2 Khatami Allies Sentenced to Prison
A hard-line court sentenced Iran’s senior election official to prison for vote tampering, state-run media reported, a move toppling the reformist president’s key ally just three months ahead of elections.
The sentencing of Deputy Interior Minister Mostafa Tajzadeh appears to have been a preemptive move to give hard-liners an election edge in the battle for political control of the nation. President Mohammad Khatami is overwhelmingly popular and likely to seek a second term.
In the same case, another Khatami ally, Tehran Gov. Ayat Azarmi, was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
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