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The combat between the reformists and the religious men has now turned into street fighting. The reformists question transparency of the election machinery though their most popular candidate was defeated by 11million votes. Defeat in the ballot box lead them to street fighting. But, who will respond for the lives of those innocent victims died in the riots?

The  supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of  Iran, Ayatollah  Sayed Ali  Khamenei  was orn in Mashhad  in the year 1939. He completed his religious  study by attending the  lectures of  noted  masters like  Haj Sheikh, Hashem Quazvini,  and  Ayatollah Milan.  In 1957, he left for  Najaf. . He then went to Mashhad and then to Qom  and settled there in 1958. Ayatolla Boroojerdi and  Ayatolla Khomeini  had inspired him in his religious studies.  In 1963, on account of   involvement in   religious  activities, he was  arrested in Birjand.  But he was released  soon . He continued  there  teaching  in religious schools. But his teaching  couldnot last long as  the secret police of the Shah had arrested him in 1974 and   detained for a   year .  After his release in  1975  he was  prohibited from   teaching in  religious schools.  It was in 1977  Khamenei  established   Combatant clerics association  (Jame’ye Rouhaniyat Mobarez). It was the basis of Islamic republic party which came into existence in  March 1979.  Khamenei was  serving in the central council of the party. Simultaneously, he  was the deputy of the council of defence, Commander of Islamic revolution’s guards corps. 

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In the following year  he was aoopinted the leader of the Friday congregational prayers in Tehran. He also became the deputy consultative assembly(Majlis)

In 1981  he delivered a speech in the Majlis . It resulted in the dismissal of the then president  Abolhassan Bani Sadr.  But, following the same Khamnei was  attacked by the members of  armed opposition movement (Mojahedin Khalq). He was badly wounded in the attack.

In the same year he was elected president of the Islamic republic, winning 95% votes.

During his reign as President,  Khamenei was serving as Chairman of the Supreme defence council also.

In 1989 Khamnei received the title ‘Ayatollah’ In the same year, by the death of  Ayatolla Khomeini  he was elected supreme leader of the Islamic republic(Vali-e-Faquih)

Khamenei,  a staunch supporter of religion and democracy   opined that a ruler should be determined at the ballot box.   What people want  and what they don’t want  have to be determined by the ballot box  and not in the streets.  Responding to the  questions relating to the  present chaos following the presidential elections, he said that  it was the great challenge to  Iran’s Islamic ruling system since the  1979 riots  that brought it to power.

Khamenei said that  the western media  and  Iran’s enemies in different  parts of  the  world  are trying to create a political rift in Iran. He said that Ahmadinejab  had won a majority of  11 million votes.  Fraud could have occurred if the majority was one lakh or even 10 lakh votes. Possibility for rigging 11 million votes is out of question.

 Mir Hossein Mousavi and other defeated candidates in the presidential election had  lodged complaint  against  fraud in the election process. What Mousavi demands is fresh election. But, Khamenei  said there was no chance for  re election.  Mousavi and his followers have  staged violent street rallies  in the past few days . It was a real threat to the Islamic ruling system in Iran.  State  Radio . has declared seven death in the clash since  12th June.   But un official sources confirm the death toll as  eight. Khamenei’s failure to apologize  to the elatives of the eight people killed by the security forces and the militia  during  the past one week. 

Events in the past few days have weakened the grip of power and the credibility of Khamenei. In the present condition,  peace can be possible only  by the departure of  Khamenei and Ahmadinejab. There is also possibility  for collapse and reconstruction of

The Government of the country.

The greater threat for Khamnei is from within his party. The main trouble makers are  Mohammed Khatami and Ali Akbar Rafsanjani.  Both are former presidents of Iran. They are reform minded. Khatami tried to bring in reform from 1997 to 2005, but his attempts were turned down by Khamenei. Rafsanjani  was  the Chairman of the Assembly of  experts too.  He has resigned from the position recently. Khatami  leads the campaign now.  He demands the release of 500 people arrested  in connection with the riots.

Some sources say  that the present  disturbance in Iran needs to be crushed failing which, it may lead to the  change of people in power.

Iran’s present situation remains to be very fluid. It is most uncertain who will be the  most influential after things begin to settle down.