Iran's supreme leader has demanded apologies from those who alleged there was fraud during the 2009 presidential election.
Addressing a group of students in Tehran on July 28, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that "illegal" protests after the election could have "led Iran into chaos."
Iran's state news agency IRNA quoted Khamenei as saying: "Why did those who claimed fraud go to the streets, causing people to protest? We asked them repeatedly to handle the matter privately, not publicly."
He was not specific about who should apologize.
Khamenei's remarks came as some Iranian lawmakers called for the release of opposition leaders Mir Hossein Musavi and Mehdi Karrubi.
Both have been under house arrest since 2011.
They both ran against outgoing President Mahmud Ahmadinejad in the 2009 vote, with Musavi losing the runoff to Ahmadinejad.
The reformists disputed Ahmadinejad's reelection, which provoked mass protests and a harsh government crackdown.
Addressing a group of students in Tehran on July 28, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that "illegal" protests after the election could have "led Iran into chaos."
Iran's state news agency IRNA quoted Khamenei as saying: "Why did those who claimed fraud go to the streets, causing people to protest? We asked them repeatedly to handle the matter privately, not publicly."
He was not specific about who should apologize.
Khamenei's remarks came as some Iranian lawmakers called for the release of opposition leaders Mir Hossein Musavi and Mehdi Karrubi.
Both have been under house arrest since 2011.
They both ran against outgoing President Mahmud Ahmadinejad in the 2009 vote, with Musavi losing the runoff to Ahmadinejad.
The reformists disputed Ahmadinejad's reelection, which provoked mass protests and a harsh government crackdown.
