Christiane Amanpour | BIO
CNN International Correspondent
Despite his threat of "bloodshed," and the subsequent beatings and shooting deaths by government agents, the open protests on Iran's streets by hundreds of thousands of people have dented the shield of invincibility of Iran's Supreme religious Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, say sources in Iran. Chants of "Death to Khamenei" broke a state-imposed and self-imposed absolute prohibition on criticizing a leader believed to be wielding the wisdom and authority of God himself.
Right now, the massive network of Iran's intelligence agents, Revolutionary Guard, paramilitary Basij, and police of all sorts, are cracking down. Sources say they are also going house to house, through email accounts and web postings, through cell phone calls and SMS text messages (when the system is allowed to stay up) and even to taxi agencies whose drivers hoisted Moussavi posters during the election campaign. They are rounding people up and, as it was chillingly put to me, in Iran's prisons "we have room for all of them."
And alleged protestors are being paraded "confessing and repenting" on Iranian State TV. The government also claims to be arresting "foreign agents" accused of stirring up the protests.
Sources say the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, aligned with Ayatollah Khamenei, plucked Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from total obscurity as presidential candidate in 2005, in order to hold the line against "reform" in the country, after eight years of the reformist President Mohammad Khatami.
Sources in the Iranian government and well-placed analysts inside the country SAY the IRGC has taken up influential positions in many major sectors of Iranian society, such as the oil industry, finance, transport, construction and politics. Iran has been "increasingly radicalized over the last four years," one told me.
There are divisions within the clerical establishment and in Parliament, sources tell me that for now that does not threaten the ruling establishment.
I was told the weekend arrests of former President Hashemi Rafsanjani's daughter and other relatives, and their swift release, were a warning to Rafsanjani, who backed Mir Hossein Moussavi in the election. So far the powerful mullahs, monitoring it all from the holy city of Qom, are mostly quiet.
And finally, for now, while Moussavi has startled the system with his willingness to press the election case, he is also considered, at this moment, no Ayatollah Khomeini. Nowhere near as charismatic and powerful as the leader of the successful revolution in 1979.
Sources say Moussavi is not formally arrested or under house arrest. However his movements and words are "controlled" by security and intelligence officials. So in effect there is no visible leader for the street protesters today - unlike 1979, when Khomeini led from exile.
Sources say all this could change if mass demonstrations hit the streets and simply remain there all over the country, if the security forces refuse to expand the crack down, or if people go on nationwide strike, like they did in 1978-79.
As long as the streets and squares remain blanketed by security, they are mostly clear of protesters.
Right now chants of Allah-Akbar still resound from the rooftops at night. Although residents say they seem to be dying down in some neighborhoods. Even the honking horns and flashing headlights are fading from the traffic.
At this moment, however, it is impossible to know how this contest of wills - and powers - will play out.
| Cindy |
June 25th, 2009 12:08 pm ET It seems to me that the Iranian government is actually winning this thing. They have managed to stop most of the protests from happening unfortunately. The only thing that I can see making a difference is if everyone did a huge walk out and refused to work and brought the country to a stand still. The government couldn't do anything then because they can't force everyone to work. Hopefully that rumor of this happening is true and they'll get it done soon. If not I just don't see a way that Mousavi and the Iranian people have a shot at beating the government rulers. Cindy..Ga. |
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| andrew everett |
June 25th, 2009 12:16 pm ET Like Der Fuhrer, the Supreme Ruler is a fascist who has repeatedly stated plans to conquer and destroy people and countries. Like Der Fuhrer, the Supreme Ruler sends out thugs (Hitler had the brownshirts, Khomenei the basiji) to beat his own country into submission. Hitler's outlook was purely based on race, Khomenei's outlook is based on religion–but both leader's subject their populations to tyrranny and terror. Both leader's used political militias to create chaos in the region, Hitler had brownshirts in Austria (etc.) while khomenei has hamas and hezbollah. Both leaders aggressively built up military arms under the guise of peaceful use (Hitler bought plane engines from Britain, Khomenei nuclear facilities from Russia). If history repeats itself, we're in trouble!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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| Aria |
June 25th, 2009 12:32 pm ET My prayers and thoughts go out to all peoples of Iran my home country. This is our civil rights, our movement for change that is long awaited. I hope that all the young and old come united under one banner of change and collectively, regardless of political leadership, religious leadership, and or any other sectism and united seek the ever changing need that HAS to come about. Ultimately, I believe that this regime must change, that its mullah's return to their Mosques and step away from politics and shift the powers to its people who not only have earned that right but also are deservant of that right. History has shown time and again that the power IS with the people and Freedom Costs, as such I hope that the deaths do not go in vain. The world IS watching and the Truth is being heard and seen, and WE are with you! |
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| jose caballero |
June 25th, 2009 12:35 pm ET i am from Honduras , will be greate if you take a look what its happenig here , our president wants to continue in the power,using like a excuse a change in constitution .All this under the influences of the Chavez patrom politics we hope don't take problems of violence . |
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| Wain, Pakistan |
June 25th, 2009 12:41 pm ET Just remain out of Iran, why cant US and Israel leave a few remaining Muslim countries alone. They have invaded Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebnon and Pakistan after the inside job of 9-11, not to mention Palestine as it seems like a life long invasion. And now its Iran and then God knows what. Its a lot of bad karma US and Israel are piling up for themselves. 20 lives were taken in Iran during last week due to the political unrest and 50 lives were takes in just a matter of seconds by a US drone attack in Pakistan two days ago. So do the math and come up with your own exis of evil. |
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| Michael C. McHugh |
June 25th, 2009 12:47 pm ET Once again, this regime has shown itself to be a totalitarian police state with a Supreme Fuehrer, and we should be under no illusions about that. It has simply dropped all pretense of democracy, crushed the opposition and demanded that the world accept the "results" of an election in which the votes were never even counted. Other dictatorships like Russia and China have rushed to embace it, but we should not. |
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| Ken |
June 25th, 2009 12:53 pm ET Cindy, There is winning a battle and there is winning a war. This could truly turn out very ugly, a military dictatorship in fact as well as name. However, the full quote, which is rarely completed says that it is better to be feared than loved, but to be hated is worst of all. Machiavelli was right about this, and the Iranian Government has now created deep veins of hatred within large segments of their population that will never be healed. Before this trouble started their economy was not doing well, after the dust settles it will look like the good old days. The leadership will have a lot to deal with, even if there is not a single additional demonstration. The regime may last, they may develop nuclear weapons, they have destroyed their status among nation states and their legitimacy with much of their population, they have made their bed, now they will have to lay in it. |
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| Dereck Barber |
June 25th, 2009 12:55 pm ET If only American's understood their need to protest and sacrifice just as Iran's people. Their people are standing and speaking to power as we should've when Bush became America's dictator. We need not under estimate the people's will being done, for the seed of change has bloomed into a necessary movement that can't be reversed. America, be still and watch the people reclaim their true destiny of more and better! |
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| Jash |
June 25th, 2009 12:56 pm ET What is the difference between the suppression of people's voice about an election and the perpetual and aggressive suppression of black people in Canada and the rest of the Western countries? |
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| Amir Rafii |
June 25th, 2009 1:35 pm ET Dear Anderson: |
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| kamy Farb |
June 25th, 2009 2:06 pm ET What is going on in Iran is "Genocide". I don't know why we do not call it as it is. The innocent people are being killed and beaten by just walking in the street. If is not Genocide what is it ? |
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| Rita |
June 25th, 2009 2:36 pm ET Our thanks to CNN and its staff specially Anderson Cooper, Josh Levs and all the others who cover Iran's latest news. rita |
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| Sam |
June 25th, 2009 3:49 pm ET HUGE thanks to CNN for the admirable work they have done covering Iran's situation. You are all a very talented team. I strongly believe justice will prevail in time. When an Islamic government who does not hesitate to kill their own people like animals amongst many other horrific acts, should be terminated and punished. It's not that people are against Islam, but are against these extremists who use and abuse that faith to rule the way they want. These murderers do not represent Islam. Their way of argument and justification is to put down all other countries and provoke the world with their baseless comments to intentionally turn around the argument. I will live to see these extremists be brought to judgment and punishment for the inhumanity they have committed for 30 years. |
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| Sam |
June 25th, 2009 3:52 pm ET HUGE thanks to CNN for the admirable work they have done covering Iran's situation. You are all a very talented team. I strongly believe justice will prevail in time. When an Islamic government who does not hesitate to kill their own people like animals among other horrific acts, should be terminated and punished. It's not that people are against Islam, but are against these extremists who use and abuse that faith. These murderers do not represent Islam. Their way of argument and justification is to put down all other countries and provoke the world with their baseless comments. I will live to see the Iranian government be brought to judgment and punishment for the inhumanity they have committed for the past 30 years. |
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| Aryaee |
June 25th, 2009 3:57 pm ET Mr. President how long do you want to avoid the issue? Aryaee |
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| Tim Gibson |
June 25th, 2009 3:57 pm ET Has and will the government of Iran crack down on the people. Sad factt is, why would anyone ask that question. The people of Iran have long been victims of their leadership with severe penalty for what they as a nation call crime. Now remember, like in America where the majority rules, it is just a different approach than we have as a nation upon our people on one hand, but a reflection on the other. We all have bones in the grave yard. The whole area in the middle east, Iran, Iraq, Afgh., Pakistan, and Somalia are a tender box with a short fuse that will result in an intense reaction to any kind of visible intrusion into their political or cultural ways of life. Even if those who call out to us, as they so often have done in the past, turn on us when we touch into their affairs. We have our own conflict here at home with the many hate groups within our society. Our differences can never be anything more than similar. |
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| silvia |
June 25th, 2009 4:16 pm ET Without the people, Iran has nothing! The people can win this and we need to support them all the way! |
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| mohammed A. |
June 25th, 2009 4:25 pm ET hello just have to say one thing or quote what once was said on another show Iran could be like Iraq country so nice thats going to |
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| Alan |
June 25th, 2009 4:43 pm ET I Remeber 1978 revolution went trough the same cycle of slow downs and took months to succeed. The day first blood was shed , i think was the day regime put the stamp to their end. look at history of IRAN , no regime have ever servived after uprising of majority. i give another month or two , and is all over for regime. NEDA is my hero. |
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| Rick |
June 25th, 2009 4:57 pm ET Let Isreal deal with Irans Government. |
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| Tony SC |
June 25th, 2009 5:14 pm ET I am not a big fan of the Iranian government but I am left puzzled when the president asks Iran to let the people have their freedom of speech yet on the other hand he hands weapons to the Sumalian governments to fight the protectors. |
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