Khamenei formally endorses Ahmadinejad’s second presidential term

September 11th, 2009 TEHRAN - A teenaged engineering student has revealed that he was locked up, beaten and raped multiple times for daring to protest against President Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election. "When I first participated in the protests I was not demonstrating against the Leader or the Islamic Republic.

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 12th, 2009 BOGOTA - Conservative Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has said that he would seek a third term in office if a referendum on presidential re-elections was approved. In a meeting with members of the ruling party Tuesday, Uribe said he was keen to remain in power if a referendum allowing him a third presidential term was held.

August 5th, 2009 TEHRAN - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran was sworn in Wednesday for a second presidential term. Ahmadinejad took his oath of office before the Majlis (parliament), Press TV reported.

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, has endorsed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for his second term in office, a media report said Monday. Ahmadinejad was declared the victor of the June 12 election with almost two-thirds of the votes, Press TV reported.

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 25th, 2009 TEHRAN - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's pick for first vice president officially withdrew from the post after the supreme leader ordered Ahmadinejad to sack his deputy, the ISNA news agency reported Saturday. "Following the order by the supreme leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei), I do not consider myself as first vice president anymore and will serve the people wherever else needed," Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaie said in a short statement carried by ISNA.

July 5th, 2009 TEHRAN - Former Iranin president Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani has denied that there was any power struggle in the country following the crisis triggered by alleged fraud in the June 12 presidential election, ISNA news agency reported. The election scene was a competition within the system and should not be considered by some as a power struggle or crack in the system," Rafsanjani was quoted by ISNA as saying in his first reaction to the post-election turmoil Saturday.

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 20th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The United States supports Iranians to seek "peaceful" justice, President Barack Obama said Friday, addressing to the rioting in Iran's post-elections. "We stand behind those who are seeking justice in a peaceful way," Obama said in an interview with CBS News.

June 19th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today said that the recent presidential elections showed off the country's religious democracy for the world to see, shrugging an unprecedented challenge to the country's ruling clerics by opposition supporters, who claim the June 12 presidential election was rigged. He said on Friday that there was "definitive victory" and no rigging in the disputed presidential elections, offering no concession to protesters demanding the vote be canceled and held again.

June 19th, 2009 Key points from Khamenei addressKey points from the Friday prayers address by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: Dismisses charges of voting rigging in the June 12 presidential election and sides with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who official results showed was the landslide winner. This effectively closes the door on chances for a recount or new election.

May 29th, 2009 TEHRAN - Three people were injured when the election headquarters of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the southeastern Sistan-Beluchistan province was attacked Friday by unidentified gunmen, IRNA reported. Mohammad-Reza Zahed-Sheikhi, the chief of the headquarters, told IRNA that three gunmen on motorbikes attacked the building in the provincial capital Zahedan and started shooting at supporters.

May 4th, 2009 Iran supreme leader rebukes president over powersTEHRAN, Iran — Iran's supreme leader publicly rebuked the president over his removal of a top official, a rare show of discontent with the hard-line Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by the country's most powerful figure. The rebuke, issued in the press Monday, quickly raised questions whether the supreme leader is backing off support of Ahmadinejad in the president's tough battle for a second term in June 12 elections.