Iran_NP1 's_GE leader_NN1 says_VVZ Western_JJ agents_NN2 not_XX to_TO blame_VVI ,_, after_II all_DB Ayatollah_NNB Khamenei_NP1 ,_, Iran_NP1 's_GE most_RGT powerful_JJ man_NN1 ,_, says_VVZ he_PPHS1 's_VBZ not_XX convinced_VVN by_II show_NN1 trials_NN2 that_CST June_NP1 election_NN1 protesters_NN2 are_VBR tools_NN2 of_IO foreign_JJ powers_NN2 ._. 
Late_RR Wednesday_NPD1 ,_, Iran_NP1 's_GE supreme_JJ leader_NN1 Ayatollah_NNB Khamenei_NP1 directly_RR contradicted_VVD the_AT narrative_NN1 the_AT country_NN1 's_GE hard-liners_NN2 have_VH0 spun_VVN about_II their_APPGE reformist_JJ opponents_NN2 in_II recent_JJ months_NNT2 :_: the_AT reformists_NN2 are_VBR not_XX part_NN1 of_IO an_AT1 international_JJ conspiracy_NN1 to_TO destroy_VVI the_AT Islamic_JJ republic_NN1 and_CC move_VVI Iran_NP1 into_II a_AT1 US-controlled_JJ sphere_NN1 of_IO influence_NN1 ,_, after_II all_DB ._. 
His_APPGE comments_NN2 come_VV0 as_II the_AT US_NP1 and_CC other_JJ Western_JJ governments_NN2 are_VBR threatening_VVG to_TO increase_VVI the_AT pressure_NN1 on_II Iran_NP1 over_II its_APPGE nuclear_JJ program_NN1 ._. 
On_II Thursday_NPD1 ,_, German_JJ Chancellor_NNB Angela_NP1 Merkel_NP1 said_VVD that_CST if_CS Iran_NP1 does_VDZ not_XX enter_VVI meaningful_JJ negotiations_NN2 on_II the_AT program_NN1 soon_RR ,_, new_JJ UN_NP1 sanctions_NN2 will_VM be_VBI sought_VVN against_II the_AT country_NN1 ._. 
"_" If_CS there_EX is_VBZ no_AT positive_JJ answer_NN1 by_II September_NPM1 we_PPIS2 will_VM have_VHI to_TO consider_VVI further_JJR measures_NN2 ,_, "_" said_VVD Mrs._NNB Merkel_NP1 ._. 
In_II a_AT1 statement_NN1 read_VVN on_II state_NN1 television_NN1 ,_, Khamenei_NP1 --_NN1 the_AT most_RGT powerful_JJ man_NN1 in_II the_AT country_NN1 's_GE theocratic_JJ government_NN1 --_NN1 said_VVD weeks_NNT2 of_IO show_NN1 trials_NN2 have_VH0 failed_VVN to_TO prove_VVI that_CST leaders_NN2 have_VH0 been_VBN agents_NN2 of_IO foreign_JJ powers_NN2 and_CC the_AT televised_JJ confessions_NN2 to_II that_DD1 effect_NN1 ._. 
The_AT trials_NN2 included_VVD an_AT1 elaborate_JJ conspiracy_NN1 theory_NN1 by_II the_AT state_NN1 prosecutor_NN1 that_CST about_RG 100_MC opposition_NN1 politicians_NN2 ,_, clerics_NN2 ,_, academics_NN2 ,_, and_CC journalists_NN2 on_II trial_NN1 were_VBDR part_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 plot_NN1 orchestrated_VVN by_II the_AT CIA_NP1 ,_, Israel_NP1 ,_, the_AT billionaire_NN1 philanthropist_NN1 George_NP1 Soros_NP1 ,_, and_CC many_DA2 others_NN2 ._. 
Khamenei_NP1 does_VDZ continue_VVI to_TO insist_VVI ,_, however_RR ,_, that_CST foreigners_NN2 --_NN1 and_CC not_XX popular_JJ dissatisfaction_NN1 --_NN1 were_VBDR the_AT ultimate_JJ causes_NN2 of_IO the_AT protests_NN2 ._. 
Agence_NP1 France-Presse_NP1 quotes_VVZ his_APPGE statement_NN1 as_CSA saying_VVG :_: "_" I_PPIS1 do_VD0 not_XX accuse_VVI the_AT leaders_NN2 of_IO the_AT recent_JJ incidents_NN2 to_TO be_VBI subordinate_JJ to_II the_AT foreigners_NN2 ,_, like_II the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 and_CC Britain_NP1 ,_, since_CS this_DD1 issue_NN1 has_VHZ not_XX been_VBN proven_VVN for_IF me_PPIO1 ,_, "_" Khamenei_NP1 said_VVD in_II a_AT1 statement_NN1 read_VVD out_RP by_II a_AT1 newsreader_NN1 ._. 
"_" This_DD1 plot_NN1 was_VBDZ defeated_VVN ,_, since_CS fortunately_RR our_APPGE enemies_NN2 still_RR do_VD0 not_XX understand_VVI the_AT issue_NN1 in_II Iran_NP1 ,_, "_" added_VVD the_AT statement_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ was_VBDZ read_VVN over_II pictures_NN2 of_IO Khamenei_NP1 ._. 
"_" Our_APPGE enemies_NN2 were_VBDR given_VVN a_AT1 slap_NN1 in_II face_NN1 by_II the_AT Iranian_JJ nation_NN1 ,_, but_CCB they_PPHS2 are_VBR still_RR hopeful_JJ and_CC they_PPHS2 are_VBR pursuing_VVG the_AT issue_NN1 ._. "_" 
However_RR ,_, the_AT Associated_JJ Press_NN1 reports_VVZ that_CST Khamenei_NP1 said_VVD that_CST protest_VV0 leaders_NN2 were_VBDR still_RR acting_VVG in_II the_AT interests_NN2 of_IO foreign_JJ powers_NN2 "_" whether_CSW31 or_CSW32 not_CSW33 its_APPGE leaders_NN2 know_VV0 ._. "_" 
The_AT ayatollah_NN1 's_GE dramatic_JJ shift_NN1 appears_VVZ to_TO be_VBI a_AT1 reaction_NN1 to_II the_AT growing_JJ anger_NN1 in_II Iran_NP1 over_II allegations_NN2 that_CST torture_VV0 and_CC rape_NN1 have_VH0 been_VBN used_VVN to_TO extract_VVI false_JJ ,_, televised_JJ confessions_NN2 from_II a_AT1 number_NN1 of_IO Iranians_NN2 ._. 
There_EX have_VH0 been_VBN signs_NN2 of_IO discontent_NN1 within_II Iran_NP1 's_GE conservative_JJ camp_NN1 over_II the_AT harsh_JJ crackdown_NN1 on_II political_JJ opponents_NN2 for_IF weeks_NNT2 ._. 
The_AT Tehran_NP1 Times_NNT2 reported_VVD Wednesday_NPD1 that_CST six_MC senior_JJ lawmakers_NN2 looking_VVG into_II allegations_NN2 of_IO the_AT rape_NN1 of_IO detainees_NN2 met_VVN with_IW Mehdi_NP1 Karroubi_NP1 ,_, the_AT reformist_JJ cleric_NN1 who_PNQS originally_RR made_VVD the_AT allegations_NN2 ._. 
Mr._NNB Karroubi_NP1 says_VVZ four_MC detainees_NN2 raped_VVN by_II security_NN1 officials_NN2 are_VBR willing_JJ to_TO testify_VVI to_II their_APPGE ordeal_NN1 ,_, but_CCB need_VV0 guarantees_NN2 of_IO their_APPGE safety_NN1 ._. 
What_DDQ all_DB this_DD1 means_VVZ for_IF the_AT Iranians_NN2 whose_DDQGE televised_JJ show_NN1 trials_NN2 are_VBR ongoing_JJ --_NN1 among_II them_PPHO2 is_VBZ the_AT apolitical_JJ Kian_JJ Tajbakhsh_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 US_NP1 citizen_NN1 and_CC academic_NN1 who_PNQS was_VBDZ living_VVG and_CC working_VVG in_II Tehran_NP1 as_II a_AT1 consultant_NN1 to_II the_AT government_NN1 and_CC NGOs_NP2 when_CS he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ arrested_VVN two_MC months_NNT2 ago_RA --_NN1 is_VBZ unclear_JJ ._. 
Allies_NN2 of_IO President_NNB Mahmoud_NP1 Ahmadinejad_NP1 have_VH0 continued_VVN to_TO press_VVI claims_NN2 of_IO treason_NN1 and_CC efforts_NN2 to_TO destroy_VVI the_AT Islamic_JJ republic_NN1 in_II recent_JJ weeks_NNT2 ,_, and_CC Khamenei_NP1 does_VDZ not_XX appear_VVI to_TO be_VBI making_VVG decisive_JJ moves_NN2 to_TO shut_VVI the_AT trials_NN2 down_RP ._. 
This_DD1 week_NNT1 ,_, Dr._NNB Tajbakhsh_NP1 was_VBDZ charged_VVN in_II court_NN1 with_IW seeking_VVG to_II foment_NN1 violence_NN1 and_CC he_PPHS1 "_" confessed_VVD "_" that_DD1 post_NN1 election_NN1 unrest_NN1 ,_, in_II which_DDQ millions_NNO2 of_IO Iranians_NN2 poured_VVN into_II the_AT streets_NN2 alleging_VVG massive_JJ vote_NN1 fraud_NN1 ,_, was_VBDZ organized_VVN by_II foreign_JJ countries_NN2 ._. 
"_" The_AT root_NN1 cause_NN1 of_IO the_AT riots_NN2 are_VBR found_VVN outside_II the_AT borders_NN2 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 said_VVD ,_, according_II21 to_II22 the_AT Iranian_JJ state_NN1 news_NN1 agency_NN1 ,_, though_CS he_PPHS1 hastened_VVD to_TO add_VVI ,_, "_" Since_CS I_PPIS1 've_VH0 had_VHN no_AT contacts_NN2 with_IW any_DD headquarters_NN inside_RL or_CC outside_II the_AT country_NN1 ,_, I_PPIS1 have_VH0 no_AT evidence_NN1 to_TO prove_VVI foreign_JJ interference_NN1 ._. "_" 
Friends_NN2 and_CC family_NN1 of_IO Tajbakhsh_NP1 described_VVD the_AT charges_NN2 against_II him_PPHO1 as_CSA "_" ludicrous_JJ ,_, "_" said_VVD his_APPGE comments_NN2 were_VBDR "_" made_VVN under_II duress_NN1 "_" and_CC that_CST he_PPHS1 "_" is_VBZ not_XX a_AT1 member_NN1 of_IO the_AT Iranian_JJ reformist_JJ movement_NN1 and_CC has_VHZ had_VHN no_AT involvement_NN1 whatsoever_DDQV in_II pre-_JJ or_CC post-election_JJ unrest_NN1 ._. "_" 
On_II Wednesday_NPD1 ,_, State_NN1 Department_NN1 spokesman_NN1 Ian_NP1 Kelley_NP1 concurred_VVD :_: "_" Mr._NNB Tajbakhsh_NP1 poses_VVZ absolutely_RR no_AT threat_NN1 to_II the_AT Iranian_JJ government_NN1 or_CC to_II its_APPGE national_JJ security_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 played_VVD absolutely_RR no_AT role_NN1 in_II the_AT election_NN1 ,_, and_CC he_PPHS1 's_VBZ a_AT1 scholar_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 's_VBZ really_RR devoted_VVN his_APPGE life_NN1 to_II promoting_VVG understanding_NN1 between_II the_AT Iranian_JJ and_CC the_AT American_JJ people_NN and_CC he_PPHS1 's_VBZ scrupulously_RR stayed_VVN politically-neutral_JJ ._. "_" 
A_AT1 number_NN1 of_IO political_JJ prisoners_NN2 have_VH0 died_VVN while_CS in_II government_NN1 custody_NN1 in_II recent_JJ months_NNT2 ,_, and_CC not_XX all_DB of_IO them_PPHO2 in_II the_AT "_" reformist_JJ "_" camp_NN1 ._. 
In_II late_JJ July_NPM1 ,_, Mohsen_NP1 Ruholamini_NP1 ,_, the_AT son_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 staunch_JJ conservative_NN1 and_CC former_DA commander_NN1 of_IO the_AT Revolutionary_JJ Guard_NN1 ,_, was_VBDZ reported_VVN beaten_VVN to_II death_NN1 while_CS in_II regime_NN1 custody_NN1 ._. 
For_IF many_DA2 Iranians_NN2 ,_, as_CSA ever_RR ,_, a_AT1 picture_NN1 has_VHZ been_VBN worth_II a_AT1 thousand_NNO words_NN2 ._. 
These_DD2 twin_JJ images_NN2 of_IO former_DA vice_JJ president_NN1 and_CC reformist_JJ Shiite_JJ cleric_NN1 Mohamed_NP1 Ali_NP1 Abtahi_NP1 ,_, the_AT first_MD showing_VVG him_PPHO1 plump_JJ and_CC smiling_VVG in_II crisp_JJ clerical_JJ garb_NN1 in_II the_AT middle_NN1 of_IO June_NPM1 ,_, the_AT second_NNT1 showing_VVG him_PPHO1 gaunt_JJ ,_, haggard_JJ and_CC swollen-faced_NN1 during_II his_APPGE show_NN1 trial_NN1 on_II Aug._NPM1 1_MC1 ,_, have_VH0 gone_VVN viral_JJ on_II the_AT Internet_NN1 ._. 
Mr._NNB Abtahi_NP1 testified_VVD that_CST he_PPHS1 no_RR21 longer_RR22 believed_VVD the_AT country_NN1 's_GE June_NP1 presidential_JJ vote_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ returned_VVD hard-line_JJ President_NNB Ahmadinejad_NP1 to_II power_NN1 ,_, was_VBDZ rigged_VVN and_CC said_VVN his_PPGE and_CC others_NN2 claims_VVZ to_II the_AT contrary_NN1 "_" was_VBDZ a_AT1 lie_NN1 brought_VVN up_RP to_TO create_VVI riots_NN2 so_CS Iran_NP1 would_VM become_VVI like_II Afghanistan_NP1 and_CC Iraq_NP1 and_CC suffer_VVI damage_NN1 ._. "_" 
The_AT show_NN1 trial_NN1 this_DD1 week_NNT1 also_RR included_VVN testimony_NN1 from_II Saeed_NP1 Hajjarian_JJ ,_, a_AT1 leading_JJ proponent_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 more_RGR open_JJ Iranian_JJ political_JJ system_NN1 and_CC greater_JJR engagement_NN1 with_IW Western_JJ governments_NN2 and_CC Iran_NP1 's_GE neighbors_NN2 ._. 
He_PPHS1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 key_JJ adviser_NN1 to_II former_DA President_NNB Mohammad_NP1 Khatami_NP1 when_RRQ he_PPHS1 implemented_VVD democratic_JJ reforms_NN2 and_CC today_RT is_VBZ partially_RR paralyzed_VVN due_II21 to_II22 an_AT1 assassin_NN1 's_GE bullet_NN1 in_II 2000_MC ._. 
Reformists_NN2 say_VV0 that_DD1 crime_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ was_VBDZ never_RR solved_VVN ,_, was_VBDZ carried_VVN out_RP by_II a_AT1 militiaman_NN1 acting_VVG on_II orders_NN2 from_II Iranian_JJ hardliners_NN2 ._. 
Mr._NNB Hajjarian_NP1 's_GE "_" confession_NN1 "_" was_VBDZ read_VVN on_II his_APPGE behalf_NN1 ,_, since_CS he_PPHS1 has_VHZ trouble_NN1 speaking_VVG since_II the_AT assault_NN1 ._. 
