This just in from a contact who is in touch with people in Iran. Usually Khamenei doesn’t lead Friday prayers or give a sermon — usually a “substitute” prayer leader does it. But today Khamenei gave his pitch, and here’s the result:
I just had call from Iran, tonight people in streets and the roof of their houses were shouting “Allah Akbar”, “Down with Khamenei”, “Down with Dictator”.
This has, of course, gone way beyond a call to allow Mousavi take office. Will it topple the Islamic Republic itself? Certainly things are spiraling way out of control as far as the mullahs are concerned. The shouts of “Allahu akbar” should not be taken to indicate that the Islamic Republic is not threatened — that’s the cultural context in which these people are operating, and doesn’t mean that there is not discontent with the very foundations of the state.
Pamela has an excellent roundup of various analyses from all over of what is going on in Iran. Don’t miss it.