IND:  Khamenei appears to have softened his tone on the opposition in recent days.  (See below)  The question is why?  Has he suddenly realized the error of his policies?  Surely not!  Then what is it?  No one knows but we suggest a simple reason – FEAR! Although we certainly don’t subscribe to the neocon point of view, Michael Ledeen makes an extremely important point here:

It is reminiscent of that moment, thirty years ago, when the shah admitted that his security forces had gone too far, and promised he would crack down on them.  This open confession of weakness inspired Khomeini’s followers, and marked a watershed in the history of the revolution.  From that moment on, the revolutionaries no longer feared the regime, and the shah’s people started to betray him and one another.  There is reason to believe Khamenei’s speech has the same significance.

AFP: Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed on Sunday that Iran will prosecute anyone who has committed “crimes” against people harmed in post-election unrest, state television reported…”If a bad deed or crime has been committed those behind it will be dealt with rightfully and legally,” the supreme leader said, “just as those who openly stand against the system are confronted.”…He also indicated on Wednesday that members of the security forces who took part in the post-election crackdown were not immune from prosecution…and [that] he was not convinced those who led the protests were backed by foreigners.