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Ayatollah Khamenei Warns Domestic Critics, Pledges No Change to Nuclear Program

[Wall Street Journal] Farnaz Fassihi - Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivering a sermon at Tehran's Friday prayers, said that if opposition leaders continue to question the legitimacy of the political system, he would have to "take out the eye of the storm," setting the stage for the possible arrest of opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi. Khamenei reiterated that Iran wouldn't bend to Western powers when it comes to its nuclear program. To give up rights, "whether nuclear right or otherwise, would result in a nation's demise," he said. Khamenei's speech marked the anniversary of the death of Shiite Islam's founder Imam Ali. Khamenei recounted how Imam Ali had practiced patience with opponents until it was clear they weren't changing course, and then took out his sword to deliver them a final blow.
2009-09-14 08:00:00
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