In a major shift, a senior opposition figure announced that he now
recognizes Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the head of Iran’s government while
standing by
his assertions that the presidential election was rigged, the opposition
leader’s son said on Monday.
Mehdi Karroubi’s new position is a retreat from his statements after the
June 12 election, when he insisted that Ahmadinejad’s government was
illegitimate.
The election sparked widespread street protests against Ahmadinejad’s
government, but in recent months the movement has appeared to broaden,
sharply criticizing the clerical leadership, including the Islamic
republic’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The softening aimed to show that the opposition, while still seeking
Ahmadinejad’s removal, is not protesting against Iran’s entire ruling
clerical system, including Khamenei, said Karroubi’s son, Hossein.
