Iran

Khamenei rejects dissent, diplomatic ties under threat

Article published on the 2009-06-24 Latest update 2009-06-25 10:50 TU

A protest outside the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday
(Photo: Reuters)

As diplomatic relations worsened between Iran and several European countries, the country's Supreme Leader said on Wednesday that there would be no backing down in the face of what he called "force". The arrest of 25 people from the newspaper of the losing presidential candidate was also announced on Wednesday.

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Wednesday that there would be no concessions made in face of recent protests. "Neither the system, nor the people will back down under force," he said.

His statement came against a backdrop of diplomatic tenson after London and Tehran expelled their respective diplomats.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has said Iran is considering downgrading diplomatic ties with Britain while Romania said on Wednesday that it had summoned the Iranian ambassador to protest the reaction to protests in Tehran.

This came after similar moves by France, Sweden and Finland as Iran's Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli has claimed the protesters are backed by the CIA and exiled Iranian opposition groups.

Twenty-five employees at Kalemeh Sabz, the newspaper of losing presidential candidate Mir Hossein Moussavi, have been arrested, said editors at the paper.