Local Iranians Monitor Election Tensions

Tension continues to build and rallies erupt in Iran over accusations that the presidential election was rigged. Oklahomans, originally from Iran, are watching the situation very closely.

Monday, June 15th 2009, 5:34 pm

By: News 9


By Amy Lester, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Tension continues to build and rallies erupt in Iran over accusations that the presidential election was rigged. Oklahomans, originally from Iran, are watching the situation very closely.

A professor from Langston University has been talking with family in Iran and listening to what's going on. He finds it hard to believe the entire election was rigged.

Protests, rallies and reported gunfire irrupted after people in Iran made accusations that the election was rigged. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won by more than 63 percent.

"Really I'm not happy about it to be honest with you," Ebrahim Soltani said.

Ebrahim Soltani's talking about what's going on in the country where he grew up. He expects disputes after an election but this one rises to a different level.

"I think the reason this is boiling because the west didn't want Ahmadinejad, was hoping for somebody else but didn't happen, therefore they are questioning everything," Soltani said.

Soltani said despite how Americans feel about Ahmadinejad, there's support in Iran, especially outside of the large cities.

"People in small towns needed medical, they needed gymnasiums, they needed recreation areas, they needed soccer fields, he went and built them," Soltani said.

He will wait and watch from the U.S. He's confident everything will work out in the end.

"I don't think this little thing is going to bother. It'll stay for a week or two, they'll look at the case, if there's a problem, they're going to correct it," Soltani said.

Iran's Guardian Council, which is a group of top clerics and judges, will investigate claims of ballot rigging. They'll release their findings in 10 days.

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