Khamenei calls for an end to Iran’s election disputes

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 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 26th, 2009 Senior Iranian cleric calls system a dictatorshipTEHRAN, Iran — Iran's most senior dissident cleric on Wednesday criticized the ruling system under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a dictatorship in the name of Islam, the most serious attack on the country's top official following the disputed presidential election. Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri said the ruling system showed its true nature with the violent crackdown against the hundreds of thousands who protested President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election and the torture of detainees that led to at least three deaths.

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.

August 3rd, 2009 TEHRAN - Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, formally endorsed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for second term as president Monday in a ceremony that sought to portray unity among the country's leadership but was snubbed by prominent critics of the disputed election. After Khamenei gave his official seal of approval, he received an awkward kiss on the shoulder from Ahmadinejad.

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.

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 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 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 Khatami: Referendum can end Iran's election crisisTEHRAN, Iran — Former president Mohammad Khatami has called for a nationwide referendum on the legitimacy of the government, saying Iranians have lost faith in their political leaders after last month's disputed election, according to reports posted Monday on several reformist Web sites. The opposition charges that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the June 12 election through mass fraud.

June 24th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The Obama Administration sent a letter to Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling for an improvement in relations, prior to the June 12 disputed presidential elections, which were followed by massive people protests. Ayatollah Khamenei confirmed the letter toward the end of a lengthy sermon on Friday, in which he accused the United States of fomenting protests in his country in the aftermath of the disputed June 12 presidential election.

June 19th, 2009 TEHRAN - Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election victory was credible and insisted that the Islamic republic's election mechanisms allowed no cheating. He said the street protests to pressure for change were not acceptable.

June 18th, 2009 Timeline of Iran's election crisisA timeline of Iran's post-election crisis, which has sparked the biggest unrest in the country in a decade. Iran holds presidential elections, with voters choosing among hard-line incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, main reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi and two others.

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.

June 9th, 2009 Past Iran president warns top leader before voteTEHRAN, Iran — A powerful former Iranian president urged the country's top leader Tuesday to take "serious action" against hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for accusing current and former top government officials of corruption in a televised election debate. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a powerful figure in Iran's clerical leadership, increased the political tension in an already highly charged campaign by going directly to the supreme leader, who has the final say in state matters and normally stays above the political fray.