Iran developments
The Times reports "Khamenei tells Mousavi to toe the line over election or be cast out" -- although do not specify what is meant by "cast out."
Meanwhile, Friday prayers have just taken place and The Guardian's liveblog reports Aytollah Khamenei as saying the following:
9.45 a.m.
Al-Jazeera is showing live pictures of Khamenei at the start of Friday prayers. It quotes him calling for peace.
"I advise you to follow Allah and follow the pious way," he says according to the translation. "Apply the fear of God," he adds.
He goes on to cite verses from the Qu'ran about enemies surrounding Mecca. "Psychologically Muslims need a quiet and tranquil heart," al-Jazeera's translator quotes Khamenei as saying.
"When we gain stress and worries it will be difficult to find our way. When we are quiet it is easier to find solutions. This is the blessing of Allah. Believers need to find calm and strength."
He goes on to talk of the benefit of supplication. "Since the beginning of the revolution 30 years have passed. Events have happened that could eliminate the system and the regime," Khamenei said.
"Try to forget about politics and remember spirituality. This is the way to gain freedom. From the beginning the revolution was based on the strength of your faith.
"We have to go back to spirituality. It will lead the revolution to success in this materialistic world. It will make a strong pillar of the Islamic system and protect it from the troubles outside.
"Most of our youth are spiritual even if you don't see that in their faces.
"Oh God give us a calm and peaceful heart.
"About the issue of elections, the main issue of the country. There are three issues. One will be for the political leaders, our president, activists, western counties and leaders of the media. The elections of the 12 June was proof of participation of the people. It was a show of their love for their regime. We can't find other countries with such a level of democracy.
"We have not had such participation (85%) since the revolution. The young generation especially showed their worry and their political obligations. There are differences between the people, some prefer different candidates. This is natural. This election was a big celebration of the revolution. That many people showing love and loyalty. This election was a religious democratic event. It showed dictatorial countries that this is a religious democratic country.
"The election showed that people with belief, hopes and joys are living in this country. Our enemies are using it. If the young did not feel free they would not have participated in the election. This trust is the biggest asset of the Islamic republic.
"There were claims of fraud before the election. Don't listen to those allegations.
"The competition for the election was very clear. Enemies and dirty Zionists tried to show the election as a contest between the regime and against it. That is not true, all four candidates support the regime." [He lists the government positions of the opposition candidates]. All of the candidates are part of this system and regime. Zionists and the bad British radio said it was a challenge to the regime.
"The issue is inside the system. The dispute is not against the revolution. The dispute was among candidates and there was a positive and negative effect. People were able to judge, they felt part of the system. All views were available to the people.
"The result was clear. They selected candidates they wanted. These disputes and conversations among candidates went to the streets and houses of the people. This gives strength to the system. This should not be misunderstood. The people should be ready to answer critics.
"Rumours spread that were not true, and gave a bad image to the previous government. Calling the president a liar is that good? This is against the truth. The 30 years of the revolution was turning black."
Khamenei talks about the rumours about Hashemi Rafsanjani. He praises Rafsanjani as "close" to the revolution. "The youth should know that... He was at the service of the revolution. I do have some difference with him, but people should not imagine something else between him and the president.
"We don't claim there is no corruption in our regime. But this is one of the most healthy systems in the world. Zionists claims of corruption are not right.
"My dear people, June 12 was a historic event. Our enemies want to cast doubt on it and portray it as defeat for the regime. The presidential campaign has finished. All of the four candidates are among the Islamic system. The people have trust in the revolution and the republic. The Islamic republic is not cheating against others. There is no cheating inside the election system - it is well controlled. There may been mistakes but 11 million [votes] is not possible.
"The guardian council has said that if people have doubts they should prove them. I will not follow false allegations. In all elections some are winners and some are losers. Correct legal procedures should be followed to ensure trust in the process.
"The candidates should be careful about what they say and do" [Mousavi doesn't seem to be there].
"Some diplomats from the west are showing their real face and that they are enemies. The worst are the British.
"The street is the place of living and trading. Why are you taking to the streets? We have had the election. Street demonstrations are a target for terrorist plots. Who would be responsible if something happened?
10.30 a.m.
Khamenei appears to threaten the protesters.
"Rioting after the election is not a good way. It questions the election. If they continue [the consequences] will be their responsibility."
"If they continue they will be receiving other consequences, behind the scenes. I'm asking my friends and brothers to follow the laws. Let God give us blessing to follow those ways."
The western media were "shocked" by the level of participation in the election, he claimed.
He also contrasts Barack Obama's comments about the election with his letter offering better relations with Iran.
10.45 a.m.
Robert Tait comments on those in the audience. From what we can see watching the speech here, the Times report appears to be wrong.
There is no sign of Mousavi or Karroubi but all Ahmadinejad's cabinet ministers and additional hangers on are there. Those in the audience are clearly government employees and plain-clotehd volunteer militia types.
10.50 a.m.
After further criticism of the west Khamenei winds up his speech with a prayer, which ends "God bless you all".
Hm, looks like Khamenei is getting more "I'm not budging."
Meanwhile, I looked up Montazeri. He certainly is more reformist than Rafsanjani or Mousavi, according to his Wikipedia page although I wonder about the realism of proposing him replacing Khamenei given his age -- he was already in his early eighties in 2003, when he was under house arrest.
And, randomly, another good explanation of the closed system of democracy in Iran, this one from the day the candidates were announced.
For Westerners, a difficult balance between support and not too much support. Of course, given that that's our biggest worry in this whole affair at the moment, we have nothing to complain about next to what Iranians are going through. Still, I'm re-thinking my "Where is mytheir vote" Facebook userpic.
Shirin Ebadi (Nobel Prize winner and long-time opponent of the regime) also approves Obama's hands-off stance.
Meanwhile, Friday prayers have just taken place and The Guardian's liveblog reports Aytollah Khamenei as saying the following:
9.45 a.m.
Al-Jazeera is showing live pictures of Khamenei at the start of Friday prayers. It quotes him calling for peace.
"I advise you to follow Allah and follow the pious way," he says according to the translation. "Apply the fear of God," he adds.
He goes on to cite verses from the Qu'ran about enemies surrounding Mecca. "Psychologically Muslims need a quiet and tranquil heart," al-Jazeera's translator quotes Khamenei as saying.
"When we gain stress and worries it will be difficult to find our way. When we are quiet it is easier to find solutions. This is the blessing of Allah. Believers need to find calm and strength."
He goes on to talk of the benefit of supplication. "Since the beginning of the revolution 30 years have passed. Events have happened that could eliminate the system and the regime," Khamenei said.
"Try to forget about politics and remember spirituality. This is the way to gain freedom. From the beginning the revolution was based on the strength of your faith.
"We have to go back to spirituality. It will lead the revolution to success in this materialistic world. It will make a strong pillar of the Islamic system and protect it from the troubles outside.
"Most of our youth are spiritual even if you don't see that in their faces.
"Oh God give us a calm and peaceful heart.
"About the issue of elections, the main issue of the country. There are three issues. One will be for the political leaders, our president, activists, western counties and leaders of the media. The elections of the 12 June was proof of participation of the people. It was a show of their love for their regime. We can't find other countries with such a level of democracy.
"We have not had such participation (85%) since the revolution. The young generation especially showed their worry and their political obligations. There are differences between the people, some prefer different candidates. This is natural. This election was a big celebration of the revolution. That many people showing love and loyalty. This election was a religious democratic event. It showed dictatorial countries that this is a religious democratic country.
"The election showed that people with belief, hopes and joys are living in this country. Our enemies are using it. If the young did not feel free they would not have participated in the election. This trust is the biggest asset of the Islamic republic.
"There were claims of fraud before the election. Don't listen to those allegations.
"The competition for the election was very clear. Enemies and dirty Zionists tried to show the election as a contest between the regime and against it. That is not true, all four candidates support the regime." [He lists the government positions of the opposition candidates]. All of the candidates are part of this system and regime. Zionists and the bad British radio said it was a challenge to the regime.
"The issue is inside the system. The dispute is not against the revolution. The dispute was among candidates and there was a positive and negative effect. People were able to judge, they felt part of the system. All views were available to the people.
"The result was clear. They selected candidates they wanted. These disputes and conversations among candidates went to the streets and houses of the people. This gives strength to the system. This should not be misunderstood. The people should be ready to answer critics.
"Rumours spread that were not true, and gave a bad image to the previous government. Calling the president a liar is that good? This is against the truth. The 30 years of the revolution was turning black."
Khamenei talks about the rumours about Hashemi Rafsanjani. He praises Rafsanjani as "close" to the revolution. "The youth should know that... He was at the service of the revolution. I do have some difference with him, but people should not imagine something else between him and the president.
"We don't claim there is no corruption in our regime. But this is one of the most healthy systems in the world. Zionists claims of corruption are not right.
"My dear people, June 12 was a historic event. Our enemies want to cast doubt on it and portray it as defeat for the regime. The presidential campaign has finished. All of the four candidates are among the Islamic system. The people have trust in the revolution and the republic. The Islamic republic is not cheating against others. There is no cheating inside the election system - it is well controlled. There may been mistakes but 11 million [votes] is not possible.
"The guardian council has said that if people have doubts they should prove them. I will not follow false allegations. In all elections some are winners and some are losers. Correct legal procedures should be followed to ensure trust in the process.
"The candidates should be careful about what they say and do" [Mousavi doesn't seem to be there].
"Some diplomats from the west are showing their real face and that they are enemies. The worst are the British.
"The street is the place of living and trading. Why are you taking to the streets? We have had the election. Street demonstrations are a target for terrorist plots. Who would be responsible if something happened?
10.30 a.m.
Khamenei appears to threaten the protesters.
"Rioting after the election is not a good way. It questions the election. If they continue [the consequences] will be their responsibility."
"If they continue they will be receiving other consequences, behind the scenes. I'm asking my friends and brothers to follow the laws. Let God give us blessing to follow those ways."
The western media were "shocked" by the level of participation in the election, he claimed.
He also contrasts Barack Obama's comments about the election with his letter offering better relations with Iran.
10.45 a.m.
Robert Tait comments on those in the audience. From what we can see watching the speech here, the Times report appears to be wrong.
There is no sign of Mousavi or Karroubi but all Ahmadinejad's cabinet ministers and additional hangers on are there. Those in the audience are clearly government employees and plain-clotehd volunteer militia types.
10.50 a.m.
After further criticism of the west Khamenei winds up his speech with a prayer, which ends "God bless you all".
Hm, looks like Khamenei is getting more "I'm not budging."
Meanwhile, I looked up Montazeri. He certainly is more reformist than Rafsanjani or Mousavi, according to his Wikipedia page although I wonder about the realism of proposing him replacing Khamenei given his age -- he was already in his early eighties in 2003, when he was under house arrest.
And, randomly, another good explanation of the closed system of democracy in Iran, this one from the day the candidates were announced.
For Westerners, a difficult balance between support and not too much support. Of course, given that that's our biggest worry in this whole affair at the moment, we have nothing to complain about next to what Iranians are going through. Still, I'm re-thinking my "Where is mytheir vote" Facebook userpic.
Shirin Ebadi (Nobel Prize winner and long-time opponent of the regime) also approves Obama's hands-off stance.