Iran's supreme¹ leader has said he does not believe opposition² leaders blamed for the country's post-election unrest were knowing agents of foreign powers.

伊朗最高领导人称他不相信反对派领导人将选举之后国家的动荡局面归咎于外国势力的特工所为。

The ayatollah said Iran's enemies had been 'given a slap in the face'

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's comments contradict（反驳，矛盾） accusations³（指责，谴责） which have frequently been made by hardliners（强硬分子）.

A number of senior opposition figures are currently on trial in Tehran accused of conspiring⁴ with foreign powers to organise⁵ unrest.

But the ayatollah（阿亚图拉） appears to be trying to reduce tensions, say correspondents.

"I do not accuse the leaders of the recent incidents to be subordinate to（挂靠，服务于） the foreigners, like the United States and Britain, since this issue has not been proven for me," said Ayatollah Khamenei, in a statement read out on Iranian television.

But he said there was "no doubt" the mass demonstrations⁶, in which at least 30 people died, had been planned in advance, "whether its leaders know or not".

"This plot was defeated, since fortunately our enemies still do not understand the issue in Iran," he said.

"Our enemies were given a slap in face by the Iranian nation, but they are still hopeful and they are pursuing the issue."

'Suspicions and rumours⁷'

Opposition leaders say dozens of people were killed and hundreds arrested during the protests after Mahmoud Ahmedinajad was declared the winner of the presidential election.

Trials are taking place of some of those allegedly involved in the unrest, but they have been dismissed by critics as show trials.

Hardliners are also calling for the arrest of the two leading opposition candidates in the election - Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi - and former president Akbar Rafsanjani.

They accuse Mr Rafsanjani of being part of a plan by the US and Britain to destabilise Iran.

But Ayatollah Khamenei said: "One cannot move based on suspicions and rumours in issues with such high importance.

"Everyone can be sure that crimes will not be tolerated but in such important issues, the judiciary（司法部，法官） should judge based on strong reasons and evidence."

The BBC's Kasra Naji says Ayatollah Khamenei appears to be seeking to restrain（抑制，阻止） his followers⁸.

There are indications that the trials - in which some of the accused have allegedly confessed to being part of a foreign-instigated plot - are pushing Iran into more uncertainty⁹, our correspondent adds.