Tensions Flare Anew in Iran Over Disputed Election

JIM LEHRER:

And to Judy Woodruff.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

For more on today's events, we go to two analysts who have both worked as journalists in Iran. Hooman Majd was in Tehran in the lead-up to the election last month. He's the author of "The Ayatollah Begs to Differ."

And Afshin Molavi is a fellow at the New America Foundation and the author of "The Soul of Iran."

Thank you both for being with us. Afshin Molavi, I'm going to start with you. We've got Friday prayers, people in the streets, tear gas, the speech by former President Rafsanjani. What are we to make of all this?

AFSHIN MOLAVI, New America Foundation:

This is a hugely important moment, Judy. I mean — and it's important historically, not just in the context of today's events.

Here you have Hashemi Rafsanjani, a lion of the revolution, a man of the system, standing forward in this importantly symbolic venue, the Friday prayer hall, and saying, "Something has gone terribly astray here."

And then he's also speaking for the voices of millions of Iranians who did feel that these elections were rigged.

So the ultimate takeaway from this is, Rafsanjani did not take the wind out of the sails of the protestors. He did not offer a conciliatory speech, as some thought, and he said that this political fight will last another day.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

Hooman Majd, what do you see as the significance of today?

HOOMAN MAJD, Author-Journalist:

Well, I think I would agree with Afshin generally. It's very important to understand that Rafsanjani is the number-two most powerful man in Iran.

The one thing I would add to what Afshin said is that it also should be remembered that the Friday prayer leader of Tehran, actually, is the supreme leader himself. And this speech would not have been made unless the supreme leader had at least some inkling of what was going to be said.

And I think that it was neither a slap nor really a kiss.

I lost you. I lost you. I'm sorry. OK, you're back.

It was neither a slap nor a kiss. I think they're trying to find a way inside the leadership to make this crisis go away or to solve this crisis. But, certainly, Afshin is absolutely right: It certainly gave the protesters and the opposition new wind in some ways.