Opposition leader Karroubi acknowledges Ahmadinejad as president; Two people hanged for their alleged role during post-election riots; US Senate passes a bill approving new sanctions against Iran
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  • Opposition leader Mahdi Karroubi, while standing by his claims that the June 12, 2009 presidential elections were rigged, announced that he now recognizes Mr. Ahmadinejad as the head of Iran's government. Karroubi is stated to have said that the decision was to show that the opposition was not protesting against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and added that “since Khamenei endorsed Ahmadinejad, I recognize him as the head of the government.”1

    Meanwhile, two people arrested during the post-election protests and convicted of being Mohareb (enemies of God) and members of a monarchist group were hanged. Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani and Arash Rahmani Pour were hanged as they were charged with plotting to overthrow the Islamic regime. 19 year old Rahmani Pour’s lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh asserted that her client did not have any role in the post-election riots and charged that she was prevented from representing Rahmani Pour at his “show trial” in July 2009 and that many of the charges related to the time when he was a minor.2

    The US Senate meanwhile approved the bill allowing President Obama to extend sanctions against Iran. The bill targets non-Iranian companies that export fuel to Iran or help expand Tehran's oil refining capacities by denying them US loans and other financial assistance. Mr. Obama on his part on January 27 warned that Iran’s leaders would "face growing consequences” as they “continue to ignore their obligations."3

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