Ayatollah Rafsanjani delivers sermon, Mousavi supporters chant; "Death to Russia, Death to China."

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- One of Iran's most powerful clerics, Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, has called on the Iranian government to release those people arrested following last month's disputed presidential election.
Rafsanjani remains an influential figure in Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's circle.

Rafsanjani remains an influential figure in Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's circle.

"There is no need to have these numbers of people in prison," the former Iranian president said during his highly anticipated Friday sermon.

"Let them come back to their families. Let the enemy not laugh at us and criticize us. We must sympathize with those who have suffered damages. The system cannot lose them. If the system reapproaches them they will come back to us."

Tens of thousands of people gathered in and around Tehran University as Rafsanjani spoke for about an hour, according to witnesses at the speech. Iranian police used tear gas to disperse some of the crowds.

Rafsanjani backs reformist Mir Hossein Moussavi, the opposition candidate who challenged hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the disputed June 12 vote.

After weeks of silence, Rafsanjani has become increasingly vocal in opposing the brutal crackdown on demonstrators who protested election results.

Earlier this month, the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA) quoted Rafsanjani as saying: "People from across the county participated in the elections with excitement. But unfortunately, the events that occurred after that, and the difficulties created for some, left a bitter taste, and I don't think any wakened consciousness would be satisfied with the resulting situation."

Rafsanjani was under pressure Friday to deliver public support for the Iranian establishment.

Lawmaker Mohammad Karim Shahrzad was recently quoted by the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency as saying, "After a monthlong silence, the position of Hashemi Rafsanjani will be very important for those of all political inclinations, particularly those who are aiming at the (destruction) of the unity of the system."

Shahrzad called on Rafsanjani -- head of the Assembly of Experts, the council responsible for appointing or removing the supreme leader -- to "announce the support of the supreme leadership as the highest authority" in his speech.

A member of parliament said Rafsanjani's sermon would be "historic."

Moussavi's supporters took to the streets last month to protest the outcome of last month's election that gave Ahmadinejad an overwhelming victory.

Rafsanjani's daughter, Faezeh, and four of his other relatives were detained briefly after taking part in one of those rallies.

The widespread street protests and civil unrest led to the deaths of at least 20 demonstrators and the arrests of more than 1,000, according to Iran's state-run media. The numbers of casualties and arrests could not be independently verified by CNN because of restrictions on international journalists by the Iranian government.

Rafsanjani remains an influential figure in Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's circle, but he has made "a real break with the supreme leader in this case," Iranian-American author Hooman Majd told CNN recently.

Rafsanjani was missing when Iran's power brokers assembled on June 19 at Friday prayers to hear Khamenei declare Ahmadinejad the winner.

Ahmadinejad is scheduled to be sworn in before parliament between August 2 and August 6, according to Islamic Republic News Agency.

More at http://www.cnn.com

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[cilrvo]

اين وزير شعار كه تمام اسافلش پاره بوره شد يك سال دوخت و دوز و رفوگريش طول ميكشه

[esi6666]

just to clear the confusion, "death to Russia" means "down with Russian politics" (for supporting the suppressive government), same goes for China

don't take everything in Persian literal, it's language of poets

[Iberidea]

Russia is still an Empire and she has to fall. Death to Russian imperialist criminals!

[Lachausis]

Good chant! Just because you people don't hear much about this most evil empire, doesn't mean it's gone. I feel it's evil deeds on my skin every day! Russia is still the evil empire. They are not Christians. Their orthodox religion was controlled by KGB during Soviet times, such it has remained. They are constantly committing political crimes using their colonists they sent to occupied countries in 20th century. The most evil race that ever has lived.

[nathanjcole]

@istekbal

These people can get shot for saying the wrong thing. The US wants to put an end to that, and give Iran freedom, regardless of they ally with afterwords.

Russian and Chinese hegemony makes the world slaves.

Remember 4 June 1989

American Hegemony brings freedom and prosperity.

Remember East Europe during and after 1989.

The US must increase its power to bring about the end of dictatorships.

[nathanjcole]

@NeroroPuj

Fuck you, a badass economy doesn't mean shit if your government can kill you for saying the wrong thing!

[musood6630]

@SSstrikerX

I'm Afghan adn i don't believe that.

Go fuck yourself.

[SSstrikerX]

Real Muslims only come from Afghanistan all you fake coward Islamic nations can go to he'll.

[NeroroPuj]

Yeah nuclear power is the one to ruin iranians life. I mean why the hell should iranians have electricity??

US is doing nice thing to Iran, like putting sanctions on it and trying to bomb the shit out of it and steal its oil.

We Iranians want to get back to stone ages! RUSSIA IS BLOCKING THAT BY HELPING OUR ECONOMY AND DEVELOPMENT!!

[hosseinthc]

The fight is between the people of Iran who wants to overthrow this dictatorship regime on one side AND the entire mullahs dictatorship regime on the other side.

The iranian people wants the islamic republic of Iran no more!

Shame on the countrys who wants to negotiate with this regime!

It's game over for khamenei and ahmadinejad!

The Iranian people want Freedom and Democracy BUT Russia Cina and Obama wants to keep this regime BUT they CAN'T!

Shame on all the countrys who negotiate with killers!

[TheTurkPig]

i think it's not the direct translation of it. and you know it. it's easy to say "death to a religious leader", or "death to a republic", but why don't you

use your country's name? just like how these protesters are using other countries' name.

it's hard to do so, isn't? because it's hurtful.