Calls for new demonstrations in Tehran and 200 other cities Thursday have been met by a harsh response from Iranian authorities who have warned they will “smash” any protest.
The warning, coming as G8 powers expressed “serious concern” over post-election violence, was issued as the government fears demonstrations in commemoration of student unrest that shook Iran in 1999 in this day.
Tehran Governor Morteza Tamaddon forewarned, “If some individuals plan to have anti-security move through listening to a call by counter-revolutionary networks, they will be smashed under the feet of our aware people.” “Enemies are angry about the calm after the post-election plots and are trying to damage the peace through foreign, counter-revolutionary and notorious networks,” he told state new agency Irna.
Supporters of defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, however, have vowed to partake in the demonstrations. Last Thursday, Mousavi urged his supporters to participate in "prayer ceremonies" to commemorate those killed in the recent unrest. There have been no major demonstrations in Iran for nearly two weeks.
The Group of Eight (G8) major powers, meeting in Italy, have come together against the post-election violence in Iran and its arrests journalists. “The discussion reflected, I'd say, a collective impatience with Iran and a desire to see real response going forward,” US Deputy National Security Adviser Michael Froman told reporters.
In a statement released by the G8, leaders have grown “seriously concerned” about the recent events in Iran. The statement continues in saying that they “deplore” the post-election violence and the detention of journalists is “unacceptable.” The statement concludes with a warning against interfering with foreign embassies in Iran.
In addition to its concerns over the post-election violence, the G8 said it would give Iran until September to accept negotiations over its nuclear aspirations or else face stricter sanctions.
