Can the Mullahs be any more predictable?

(JPost) — Hardline Iranian lawmakers called on Tuesday for the country’s opposition leaders to face trial and be put to death, a day after clashes between opposition protesters and security forces left one person dead and dozens injured.

Tens of thousands of people turned out for the opposition rally Monday in solidarity with Egypt’s popular revolt that toppled President Hosni Mubarak after nearly 30 years in power. The demonstration was the first major show of strength from Iran’s beleaguered opposition in more than a year.

At an open session of parliament Tuesday, pro-government legislators demanded opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mahdi Karroubi and former reformist President Mohammad Khatami face be held responsible for the protests.

“The main aim of Americans was to simulate the recent events in the Middle East in Iran to divert attentions from those countries,” Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani told state radio, according to a Reuters report.

“We have information . . . that America, Britain and Israel guided the opposition leaders who called for the rally,” deputy police chief Ahmadreza Radan said, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

Pumping their fists in the air, the lawmakers chanted “death to Mousavi, Karroubi and Khatami.”