Iranian Leader Affirms Rushdie Death Decree

TEHRAN — Iran’s spiritual leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reiterated Tuesday that a religious death warrant against British author Salman Rushdie is irrevocable and “must be carried out.”

There had been reports that Iran was relaxing its stance on the death sentence, issued last year by the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in a bid to improve relations with Europe. The threat stems from Rushdie’s book, “The Satanic Verses,” which some Muslims consider blasphemous.