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Ali Jafari.
In the aftermath of the June election, members of Iran's volunteer Islamic militia, Basij, were mobilised to crack down on protesters, along with the security forces. Basij is a unit of the Revolutionary Guards.
Iran's deputy parliament speaker Mohammad Reza Bahonar warned on Friday that if Karroubi does not prove his claims "he will be committing a big crime."
Etemad Melli also said Mohammad Ozlati Moghaddam, an aide to main opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, was arrested on Thursday night at his home.