Ayatollah Intervenes in Iran

Iran’s supreme leader ordered hard-liners Wednesday to reconsider the disqualifications of more than 3,000 pro-reform candidates from next month’s parliamentary elections.

The move by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was seen as a victory for reformist lawmakers who have held sit-ins in the parliament building for the last four days. Earlier, Khamenei said he would intervene only after the appeal process had been exhausted.

The disqualifications of the candidates -- including more than 80 liberal lawmakers hoping for reelection Feb. 20 -- drew outrage from the reformist-led parliament, warnings that President Mohammad Khatami’s government might resign, and criticism from the United States and the European Union.

Khamenei met members of the Guardian Council, the body responsible for the disqualifications, on Wednesday and told them to reconsider, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

For incumbent legislators, “the basis of decision should be that [candidates] are authorized to run unless it’s proved otherwise,” Khamenei told the council, the news agency said.

For new candidates, “logical and common qualification is sufficient and there is no need for further investigation. The Guardian Council must definitely and carefully reconsider the qualification of hopefuls,” Khamenei was quoted as saying.

Khamenei has ultimate say in all matters in Iran and is generally seen as the leader of the hard-line clerics, who have repeatedly stymied attempts at reform.

He has reined in hard-liners in the past to avert a destabilizing political clash.

Earlier Wednesday, reformist lawmakers rejected Khatami’s call to abandon their sit-in and began what they said would be a series of resignations. Khatami had condemned the disqualifications but asked lawmakers for more time.

The elections are seen as a crucial test for Iran’s reformists, whose popularity has waned because of their perceived failure to deliver on their promises.