IRAN’S OPPOSITION leader has said that he remains determined to continue his challenge to the disputed presidential vote that resulted in the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad earlier this month, despite what he said were efforts to isolate and discredit him.
In his first statement for several days, Mir Hussein Mousavi, whose supporters have led mass protests in Tehran and other cities since result of the June 12th election was declared, outlined the difficulties he faces. He accused the authorities of trying to isolate and vilify him to pressure him to withdraw his election challenge. Mr Mousavi, who alleges widespread electoral fraud, has rejected the offer of a partial recount of the vote, insisting that he will accept nothing less than a re-run of the election.
In the statement issued on a website, Mr Mousavi said he would not back down. “I am not ready to withdraw from demanding the rights of the Iranian people,” he said, adding that he was determined to prove that widespread irregularities had occurred during the election.
However, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei this week reiterated his position on the election, saying the result would not be overturned, and he would not bow to pressure for a re-run.
Mr Mousavi said Iranians had the right to protest over the disputed vote. The protests, which last week ran to hundreds of thousands, have dwindled in the aftermath of last weekend’s clashes which resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people. More than 17 people have died since Mr Ahmadinejad’s victory was declared on June 13th.
Since Saturday, thousands of police and militia have been deployed on the streets of Tehran to ensure no gatherings took place. Yesterday, however, there appeared to be a smaller security presence in some districts where clashes had occurred. A march by another defeated candidate, Mehdi Karroubi, was postponed because organisers were unable to secure a permit.
In the latest sign of government attempts to drown out any sign of dissent, 70 university professors were detained late on Wednesday after they met with Mr Mousavi.
In his statement, Mr Mousavi also defended himself and his supporters, who have become synonymous with the colour green, against numerous claims by Iranian state media that foreign elements had stirred or supported the unrest. “The green movement is not dependent on foreigners,” he said.
Meanwhile, there are further signs of cracks appearing in the Iranian establishment over the handling of the post-election turmoil, the most serious crisis faced by the Islamic Republic since it came into being in 1979.
Several Tehran newspapers have reported that 185 out of 290 members of parliament, including speaker Ali Larijani, chose to stay away from a victory celebration for Mr Ahmadinejad on Tuesday.
Mr Larijani had earlier suggested a majority of Iranians had concerns over the election and its result, and he accused the Guardian Council, the legislative body examining allegations of electoral fraud, of favouring one candidate over the others.