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Iran's Khamenei shows no sign of retreat in latest speech

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has shown no signs of relaxing the country’s cultural policies.
An Iranian woman walks past a mural showing Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the capital Tehran on March 9, 2022.

Iran commemorated Student Day on Wednesday to honor three students who were killed under the previous government in 1953. This year, however, the occasion year coincides with protests and calls for strikes from protesters who have been demonstrating since Sept. 16. 

On Tuesday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, which was established in 1984, and showed no signs that he is ready to show leniency with any of the policies that have caused protests in the country in the last three months. According to Khamenei, the most important task of the council is to “guide the culture of the country and society.” Khamenei urged the council to use its influence to steer the various organizations and groups that operate in the country. The council is compromised of a conservative-led body in addition to ministers of the current administration. 

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