German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Barack Obama have condemned the Iranian government for cracking down on citizens who have questioned the results of the June 12 presidential election, which President Mahmud Ahmadinejad is said to have won.
The two leaders were speaking at a joint news conference on June 26.
Iran's ethnic Azeri community numbers roughly 15-20 million, or almost a quarter of the country's overall population. Most Azeris harbor deep feelings of resentment toward Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's administration in Tehran, and they are believed to have voted strongly for the aggrieved presidential challenger, Mir Hussein Mousavi, who is himself an Azeri from Tabriz.
Looking past their fiery rhetoric and apparent determination to cling to power using all available means, Iran's hardliners are not a confident bunch. While hardliners still believe they possess enough force to stifle popular protests, they are worried that they are losing a behind-the-scenes battle within Iran's religious establishment.
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.
