Iran’s supreme leader warns opposition, decries foreign interference

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 17th, 2009 Iranian regime's forces warn opposition over rallyTEHRAN, Iran — The Iranian regime's elite Revolutionary Guard is warning opposition protesters against holding a new anti-government demonstration. Opposition activists have called for protests to coincide with government-sponsored demonstrations marking Quds Day, dedicated to condemning Israel and expressing support for the Palestinians.

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.

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.

August 5th, 2009 Ahmadinejad sworn in as Iranian presidentTEHRAN, Iran — Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was sworn in Wednesday for a second term in office as president of Iran, appealing for national unity and denouncing foreign interference in his inauguration speech before parliament. Ahmadinejad took the oath and pledged to protect the constitution but his inauguration speech was unusually soft-toned for the bellicose Iranian leader.

August 3rd, 2009 Iran's Ahmadinejad to be endorsed for 2nd termTEHRAN, Iran — Iran's Supreme Leader is to formally endorse Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president, a step leading up to his inauguration in parliament. But the country's opposition and moderates — including former president Hashemi Rafsanjani — say they'll boycott Monday's ceremony in defiance of an election they decry as fraudulent.

August 3rd, 2009 TEHRAN - Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has endorsed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for his second term in office, amid protests by opposition parties over alleged irregularities in the June 12 presidential elections, a media report said Monday. Ahmadinejad won the election with almost two-thirds of the vote, Iran's election commission said.

August 3rd, 2009 Iran's Ahmadinejad endorsed for 2nd termTEHRAN, Iran — Iran's supreme leader has formally endorse Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for second term as president in a step leading up to his inauguration in parliament. State television broadcast images of the ceremony Monday with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei giving the president his seal of approval.

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 20th, 2009 Iran's top leader 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.

June 27th, 2009 TEHRAN - Iran Saturday decried a G8 statement on its presidential election as interfering and hasty, ISNA news agency reported. "The G8 statement was interfering and hasty, although the presidential election in Iran was held in a totally legal, free and competitive atmosphere," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said.

June 24th, 2009 TEHRAN - Mohsen Rezaei, an opposition candidate in Iran's June 12 presidential elections, has withdrawn his complaint to the Guardian Council regarding irregularities in the election process, Iranian media reported Wednesday. The (current) political, social and security situation has entered a sensitive and decisive phase, which is more important than the election, said Rezaei in a letter to the secretary of the Guardian Council, Press TV reported.

June 24th, 2009 Supreme leader: Iran won't give in on electionCAIRO — Iran's supreme leader said Wednesday that the government would not give in to pressure over the disputed presidential election, effectively closing the door to compromise with the opposition. Iran also said it was considering downgrading ties with Britain, which it has accused of spying and fomenting days of unprecedented street protests over the vote.

June 16th, 2009 Iran's supreme leader calls for national unityTEHRAN, Iran — State television says Iran's supreme leader has called for national unity during a meeting with representatives of the four candidates in disputed presidential elections. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for Iranians to unite behind the cleric-led ruling system despite rival demonstrations and street clashes between supporters of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his reformist opponent Mir Hossein Mousavi, who says Ahmadinejad stole re-election.

March 17th, 2009 TEHRAN - Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has granted amnesty to 950 prisoners earlier convicted by various courts in the country, IRNA reported Tuesday. The decision was made on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Prophet of Islam March 15.