Even as thousands of Iranians continue to protest on the streets of Teheran against the outcome of the presidential polls, the nation's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has once again denied any foul play in results.
Delivering a sermon during Friday prayers at Tehran University -- the first since the controversial election -- Khamenei said the people had chosen who they wanted as president and that 'the Islamic establishment will never manipulate people's votes and commit treason'.
With the violence continuing unabated despite calls by pro-reform leader Mir Hussein Mousavi, the supreme leader had to change his initial stance supporting the verdict and ordered a probe to be conducted by the Guardian Council. The Council, comprising 12 clerics', have started 'examining' the 646 complaints received in connection with the vote. On Friday, he again flipped in support of President Mehmoud Ahmadinejad.
According to media reports, Khamenei's public appearance is very unusual, as he normally only addresses the Iranian people on the last day of Ramadan or on special anniversaries tied to the Islamic Revolution.
"Candidates were put forward into public eye, everyone could judge for themselves ... they have identified the person they wanted," he said, adding, "When you have peace of mind and soul you can decide wisely. Today our society is in need of peace and tranquillity."
Khamenei said the 'great accomplishment' of the 85 per cent turnout at the election conveyed the legitimacy of the country's leadership and 'people's solidarity with their establishment.'
"If people do not feel free they will not attend the voting stations. Trusting the Islamic establishment was evident in this vote," he said, alleging that 'enemies of Iran were targeting the Islamic establishment's legitimacy by questioning the election and its authenticity before and after the vote'.
According to The New York Times, Thousands of people streamed into the university to hear the ayatollah speak a day after protesters flooded into the streets for the sixth straight day Thursday.
Image: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gives his Friday prayer sermon at Teheran University.
Photograph: Reuters TV
