On Friday, 6/19, Iran’s supreme leader flat out rejected vote fraud claims, reiterating President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was the winner of the election. During his speech, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attempted to send a clear warning to protesters:

“I want to tell everyone these things must finish. These street actions are being done to put pressure on leaders but we will not bow in front of them,” he said.

“Those politicans who somehow have influence on people should be very careful about their behaviour if they act in an extremist manner.

“This extremism will reach a sensitive level which they will not be able to contain. They will be responsible for the blood, violence and chaos,” he added, warning that “terrorists who could assassinate the Basij (militia) or the police” might hide among the demonstrators.

The Ayatollah also made the statement:

The legal structure in this country does not allow vote-rigging

As I understand it he is right, as he is the ultimate individual who decides everything within the government. Why bother rigging the vote when he could simply put in anyone he wants.

Despite the call for the protests to stop supporters of Mousavi are expecting to hold another large rally. Supporters of Ahmadinejad expected to hold a counter-rally. I could see how such a situation would turn into a volatile mix – especially since the government said to expect violence.

Oh, and Khamenei has a message for Mousavi – either accept the disputed results of the recent elections or leave the country for exile. Nice huh?  Imagine what would have happened if that was said here.

The supreme leader is also claiming outside forces are to blame for the current situation:

“After street protests, some foreign powers … started to interfere in Iran’s state matters by questioning the result of the vote. They do not know the Iranian nation. I strongly condemn such interference,” Khamenei said.Is there really anything wrong with questioning authority, and is the simple act of questioning interference? No. Khamenei is trying to place the blame for the current situation elsewhere.

Finally, do you want a perspective that you haven’t read about up until this point? Do you want to know what it would be like to be a protester who was arrested? If so, you need to read what happened to a Canadian journalist who was arrested as a suspected protester. Really, you must read this.

You may not be seeing the news of the recent Iranian election on stations such as CNN, Fox News or MSNBC.  If you have, however, chances are its coverage about President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad being declared winner.  What the public is not really seeing is the anger, the demonstrations and violence over the elections due to claims of a manipulated election.

Hossein Mousavi, the opposition to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has released a letter addressed to the Iranian people.  Here is the full English text of his letter (via tehranbureau.com)

In the Name of God

Honorable people of Iran

The reported results of the 10th Iranians residential Election are appalling. The people who witnessed the mixture of votes in long lineups know who they have voted for and observe the wizardry of I.R.I.B (State run TV and Radio) and election officials. Now more than ever before they want to know how and by which officials this game plan has been designed. I object fully to the current procedures and obvious and abundant deviations from law on the day of election and alert people to not surrender to this dangerous plot. Dishonesty and corruption of officials as we have seen will only result in weakening the pillars of the Islamic Republic of Iran and empowers lies and dictatorships.

I am obliged, due to my religious and national duties, to expose this dangerous plot and to explain its devastating effects on the future of Iran. I am concerned that the continuation of the current situation will transform all key members of this regime into fabulists in confrontation with the nation and seriously jeopardize them in this world and the next.

I advise all officials to halt this agenda at once before it is too late, return to the rule of law and protect the nation’s vote and know that deviation from law renders them illegitimate. They are aware better than anyone else that this country has been through a grand Islamic revolution and the least message of this revolution is that our nation is alert and will oppose anyone who aims to seize the power against the law.

I use this chance to honor the emotions of the nation of Iran and remind them that Iran, this sacred being, belongs to them and not to the fraudulent. It is you who should stay alert. The traitors to the nation’s vote have no fear if this house of Persians burns in flames. We will continue with our green wave of rationality that is inspired by our religious learnings and our love for prophet Mohammad and will confront the rampage of lies that has appeared and marked the image of our nation. However we will not allow our movement to become blind one.

I thank every citizen who took part in spreading this green message by becoming a campaigner and all official and self organized campaigns, I insist that their presence is essential until we achieve results deserving of our country.

[ verse from in Quran: Why not trust in God, who has shown us our ways. We are patient in face of what disturbs us. Our resilience is in god. ]

Mir Hossein Mousavi

Oh, and guess what?  Housavi is reportedly under house arrest for his post-election letter.

Talking things one step further, it appears communications have been cut in Tehran:

The main mobile telephone network in Iran was cut in the capital Tehran Saturday evening while popular Internet websites Facebook and YouTube also appeared to be blocked, correspondents said.

The communication cuts came after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won a landslide re-election victory, sparking rioting in the streets by opposition supporters who claimed the result had been rigged.

The mobile phone network stopped working at 10:00 pm (1730 GMT), just before Ahmadinejad went on television to declare the election a “great victory” and even as baton-wielding police were clashing with protestors in the streets of Tehran, according to witnesses.

Was the election rigged?  There is no way for us to ever truly know. There is, however, very little doubt that something major is potentially underway in the country of Iran. If a false election did take place, will the population stand up en masse? I hope so.