By Mustafa Melih Ahishali

TEHRAN

Iranian Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani on Tuesday warned President Hassan Rouhani against voicing opposition to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei.

"The authorities should refrain from making speeches that could obstruct Khamanei or speeches that betray a lack of unity," Larijani told a meeting of the judiciary’s public relations department, according to the official IRNA news agency.

In an address to teachers last week, Khamanei criticized foreign-language education in Iran, which in some cases, he said, served to promote the dissemination of foreign culture among Iranian youth.

"Unfortunately, some institutions are encouraging children to learn English instead of Persian," he said.

"Some are even teaching English to preschool children," he said.

Two days later, Rouhani -- at an event held to commemorate national "Teachers Day" -- said people were free to learn whatever languages they wanted.

"We should teach the languages that will help the next generation master the sciences and provide them with job opportunities," he said.

* Anadolu Agency Correspondent Sibel Ugurlu contributed to this report from Ankara.