Iranian opposition leader slams accusing hardliner

Mehdi Karroubi

Iranian opposition leader, Mehdi Karroubi lashed out against accusations from hardliner, Ahmad Jannati saying that Iranian opposition leaders were in receipt of financial support from the US.

Hardliner, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati at a speech in a Qom mosque said this week that he is in possession of documents that prove opposition leaders in the recent post-election protests had received a billion dollars from the US to topple the regime.

In a letter published on his website, Saham News, Karroubi describes Jannati as “collaborator of those who stole people’s votes." He addresses Jannati saying: “Your unwise tracks can be seen in all the events that took shape before and after the election and unfortunately they were all against the people and in support of the oppressive and violent movements in the country.”

Opponents of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the 2009 presidential elections claim that the ballot was rigged and people’s votes were stolen to secure Ahmadinejad’s victory. Millions of people demonstrated on the streets of Tehran last summer calling to have their votes returned.

The conservative faction of the Islamic Republic, of which Ahmad Jannati is a prominent member, has repeatedly accused the disputing candidates of the elections, Mehdi Karroubi and MirHosein Mousavi, of being leaders of a “seditious movement” intent on toppling the regime.

Karroubi and Mousavi have in turn repeatedly denied these charges and maintained that their protests are within the Islamic Republic framework.

In his latest letter, Karroubi dares Jannati to reveal the so-called documents he claims to have, saying: “You must show all your documents or else I will pronounce your mendacity through every method in every corner.”

Karroubi adds: “What you refer to as sedition was an election that was engineered by you and your thought-guiding rooms at the Guardian Council and Ministry of Interior and … to meet with your liking.”

Mehdi Karroubi urges Ayatollah Jannati to “repent” from his deeds and seek the people’s forgiveness for his deeds.