Iran Election: What Iranian Newspapers Say

While Western news sources have widely reported the protests and civic unrest that have followed Iran's election Friday, major Iranian newspapers today unanimously led with quotes from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who praised Friday's election as a victory for Democracy and a blow to global oppressors.

Comment from Mir Hossein Mousavi, who has protested the results as a "charade"--and who reportedly appeared at a rally today today for the first time since Friday--was nowhere to be found.

Here are the top stories of three major Iranian newspapers. The websites of other major news sources available in English, the Islamic Republic News Agency (the government's main news agency) and Ettelaat, both timed out.


Top story in Iran Daily: "Deciding Own Destiny"

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the Iranian nation is the true manifestation of the people's right to decide their own destiny.

In a meeting with the press in Tehran on Sunday he said the fact that over 84 percent of the eligible voters took part in the presidential elections on Friday dealt a severe blow to the foundations of the "oppressive system now ruling the world", IRNA reported.

Top story in Kayhan: "President Joins Sea of Celebrations: Election a Blow To World Oppressors"

TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- Iran's incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Sunday that the result of the presidential election was a blow to the "oppressive system" ruling the world as a sea of flag-waving supporters packed into central Tehran.

In his first press conference since winning Friday's vote, he also insisted that Tehran's nuclear program is an issue of the past.

"The 84 percent-plus participation by eligible voters... is a major blow...to the oppressive system ruling the world."

Ahmadinejad also dismissed the raging protests seen since Saturday against his re-election.

He said the election was like a "football match" played by two teams, adding the loser should just "let it go."

Top story in Tehran Times: "Unprecedented Turnout Was A Miracle: Leader"

 TEHRAN - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has said the unprecedented turnout for Friday's presidential election was a miracle.

In this great epic, the conscious and vigilant people of Iran showed that they still believe in the values of the Islamic Revolution, he said in Tehran on Sunday at a ceremony marking the anniversary of the birth of Fatima (SA), the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (S).

Another story from Iran Daily: "Nation Attached to Imam's Path"

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Sunday said Friday's presidential election was a divine miracle.

"The vigilant, far-sighted and alert Iranian nation in this great epic showed that they are still attached to the direction and values recommended by Imam Khomeini and seek progress and prosperity through his path," iribnews quoted him as saying in a meeting with the public to commemorate the birth anniversary of Lady Fatemeh (AS), the esteemed daughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).