Hardliners claim opposition implicated in assassination

Assadollah Badamchian

The conservative faction of the Islamic Republic government is describing the assassination of Massoud Ali-Mohammadi as a conspiracy orchestrated by the US and Israel and aided domestically by “supporters of the Green movement.”

The conservative Member of Parliament, Asadollah Badamchian told Resa news agency: “the assassination and terrorist operation was a previously planned step in the Green Velvet Revolution.”

Iranian hardliners describe the post-election movement, which protesters have named the “Green Movement,” as a “velvet revolution” aiming at toppling the government.

Badamchian describes the Green movement as a movement consisting of five sub-groups “each of which are gradually eroding.”

He claimed some of these groups will become isolated and get involved in terrorist plots. Therefore, he warned the “leaders of the disturbances” that they need to separate themselves from “these groups and their terrorist plots” before it is too late.

He also added that the terrorist attacks could even target “leaders of the disturbances.”

After the assassination of Opposition Leader, MirHosein Mousavi’s nephew, Ali Mousavi on Ashura Day, State media accused Green movement supporters and even MirHosein Mousavi himself of involvement in the terrorist act.

Editor-in-chief of Keyhan newspaper wrote: “They are savage and murderous enemies who are slaves of Israel who will not even pass up on a plot to murder their own nephew.”

Yesterday Keyhan claimed that the assassination of the Iranian physics professor was part of a “project” which previously targeted Neda Agha-Soltan and Ali Mousavi.

Nehad Agha-Soltan, a young Iranian student, was shot to death on the streets of Tehran during the June street demonstration against the alleged fraud that secured Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s new term at presidency.

While the opposition and eyewitnesses claim a member of the Basij Militia shot Neda Agha-Soltan, Iranian authorities have repeatedly claimed that the shooting was part of a foreign conspiracy.

Today, MirHosein Mousavi condemned the assassination of Massoud Ali-Mohammadi. He claimed it was part of a conspiracy by Iran’s enemies who are trying to take advantage of the country’s current crisis.