Iran News Round Up

A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by Ali Alfoneh, Ahmad Majidyar and Michael Rubin.  To subscribe to this daily newsletter, e-mail [email protected].

 (E) = Article in English

Ahmainejad’s supporters celebrate victory; presidential candidates lodge official complaints to Guardian Council alleging fraud in election; Mousavi urges nation to contest election results; Ahmadinejad to travel to Russia for Shanghai Summit.

Post-Election Events

• Ahmadineajd supporters celebrate in Vali-yi Asr Square. Video: 
  • Ahmadinejad says economic corruption is like "pollution." 
  • Adorned with a green scarf, symbol of Mousavi’s campaign, Ahmadinejad says "green is the color of the household of the Prophet...I take the green scarf as a sign of my respect to descendants of the Prophet." 
• Guardian Council Spokesman Abbasali Kadkhodayi announces that presidential candidates Mousavi and Rezai have lodged official complaints to the Guardian Council, alleging irregularities during the election. Mousavi’s first criticism was about allegations made against “personalities of the regime” at the televised presidential debates. Other issues raised were sabotage by the authorities at the General Governorates regarding providing ID cards for election supervisors, announcement of the vote before consensus among the supervisors, shortage of voting forms in Shiraz and Tabriz, extra broadcast time for Ahmadinejad on Voice and Vision, headlines of Raja News, announcement by Fars and IRNA of Ahmadinejad's victory, breach of Article 40 of the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces, and use of the military and the Basij at the propaganda meetings of Ahmadineajd. Commenting on Rezai's complaints, Kadkhodayi added: "Rezai believes that he has had between 3.5 to 7.5 million votes." According to Kadkhodayi, Mehdi Karrubi has not submitted any complaint yet.  
• Rezai's letter of protest to the Guardian Council. 
• Shahab News releases Karrubi's second statement to the nation in which he counts various stages of the revolution at which civil rights have been suppressed. 
• Mousavi communicates a direct message to the Iranian nation:
  • "Dear compatriots! I am receiving a great deal of news from all over the country about protests against the elections results announced. I am convinced that these reactions are not because of my very person, but they emanate from concerns about the new form of political life being imposed upon our country. During the past days, we have witnessed actions which are unprecedented in the Islamic Republic. If the people are following the current events with nervousness, it is because they are gravely concerned that the achievements of their great revolution are in danger. We, as individuals who believe in the regime of the Islamic Republic and its Constitution, consider the principle of the Guardianship of the Jurist one of the pillars of this regime and continue the political movement within the framework of the law. I hope that future developments prove us wrong in this perception, but at the same time we warn that in this country no one who loves the Islamic revolution will accept such a trend and the blood of hundreds of thousands of martyrs make us responsible in this regard. Dear people! I have presented the Guardian Council with a letter calling for declaring the latest elections invalid and I consider this the only path for restoration of public trust and public support for the government. This servant of yours urges you once again to continue your peaceful opposition based on the principle of non-violence and [in defense of] civil rights all over the country. We have asked the authorities to allow us to stage a great demonstration in all cities of the country so that the people have an opportunity to display their opposition to the election results and the way the election has been conducted. Do not abandon the green color which is the symbol of spirituality, freedom, religion, and tolerance, or the slogan of 'God is Great' which defines our revolutionary roots. Such color and slogan are what unite our lines and provide the best vehicle to connect our hearts and demands with each other. Unfortunately, extensive effort is being made to cut all means of communications between us. No attention is paid to the fact that cutting such channels only makes the current reactions turn from their strategic and managed pathway into, God forbid, blind actions. I am convinced that your innovation will create new ways of communication so we can achieve positive results for the country, the regime and the revolution. As someone liking the Law Enforcement Forces, I recommend them not to confront the natural popular movements with harsh methods and not to allow popular trust in this important institution to be harmed. These people have entered the scene to defend their rights as well as your rights. They are your brothers and sisters. Power of the military and Law Enforcement Forces has always been inherent in their unity with the people and it will remain so in the future." 
  • Mousavi urges his supporters to stage a demonstration from Azadi Square to the Enghelab Square from 4.00 PM to 8.00 PM local time on Monday. 
  • Tehran Governor General Morteza Tammaddon says Mousavi's announcement of demonstration is not approved by the Interior Ministry and is illegal. 
  • Mousavi threatens to arrange a sit-in at the mausoleum of Khomeini if his protests are ignored by the Guardian Council. 
• Rumors about meeting between Mousavi and Khamenei in a few hours. 
• Ayatollah Sanei says cheating in elections is a great sin. 
• Chief Inspectorate Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi criticizes allegations made at the televised presidential debates. 
• The Iranian Hezbollah Front declares support for Karrubi, whom they title "Ayatollah" rather than "Hojjat al-Islam", as well as for Rezai and Mousavi. 
• Parliamentarian Bahman Akhavan shouting from the tribune of the parliament: "I have voted for Mousavi. Come and kill me!" 

Diplomacy

• Ahmadinejad to travel to Russia tomorrow to attend the Shanghai Pact Summit. 

Military and security

• Civilian dressed as anti-riot police attacks Tehran University campus, and wounds and arrests an unknown number of students. Shahab News reports similar attacks at Isfahan University of Technology. 

Photo of the day

• Ahmadinejad meets the press.