Iran

Ahmadinejad confirmed as President

Article published on the 2009-06-30 Latest update 2009-06-30 16:56 TU

Mahmoud Ahmedinejad in Tehran, 27 June 2009.
(Photo: AFP)

The powerful Guardian Council in Iran officially certified the reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Tuesday, setting off small, scattered protests in the capital, which were quickly quelled by security forces.

Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, the Guardian Council’s secretary, sent a letter to the interior minister saying the panel had approved the election after a partial recount, according to state television.

“The Guardian Council, by reviewing the issues in many meetings and not considering the complaints and protest as valid, verifies the 10th presidential election,” Ayatollah Jannati wrote. The letter made scant mention of the sweeping public anger and accusations of fraud.

Opposition candidates had refused to participate in the review by sending representatives, saying that the election should be annulled because of widespread fraud.

Speaking to reporters in Washington on Monday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the Iranian government was facing a credibility gap over the election. 

“I don’t think that’s going to disappear by any finding of a limited review of a relatively small number of ballots,” she said.

Asked whether the United States would recognize Mr. Ahmadinejad as Iran’s president, she said only, “We’re going to take this a day at a time.”