Khamenei blasts British 'meddling'

TEHRAN, July 6 (UPI) -- Western countries, Britain in particular, should be ready for an Iranian reaction to the meddling in post-election internal affairs, the supreme leader said.

Relations between London and Tehran soured notably in the fallout from the disputed June 12 presidential election in Iran that saw President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claim victory over the objections of various factions of society.

Iranian authorities detained nine Iranians working for the British Embassy in Iran on allegations of setting off violent demonstrations following the elections.

Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, issued a stark warning to Western states, warning them of the consequences of continued meddling, the state-funded Press TV reports.

"Such governments should be careful with their hostile approach and remarks," said the leader, warning "such moves will definitely have a negative impact on the future of the Islamic Republic relations with them."

Meanwhile, former President Ali Hashemi Rafsanjani, who chairs the Assembly of Experts -- the only body with the authority to unseat the supreme leader -- said the turmoil in the wake of the elections shows sweeping dissatisfaction with the results.

In a sign of a further disenchantment with the current supreme leader, the Association of Teachers and Researchers, a clerical organization in the holy city of Qom, issued a statement saying the result of the presidential elections were skewed.

Ahmadinejad claimed a sweeping victory within hours of the closing of the June 12 polls, raising questions over the authenticity of the results.