Close to the UN headquarters in Manhattan, visibly distressed young Iranian women wearing black headscarves are chanting in Persian with a like-minded crowd.
Some of the participants are carrying Iranian flags, others are holding homemade signs that read: "Where Is My Vote?" "Freedom And Democracy," "Khamenei, Stop Killing Iranians."
Close to the UN headquarters in Manhattan, visibly distressed young Iranian women wearing black headscarves are chanting in Persian with a like-minded crowd.
Some of the participants are carrying Iranian flags, others are holding homemade signs that read: "Where Is My Vote?" "Freedom And Democracy," "Khamenei, Stop Killing Iranians."
Police are reportedly using water cannons and tear gas against thousands of people who have gathered in downtown Tehran to protest the presidential election results despite warnings from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei against further rallies.
Thousands of riot police and Basij militia are trying to isolate the groups of protesters.
Police are reportedly using water cannons and tear gas against thousands of people who have gathered in downtown Tehran to protest the presidential election results despite warnings from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei against further rallies.
Thousands of riot police and Basij militia are trying to isolate the groups of protesters (see raw footage here).
It would appear that Iran's political crisis is entering the end-game phase. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appeared to slam the door June 19 on any chance of a political compromise. In a sermon at Tehran University, he resolutely defended the integrity of the country's rigged presidential election result, and threatened protesters with retribution.
An estimated two-thirds of Iran’s population is younger than 30. With the morality police constantly patrolling the streets of Tehran, Iranian youth try to find a place in society that stays clear of upsetting the political and religious establishment.
Hardliners in Iran are preparing to make a desperate bid to preserve their power in the face of burgeoning public opposition. A source within Iran's law enforcement agency revealed late on June 18 that backers of presumptive president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will try to deploy special Revolutionary Guard units to confront protesters in Tehran.
Casting a cautious eye to Azerbaijan's southern neighbor, Iran, the head of an Azerbaijani Diaspora organization claimed on June 18 that ethnic Azeris in Iran are not taking part in Tehran demonstrations against the reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
A chain reaction of hope in Iran is fueling youth-led street protests that seem poised to beat back Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s power grab. Over 1 million demonstrators gathered for a Tehran rally on June 18, by far the largest anti-government crowd to assemble since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
