supreme leader news stories on Newser

Top Iranian Dissident Montazeri Dies

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 06:19:41 CST

Iran's most senior dissident cleric, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, who emerged as the spiritual father of its reform movement, died in his sleep overnight. He was 87. Once slated to succeed Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Montazeri instead led the charge in accusing the country's ruling Islamic establishment of imposing dictatorship...

Silver: How Do You Rig 11M Votes? Easily

Nick McMaster — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:46:28 CDT

Nate Silver has a bone to pick with the ayatollah. In his attempt yesterday to quash claims of voter fraud, Ali Khamenei asserted that President Ahmadinejad had won by 11 million votes. "How can one rig 11 million votes?" he asked. That's faulty logic, cries Silver on FiveThirtyEight.com. In...

Ayatollah Calls for Calm, Denies Ballot Fraud

Jason Farago — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:32:59 CDT

The supreme leader of Iran called for "peace and tranquility" in his first public speech since the contested presidential election, Al Jazeera reports. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei defended the legitimacy of the vote and told protesters to stop, notes the New York Times . "Street challenge is not acceptable," he said, adding...

4 Possible Outcomes for Iran

Matt Cantor — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:07:58 CDT

Iran’s election aftermath seems to have come as a surprise to its key figures. With protesters showing no sign of relenting, Tony Karon of Time offers four possible conclusions: A repeat of the 1979 revolution. But that’s unlikely, because “an unarmed popular movement can only topple an authoritarian regime if...

Disputed Letter Reports Victory by Mousavi

Jason Farago — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:25:02 CDT

Among the propaganda coming from all sides in the Iranian election dispute, one letter stands out: a note from the interior minister to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, giving the "true" result of last Friday's vote. The letter acknowledges the Supreme Leader's "order" for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to win but shows Mir Hossein...

Ayatollah Won't Overturn Ahmadinejad's Victory

Harry Kimball — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:03:51 CDT

This might seal it: Iran supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denied challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi’s request to overturn the results of the presidential election, the Guardian reports. Khamenei, perhaps dashing Mousavi's only chance to upend an outcome the challenger claims was rigged, called Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s win a “divine assessment.” Hundreds...