Iran opposition leader Mir-Hossein Mousavi lashes out; 70 professors arrested

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'A new society'

But Mousavi's latest remarks suggested that he was far from relenting.

He warned authorities that the crackdown on his supporters put the Islamic Republic at risk by raising questions about the government's legitimacy.

"If the recent moves made in the past few days are not well-managed, people outside the country and the system will find the opportunity to manage it," he said. "We should be careful. The most important asset we have is our independence, and we should not allow foreigners to interfere.

"Our society at the moment is different from that of six months ago," he said. "At the moment, we are facing a new society that we need to get to know before doing anything else. The features, demands, requirements . . . of this society will have to be reviewed and analyzed."

He warned of a more "violent atmosphere" if the repression continued.

"Because we are unable to respond, the defamation has increased to a point that stereotypical comments such as linking popular movements to foreigners are being raised."

He said respected officials have been fired for voicing criticism of the election, and he sought to portray himself as a champion of Iran's emerging middle class.

"At the moment, some sort of self-awareness has been created among the middle class," he said. "If this self-awareness is directed toward a goal, it will create positive energy, which will be very helpful for the reconstruction of the country."

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daragahi@latimes.com