Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warns opposition against planned demonstration

October 9th, 2009 Iran to 'blow up the heart of Israel' if attackedTEHRAN, Iran — Iran will "blow up the heart of Israel" if the United States or the Jewish state attacked it first, a top official with Iran's most powerful military force — the Revolutionary Guard — warned Friday. Cleric Mojtaba Zolnour, who is the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's representative in the Guard, said that if a U.S.

October 5th, 2009 Iran's supreme leader replaces militia chiefTEHRAN, Iran — Iran's state news agency is reporting that the country's supreme leader has named several new military commanders, including a new head of the militia force at the center of the postelection crackdown. The forces of the Basij militia were blamed for much of the violence against crowds protesting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed June 12 re-election.

September 30th, 2009 Iran's Rev. Guard buys stake in Iran telecomTEHRAN — A consortium connected to Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard bought a majority share in the country's telecommunications company Sunday, Iranian state media reported, bringing the strategic sector under the elite military force's control. The Etemad-e-Mobin consortium's $7.8 billion purchase gives it a 50 percent plus one share stake in the Iranian Telecommunications Company, Iran's state media reported Sunday.

September 30th, 2009 Iran test fires short-range missilesTEHRAN — State television says Iran test-fired short-range missiles during drills by the elite Revolutionary Guard. English-language Press TV reported that the missiles tested were the Fateh-110 and Tondar-69, but did not give specifics on the range or other details.

September 30th, 2009 Report: Iran conducts 2nd round of missile testsTEHRAN, Iran — Iran's state television says the elite Revolutionary Guard fired medium-range missiles in a second round of tests meant to demonstrate the country's preparedness for an attack. The report says the Guard test-fired Shahab-1 and Shahab-2 missiles overnight, following tests of short-range missiles early Sunday.

September 18th, 2009 Iranian government supporters, opposition to rallyTEHRAN, Iran — Police are deploying across Tehran as people take to the streets for a government-sponsored pro-Palestinian rally that will be addressed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The opposition has said it would also hold a protest on Friday, in defiance of warnings by the clerical establishment against anti-government rallies.

September 11th, 2009 Canadians scale back planned military demo in DCWASHINGTON — A planned Canadian military demonstration that would have included simulated bomb blasts within blocks of the White House and the Capitol, has been scaled back after media reports focused on the explosive elements. The Canadian Embassy had planned to simulate the detonation of an improvised explosive device several times over two days starting Sept.

September 11th, 2009 Iran's supreme leader warns opposition in sermonTEHRAN, Iran — Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the country's reformist opposition on Friday it would face a "harsh response" for confronting the Islamic establishment. Khamenei's tough warning, in a nationally televised Friday prayer sermon, comes as security forces have hiked up pressure on the opposition's leaders, launching a series of raids that detained several of their top aides.

September 11th, 2009 Iran's supreme leader warns opponents in sermonTEHRAN, Iran — Iran's supreme leader has warned opponents that any confrontation with the country's Islamic establishment would meet with a "harsh response." The remarks by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were a clear message to the Iranian opposition and reformists who have challenged his authority in the aftermath of the disputed June presidential election. Khamenei says authorities will strongly punish those who "take up the sword" to "confront the principles of the Islamic system." But he said peaceful differences and criticism by officials would be tolerated.

August 31st, 2009 Moscow police quash anti-Kremlin rally, detain 15MOSCOW — Riot police briefly detained about 15 people trying to hold an anti-Kremlin demonstration in central Moscow on Monday to defend Russians' constitutional right to assembly. Camouflage-clad police grabbed the protesters as they arrived at the square near the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall and hustled them into buses, carrying some by their arms and legs.

August 27th, 2009 Iran ayatollah: Opposition not stooges for WestTEHRAN, Iran — Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said claims that opposition leaders had links to Western powers have not been proven despite widespread allegations of foreign meddling by hard-liners. The comments late Wednesday appear to mark a significant shift away from the assertions of others in the Islamic leadership, including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, that the United States, Britain and other nations had a direct hand in guiding the violence and outrage following the disputed June 12 elections.

July 20th, 2009 TEHRAN - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Monday warned the country's opposition against provoking further unrest and decried alleged foreign interference following the June 12 presidential election. "Our scholars should be careful what they say and what they do not say," Khamenei said in a meeting with state officials, carried by state television.

July 20th, 2009 Iran's top leader reportedly warns politiciansTEHRAN, Iran — State radio says Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has told politicians to be careful in their stances on the country's postelection unrest, saying that disturbing security is "the biggest vice." Khamenei's comments appear aimed at warning opposition politicians against making any moves that would encourage further protests like the ones that shook the country following the disputed presidential election on June 12. Khamenei also says foreign enemies supported the unrest by broadcasting "procedures for rioting" through their media, according to Monday's state media report.

July 13th, 2009 Iran conservative candidate warns of 'implosion'TEHRAN,Iran — Iran's defeated conservative candidate criticized both the government and opposition protesters, warning that more post-election turmoil could destabilize the country In his remarks published on his Web site late Sunday, Mohsen Rezaei warned that the continuation of the current situation could "drive us toward implosion." Iran has been in turmoil following its June 12 presidential election. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the winner but the opposition claims widespread fraud.

June 25th, 2009 TEHRAN/HAMBURG - Mehdi Karroubi, who came third in Iran's disputed presidential elections, cancelled a ceremony planned for Thursday to mourn the deaths of those killed during the protests against alleged election fraud, his website said. The moderate former speaker of parliament plans to hold the ceremony next week instead.