Purple People Vote

Concerning statements came from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today. Even though the government of Iran promised to look into last week’s the election results, Khamenei stated that cheating was not possible and that if protesters, “don’t stop this, then they will bear the responsibility and the consequences of this chaos.” This is very concerning as large protest is scheduled for tomorrow. World leaders such as President Obama and France’s President Sarkozy have been statement that express concerns that this implies a violent crackdown on peaceful protests, which obviously would be unacceptable.

The White House acknowledged the unusual nature of 

The White House acknowledged the unusual nature of Khamenei’s speech today at Friday prayer at Tehran University, in which he asserted that the election was fair and accurate and ominously warned protestors to stop.

Supporters of the primary challenger, former Iranian prime minister Mir Hossein Mousavi, plan a protest tomorrow.

“Struggling in the street after an election is not the right thing to do,” Khamenei said. “But also, it challenges the principle of democracy and election. I ask everyone to stop this. This way is wrong. If they don’t stop this, then they will bear the responsibility and the consequences of this chaos.”

“The people have chosen whom they wanted,” said the Supreme Leader. “The legal mechanisms in our country do not allow cheating. How can one cheat with a margin of 11 million votes?”

Western officials today expressed concern about Iran’s actions.

“I hope that the leaders will not go beyond the point of no return,” French President Nicolas Sarkozy told reporters in Brussels. “When we see results that are so incoherent, a Europe that keeps its mouth shut would not correspond to the values we consider to be European.”

Khamanei condemned such comments as meddling, in particular singling out the fact that Iranian Ambassador to the United Kingdom was called into the British Foreign Office.

’s speech today at Friday prayer at Tehran University, in which he asserted that the election was fair and accurate and ominously warned protestors to stop.

Supporters of the primary challenger, former Iranian prime minister Mir Hossein Mousavi, plan a protest tomorrow.

“Struggling in the street after an election is not the right thing to do,” Khamenei said. “But also, it challenges the principle of democracy and election. I ask everyone to stop this. This way is wrong. If they don’t stop this, then they will bear the responsibility and the consequences of this chaos.”

“The people have chosen whom they wanted,” said the Supreme Leader. “The legal mechanisms in our country do not allow cheating. How can one cheat with a margin of 11 million votes?”

Western officials today expressed concern about Iran’s actions.

“I hope that the leaders will not go beyond the point of no return,” French President Nicolas Sarkozy told reporters in Brussels. “When we see results that are so incoherent, a Europe that keeps its mouth shut would not correspond to the values we consider to be European.”

Khamanei condemned such comments as meddling, in particular singling out the fact that Iranian Ambassador to the United Kingdom was called into the British Foreign Office.

Officials: Khamanei Speech Will Not Change White House Stance