Mir-Houssein Mousavi, the chairman of the Iranian Academy of Arts and presidential candidate who has refused to accept the election results won by incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is under increasing pressure from government officials and supporters of the sitting president.

Earlier this week, plainclothes motorcyclists reportedly attempted to barricade Mousavi in his office at the Iranian Academy of Art in order to prevent him from joining protesters who have mobilized to question Ahmadinejad’s election victory, which they allege argue was fraudulently declared.

Reportedly fed up with the harassment from the motorcyclists, who may be associated with the Basiji militia that supports the Iran’s ruling party, Mousavi ventured out of his office and up to the men yesterday, telling them, “You have a task. Carry out your mission. Kill me, beat me, threaten me.” The motorcyclists then retreated.

Mousavi’s wife, a member of the art faculty at Tehran University, has also come under threat this week, as she was attacked by a group of pro-Ahmadinejad supporters with pepper spray. Though temporarily blinded, she has recovered.

Iran’s prosecutor general, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, has stepped up pressure from the state this week as well, declaring that he had obtained the signatures of 100 legislators calling for the prosecution of Mousavi.

Read more at the National.