The Latest from Iran (22 February): Rafsanjani Far from Finished?

1905 GMT: Economy Watch. Iran's Statistics Center has said that the unemployment rate is 11.8%. Among 15- to 29-year-olds, the rate is 23.9%.

Unemployment is higher for women than men and in cities versus rural areas.

1715 GMT: Nuke Watch. More on the tension between the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran, after Tehran restricted the movement of inspectors on a two-day visit --- a diplomat in Vienna says that the Islamic Republic asked the IAEA team to sign a document regulating their activists. They refused.

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The Latest from Iran (17 February): The Political Battle

See also Iran Feature: Saeed Malekpour, A Web Designer Condemned to Die
The Latest from Iran (16 February): Cutting Off the Opposition, A Year Later

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1903 GMT: Nuclear Watch. Both US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the European Union's foreign policy representative Catherine Ashton have welcomed Tuesday's letter from Saeed Jalili, of Iran's National Security Council, proposing a renewal of talks about Iran's nuclear programme.

Clinton said the letter was "one we have been waiting for", while Ashton said she was "cautious" but "optimistic" that talks could resume.

Both women said that they were still studying the reply.

1855 GMT: Budget Watch. Moayed Hosseini-Sadr of Parliament's Budget Committee has claimed that the Government has given 600 billion Toman (about $320 million) of its budget to "unknown foundations led by influential people".

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