Iran - Post-election protest

Supreme leader says no proof of foreign hand in protests

Article published on the 2009-08-27 Latest update 2009-08-27 15:07 TU

Supporters of Mousavi set fire during post-election unrest.
(Photo: Reuters)

The Supreme leader of Iran says that he has "no proof" of interference from foreign powers in June’s post-election violence. Ayatollah Ali Khamanei’s statement appeared on Iranian state television on Wednesday.

In Wednesday's television statement Khamanei said he does not "accuse the leaders of the recent incidents to be subordinates to the foreigners, like the United States and Britain, since this issue has not been proven to me."

"This plot was defeated, since fortunately our enemies still do not understand the issue in Iran," he said.

The regime of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has blamed the President’s main rival in June's election, Mir Hossein Mousavi, for starting political unrest.

Both had previously accused foreign powers of playing a part in violent mass demonstrations that led to a number of deaths and hundreds of arrests.

Trials of people the government believe were involved in the demonstrations and consequent violence are underway in Tehran. Over 140 people have stood trial, including French and British embassy local staff and 24 year old Clothilde Reiss, a French teaching assistant.

In the statement, Khamenei said that rulings from the trials should be "based on solid evidence, not on circumstantial evidence."

The Ayatollah also warned all students ahead of the academic year to stay clear of politics.

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