TEHRAN, (Reuters) – Iran’s supreme leader issued a stern warning to the pro-reform opposition yesterday, accusing it of violating the law by insulting the memory of the Islamic Republic’s revered founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
Declaring opposition rallies were illegal, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made it clear he would not tolerate any more protests by reformers seeking to revive their challenge to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad six months after his disputed re-election.
Iran’s top authority effectively sided with hardliners calling for tougher action against the opposition, which has continued to show defiance over a poll it says was rigged in the conservative incumbent’s favour.
Tension has increased in Iran since student backers of opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi last Monday clashed in Tehran with security forces armed with batons and tear gas in the largest such anti-government demonstration in months.
State television has broadcast footage of what it said were opposition supporters tearing up and trampling on a picture of late revolutionary leader Khomeini during the Dec. 7 protests.
“They are openly violating the law, they insulted Imam Khomeini,” Khamenei said in a hard-hitting televised speech.
