Iranian authorities are trying to stop an antigovernment protest movement that erupted Monday and are blaming the United States and Israel for the uprisings.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized the American backing of protests around the Middle East. The Supreme Leader warned of the United State's influence but said Iran's government is and will continue to be powerful. Iranian cleric Ahmad Khatami said, "The main criminals are Americans and Zionists." Two people have been killed since the protests—the largest Iran has seen in a year—broke out. On Wednesday, government supporters sparred with antigovernment protesters at the funeral of an Iranian student killed during the protests earlier this week.
- See a roundup of editorial cartoons about the Egypt uprisings
- See photos of protests in Egypt.
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Reader Comments Read all comments (2)
Karim Khan 9:20AM February 17, 2011
Arthur A of CA 5:02PM February 16, 2011