Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned Iranians not to criticize the country's June presidential election, saying criticism would help Tehran's enemies.
In a statement Khamenei said, "Even those who make general recommendations about the election through [expressing] concerns should take care not to serve the purpose of the enemy."
His comments come amid uncertainty about whether conservative clerics on Iran's Guardians Council will allow reformists to be candidates in the election.
Observers say reformists may be allowed to run if they distance themselves from opposition leaders Mir Hossein Musavi and Mehdi Karrubi.
Musavi and Karrubi both were presidential candidates in 2009 and became figureheads for widespread antigovernment demonstrations after the announcement of the official results.
Both were placed under house arrest after alleging that President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's reelection was rigged.
In a statement Khamenei said, "Even those who make general recommendations about the election through [expressing] concerns should take care not to serve the purpose of the enemy."
His comments come amid uncertainty about whether conservative clerics on Iran's Guardians Council will allow reformists to be candidates in the election.
Observers say reformists may be allowed to run if they distance themselves from opposition leaders Mir Hossein Musavi and Mehdi Karrubi.
Musavi and Karrubi both were presidential candidates in 2009 and became figureheads for widespread antigovernment demonstrations after the announcement of the official results.
Both were placed under house arrest after alleging that President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's reelection was rigged.
