The Iranian president, Mohammad Khatami, yesterday defended his failed attempts to reform the country’s theocracy and warned against the dangers of religious “despotism”. In a statement addressed to the country’s youth, Mr Khatami alluded to his conservative opponents, saying: “The idea of implementing religious rule through despotism and by force and by ignoring people’s demands is the wrong path.” In a 47-page “letter for the future”, Mr Khatami said his government had stood for noble principles but had made mistakes and faced obstruction by hardline elements in the clerical establishment.Full Story