Khamenei Has Ordered Arrest of Karroubi (UPDATED)
Mousavi’s Green Path of Hope news service is reporting that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has ordered opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi’s arrest. Here is the translation of that report (translation copyright New York Times): Informed news sources in Tehran report that “hearings” indicate Khamenei has given an order for the arrest of Karroubi. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, […]
Conservative MP: Khamenei Urged MPs to Support Cabinet
In the latest sign suggesting that Ahmadinejad’s political power depends on Khamenei’s backing, AFP is reporting that a senior conservative MP has said the Cabinet’s approval depended on Khamenei’s support. From AFP: TEHRAN — Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged MPs to approve President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s cabinet, a senior lawmaker said on Friday, the […]
Supreme Leader to MPs: Accept All Cabinet Nominees
Khabar Online is reporting that the Supreme Leader is placing further pressure on MPs to validate the entire Cabinet (h/t New York Times): With the publication of news from Majles Representatives based on the announcement from the Supreme Leader that he prefers a positive vote for all proposed Ministers, it is predicted that all 21 […]
Supreme Leader, Armed Forces Pressure MPs to Accept Cabinet
According to unconfirmed reports, the Supreme Leader’s office and the Commander of Iran’s Armed Forces have been pressuring MPs to accept Ahmadinejad’s Cabinet. Rouydad News reports (h/t New York Times): There have been contacts from the office of the Supreme Leader and people close to Ahmadinejad to MPs [to support his Cabinet]. In one case, […]
Khamenei Appointed Moderate Friday Sermon Leader
Most major newspaper coverage appear to have missed that Khamenei had appointed a moderate Friday sermon candidate, in hopes that his speech might set a moderate tone. Today’s Friday sermon called for unity, in contrast to Ahmadinejad’s pre-sermon speech, and tried to change the focus of the debate. Another sign that Ahmadinejad might have ruffled […]