The Latest from Iran (20 February): A Meeting with the Supreme Leader?

See also Syria Audio Feature: Iranian Rappers Sing for the People of Homs
Iran Snapshot: The Economy --- "How Am I Going to Live Like This?"
The Latest from Iran (19 February): "The Islamic Republic Does Not Need a Supreme Leader"

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2225 GMT: Apologies for limited service today, as EA staff have been travelling and giving presentations. We will be back from 0600 GMT with latest news.

1125 GMT: Diplomacy Watch. In contrast to (or possibly alongside) the military posturing, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi continues to pave the way for nuclear talks with the US and other powers:

Neither European countries nor Iran can disregard the need for mutual cooperation because we are both complementary to each other, Salehi told reporters on the sidelines of a two-day conference on relations between Iran and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Tehran on Monday.

The top Iranian diplomat further said that enhanced economic ties with all countries is among the priorities of Iran's foreign policy, stressing that Tehran attaches importance to bolstering relations with neighboring countries as well as the member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

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The Latest from Iran (15 February): The Momentum of Protest, Part 2

1905 GMT: Oil Watch. Looks like Tehran has got itself in a muddle with today's grandstanding announcements. While the Ministry of Oil is saying exports to six European countries will be cut off, Hassan Tajik, the Foreign Ministry's deputy for Western Europe, is assuring that supplies will continue.

1850 GMT: Nuclear Watch. Saeed Jalili, the Secretary of the National Security Council, has sent a note to Catherine Ashton, the foreign policy representative for the European Union, about renewed talks on Iran's nuclear programme.

A spokeswoman said Ashton is consulting with the "5+1" Powers --- the US, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany --- on a response.

Tehran's letter was revealed as President Ahmadinejad made the announcement that Iran could now produce fuel rods of 19.75% uranium for the Tehran Research Reactor, making medical isotopes. Ahmadinejad also said that new centrifuges at the Natanz facility have "a three-fold higher capacity" compared to older models, boosting Iran's capacity to produce 3.5% lower-enriched nuclear fuel by 50%.

1714 GMT:. Claim of the Day. MP Morteza Agha Tehrani, the head of the Unity Front list of candidates, has asserted that the Islamic Republic has become a model for the world, with even the biggest US philosophers respecting Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi --- the head of the Islamic Constancy Front --- and ceding their speaking time to him.

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The Latest from Iran (12 January): After the Tehran Bomb

2119 GMT: The Tehran Bomb. Fars reports that the Ministry of Interior refused permits for "student" protests, condemning the death of scientist Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, in front of the British, German, and French Embassies today.

2049 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. Anti-regime bloggers have launched a website in support of Mehdi Khazali, the physician and blogger detained once again this week.

Khazali has been seized three times since the 2009 Presidential election.

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The Latest from Iran (12 October): Rafsanjani Hits Back

1945 GMT: Opposition Challenge. Ardeshir Amir Arjomand, a senior advisor to Mir Hossein Mousavi, has called on Green Movement activists to “bravely” reflect the “oppression” of the Iranian people to the “international community and all international organisations".

Arjomand, who is now outside Iran, called the President a "delusional liar" and declared, “Mr Ahmadinejad is not the representative of the Iranian people and does not have the right to speak on behalf of the Iranian people in the international stage.” Claiming that Ahmadinejad's impending visit to Lebanon was to gain domestic advantage, Arjomand asserted, “Unfortunately, Ahmadinejad is used to exploiting—[both] politically and personally—the pains and sufferings of others [both] by means of deceitful slogans and actions.”

Arjomand also spoke out against sanctions:

The international community must not punish [Iranian] workers, teachers and deprived sectors of the Iranian nation --- who live under the tyranny of an oppressive state --- because of the irresponsible adventurism of a president who lacks legitimacy among the people....Contrary to baseless claims, the sanctions will have a clear effect on the day-to-day lives of the people;therefore the Green Movement wants an end to the economic sanctions. The harm resulting from these sanctions have a direct impact on the situation of the people’s livelihoods and will create basic problems for using national resources.

Arjomand then tried to turn the Israeli issue against the government, saying that West Jerusalem government was “eager [for] and in need” of Ahmadinejad’s positions, using them to divert attention from the Palestinian struggle for justice, and claiming that the Green Movement “condemns” Israel’s acts of hostility in “breaching human rights and human dignity": “Our support for the Palestinian people is considered to be a support for justice and people as well as a religious and moral duty.

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Iran Snap Analysis: Is Supreme Leader Throwing Rafsanjani Under the Bus?

Cartoon by Nikahang KowsarUPDATE 1755 GMT: An EA correspondent updates us on the Supreme Leader's trip to Qom....

It will begin sometime between Friday and next Tuesday, in part to avoid a clash with President Ahmadinejad's trip to Lebanon, which is expected on Wednesday.

Khamenei will have some public meetings with people in Qom such as families of martyrs, Basij militia, clerics, and the Society of Teachers and Researchers of Qom. However, his meetings with senior clerics will be private and without press coverage.

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This morning we noted the report of the Islamic Republic News Agency that the Supreme Leader had made a "final and definite" opinion over control of Islamic Azad University, Iran's largest university system. The private system has been overseen by officials linked to former President Hashemi Rafsanjani, but earlier this year the Ahmadinejad Government sought to take charge.

Well, we've checked with correspondents, and Ayatollah Khamenei's declaration is a knockout victory for Ahmadinejad. Indeed, the verdict --- that the rights of the IAU are determined by the Supreme Leader and that it falls under the Government's jurisdiction --- may point to a even bigger political decision by Ayatollah Khamenei.

Between now and a week on Tuesday, the Supreme Leader will journey to Qom, the key religious centre of Iran, for a stay of several days. Formally, he will commemorate the birthday of Reza, Shi'a's 8th Imam, but the politics go far beyond that ceremony.

Khamenei's trip is no less than an appeal to the maraji, the highest clerics of Iran, to support him amidst the political, economic, and international challenges that Tehran is facing.

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The Latest from Iran (11 October): Persistence

1900 GMT: Rafsanjani Watch. As news emerges of the Supreme Leader's smack-down of former President Hashemi Rafsanjani over Islamic Azad University, Rafsanjani's brother Mohammed Hashemi has tipped off more worries. He declared that their party Kargozaran had committed no mistakes which would justify shutting it down, but "radical currents" could not bear parties like Kargozaran and want to eliminate them.

1830 GMT: Bazaar Strikes. Tagheer claims that the gold market in Mashhad is still on strike despite threats of prosecution of sellers.

1810 GMT: Today's All-is-Well Moment. First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi, meeting province governors, has said people should believe that the government has more foreign currency and gold reserves than normal.

Rahimi added that subsidy cuts aim at just distribution of wealth, and there will be no inflation, as that is only a rumour spread by enemies.He claimed the challenge of sanctions will be met by activating projects in the South Pars gas and oil field, creating 1.1 million new jobs. 

Indeed, Rahimi is so confident that --- like the President --- he has filed a lawsuit against conservative MP Ali Motahhari and several other legislators.

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