Iran Crisis Continues as Khamenei Refuses to Intervene

Iran Crisis Continues as Khamenei Refuses to Intervene
TEHRAN, 13 January 2004 — The future of reforms in Iran was hanging in the balance yesterday as embattled reformists loyal to the president fought a dramatic bid by conservatives to wrest absolute power over the Islamic republic.

Furious over a move to bar massive numbers of reformers from key parliamentary elections by the Guardians’ Council — an unelected political oversight body — 90 deputies kept up a symbolic sit-in at the Iranian Parliament.