Iran Elections Resources

TALKING POINTS and WEB LINKS: Iran Election

• Iran’s Presidential election took place last Friday, June 12, with a large turnout of voters.
• The main contenders were incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and challenger, former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Moussavi.
• After the vote, both sides immediately claimed victory. The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei declared Ahmadinejad the winner.
• Massive protests broke out in Iran’s capitol city, Tehran. Hundreds of thousands are estimated to have protested. Protests were largely peaceful, but riot police beat protesters with batons and dispersed crowds with tear gas. Some demonstrators lit fires in Tehran.
• The Basij, a volunteer paramilitary group, opened fire into a crowd of protesters killing at least 1 and injuring several others.
• Ahmadinejad largely ignored the protests, shutting down media coverage.
• Iranians got the word out on what was happening using “new media” like twitter and facebook and blogs.
• Ayatollah Khamenei back pedaled from his original statement that the election was fair when he ordered a 10-day review of the election, a process that usually takes only 3 days.
• Protesters were emboldened by Khamenei’s call for an inquiry into the election.
• The Obama Administration has expressed concern at the situation in Iran but has been very careful about picking a side politically. MORE OBAMA COMMENTS HERE
• International Response:
• German Chancellor Angela Merkel said there were signs of irregularities in Iran’s presidential election and urged a transparent examination of the results.
• United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon is urging Iran’s leaders to respect the will of their people as they investigate allegations of fraud in the election.

National Iranian American Council Blog

New York Times online Iran Page:

The Lede New York Times blog: Updates on Iran’s Disputed Election

The Huffington Post Iran Updates (Video): Live-Blogging the Uprising

Patrick Disney:

"On Iran, the Power of Obama's Silence" (by Patrick Disney, Huffington Post, 6/14/09)

Trita Parsi:

“How Diplomacy with Iran Can Succeed” (by Trita Parsi, Huffington Post, 6/11/09)

“Congress-Ahmadeinjad Secret Love Affair Continues” (by Trita Parsi, Huffington Post, 6/11/09)

Stephen Zunes:

“Has the Election Been Stolen in Iran?” (by Stephen Zunes, Alternet, 6/13/09)

“Iran’s Stolen Election Has Sparked an Uprising – What Should the U.S. Do?” (by Stephen Zunes, Alernet, 6/15/09)

Robert Naiman:

“Based on Terror Free Tomorrow Poll, Ahmadinejad Victory Was Expected” (by Robert Naiman, Huffington Post, 6/15/09)

Farrah Hassen:

“Lifting the Veil” (by Farrah Hassen, Institute for Policy Studies, 6/4/09)

IPS staff page

Robert Dreyfuss:

“Iran’s Ex-Foreign Minister Yazdi: It’s a Coup” (by Robert Dreyfuss, The Nation, 6/13/09)

“Iranians Poised for Change” (by Robert Dreyfuss, The Nation, 6/12/09)

“Dennis Ross’s Iran Plan” (by Robert Dreyfuss, The Nation, 4/8/09)