The head of Tehran's anti-riot police threatened opposition protesters Tuesday with a full-scale assault if they return to the streets during government-backed events marking the takeover of the U.S. Embassy.
Reformist leaders, however, have shown no sign of backing off their calls for marches to compete with Wednesday's state-sanctioned gatherings _ which include an annual anti-American rally outside the brick walls of the former embassy compound.
Both sides have much on the line for an anniversary that is among the most potent symbols of the Islamic Revolution three decades ago.
Opposition groups seek to display their resiliency and resolve after relentless pressure from authorities. The forces of the Islamic establishment, however, appear ready to crush any attempt to revive the mass demonstrations that followed the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June.
The head of Tehran's anti-riot units, Gen. Ali Reza Alipour, said police would use all their "power and capacity" against protesters. Tehran's prosecutor, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, said even chants that "deviate" from the official ceremonies could bring arrest.
On Monday, the powerful Revolutionary Guard _ which led the postelection crackdown _ warned opposition groups against disrupting the ceremonies.
But the opposition appeared determined not to lose the moment.
Dozens of pro-reform Web sites issued appeals to join protests. The calls were given a boost last week by defiant statements from opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi and former President Mohammad Khatami _ vowing that their challenges to the system are not flagging.
It's been more than six weeks, however, since opposition groups have managed a show of force in public. At that time, tens of thousands of protesters _ marching sholder-to-shoulder _ chanted "Death to the dictator" and clashed with police during state-run anti-Israel rallies despite harsh warnings by the Guards.
But the anniversary of the embassy seizure has an even higher value in the official propaganda calendar. A huge police presence is likely across the capital to try to snuff out any protest marches on the 30th anniversary of the takeover.
Each year, thousands of school children and others are bused to the gates of the former embassy _ often called the "Den of Spies" by Iranian officials _ and wave anti-American placards as speakers denounce Washington and Israel.
Among the honored guests are some of those who stormed the embassy 30 years ago after the United States failed to send the ousted monarch back to Iran for trial. Fifty-two Americans were held hostage for 444 days.
State radio said a top lawmaker, Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, will deliver a speech in the Wednesday ceremony. He is a related by marriage to the family of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader.
The state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported that all other rallies are outlawed Wednesday. The clampdown also extended to the media, which has been under severe restrictions since shortly after the June 12 election.
Foreign and local media outlets, including The Associated Press, have been issued permits that allow only coverage outside the former embassy.
In a sign of a possible hardening stance on nuclear talks, Iran's supreme leader accused the United States of trying to strong-arm Tehran.
Khamenei's statements come as Iran is asking to modify a U.N. proposal for Russia and France to turn its uranium stockpile into nuclear fuel and allay Western fears over a possible weapons program. Iran claims it only seeks a peaceful nuclear program for research and energy.
"Whenever the U.S offers a smile, it hides a dagger in his back," said Khamenei according to the state news agency IRNA. He rejected "talks in which the U.S. decides about its results in advance."
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday in Marrakech that the U.N. nuclear deal could not be altered.
___
Murphy reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
No comments:
Post a Comment