**Prominent Iran opposition leader Mehdi Karoubi has said he recognises Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president, despite saying last year’s poll was rigged.**Mr Karoubi had refused to accept the president’s controversial re-election.
Mr Karoubi’s son says his father still has doubts about the vote, but accepts the results following Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s endorsement.
Opposition activists are preparing for a new round of anti-Ahmadinejad protests on Revolution Day next month.
According to Iran’s Fars news agency, Hossein Karoubi quoted his father as saying: "I am still of the same belief that the election was unhealthy and massively rigged.
“But since the [supreme] leader [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei] endorsed [Mr Ahmadinejad’s victory], I believe that he is the head of the government, meaning he is the president.”
The ex-speaker of parliament, who came fourth in the disputed June presidential election, added: “I still maintain that there were problems [in the election].”
Widespread protests erupted in Iran after the election, with hundreds of anti-government demonstrators arrested.