The Latest from Iran (20 March): Anticipating a Happy Nowruz

1640 GMT: Cartoon of Day. Maya Nayestani presents a different version of the traditional 7-item "Haft Sin" table, offered by a member of Iran's security forces, for New Year --- Sandis (juice given to those attending regime rallies), Saloos (leech), Sarneyzeh (bayonet), Sangsaar (stoning), Sangdeli (hard-heartedness), Sarkoob (oppression), Saltanat-e Faghih (clerical monarchy). Her young boy responds, "I'll go to Grandpa's celebration."

1630 GMT: Missing. Journalist Behrouz Samadbeygi has not been seen since 15 March, the eve of Chahrshanbeh Suri (Fire Festival).

1525 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. State news agency IRNA claims that 80-year-old Ebrahim Yazdi, freed after more than five months in detention, has resigned as head of the Freedom Movement of Iran (see 1055 GMT).

1445 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. A number of political prisoners have been granted furloughs, on heavy bail, for Iranian New Year. Those freed temporarily include Parvin Javadzadeh, Fayzollah Arabsorkhi, Hamzeh Krami, Farid Taheri, Mehdi Eghbal Ali Jamali, Zahra Jabari, Mohamad Moghayeseh, Arash Alaei, Layla Tavasoli Mohsen Aminzadeh, Mohamad Oliyaifard, Babak Dashab, and Hoda Saber.

1055 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. Ebrahim Yazdi, one of the oldest political prisoners in the world, has been released from prison.

The 80-year-old Yazdi, a former Foreign Minister and head of the Freedom Movement of Iran, was arrested last October on the charge of organising an illegal prayer ceremony.

1045 GMT: Curbing the Clerics. The reformist Association of Researchers and Teachers of Qom has challenged the Government's cancellation of its licence, saying its activities are legal.

1030 GMT: (No) Corruption Watch. The Guardian Council has declared that investigation of the finances of officials is against the Constitution.

Several prominent officials have been accused of financial improprieties. Iran's judiciary has handed the file of 1st Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi, accused of involvement in an insurance fraud, to the courts.

0955 GMT: Finger-Wagging Over Nowruz. Another challenge to President Ahmadinejad and his inner circle over their New Year ceremonies....

Mohammad Taghi Rahbar, who heads the clerical faction in Parliament, has asked why, in the current economic circumstances, Ahmadinejad is "wasting money" to host foreigners at the events this week.

0950 GMT: Rafsanjani Watch. Former President Hashemi Rafsanjani has taken another jab at the Government in an interview with Khabar Online: "There are serious disagreements --- they are not confined to conservatives and reformists." He then put forward his main theme, "One can observe the boundaries and have criticism while preserving unity."

0820 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. Fakhrossaadat Mohtashamipour, who has been detained since the protests of 1 March, has said she will start a hunger strike if she cannot meet her husband, the imprisoned reformist politician Mostafa Tajzadeh. 

0630 GMT: Iranian New Year (Nowruz) begins at 2321 GMT --- wherever you are celebrating, best wishes from EA.

The State news agency, courtesy of Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hosseini, explains that the New Year will be greeted by artists, the translation of the Qur'an into different languages, and a music concert. The Presidents of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Iraq are special guests.

Not sure that all official outlets are into the spirit of celebration yet, however. Three of Press TV's top four "Iran" stories this morning are about Saudi Arabia and Bahrain; the fourth is a claim by the national oil company of a 5% reduction in gasoline consumption over the last year. And Fars leads with a speech by Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister denouncing American efforts in the Middle East.

Meanwhile....

Post-Political Prisoner Watch

Activist Ebrahim Mehtari,  who was abused in prison after the 2009 Presidential election, was attacked by two men on Friday and suffered several stab wounds. Mehtari said his assailants put a rope around his neck as they were striking him, but were scared away by a police siren. 

Last year, Mehtari and other post-election detainees spoke of their experiences before the United Nations Human Rights Council. The Council is due to vote next week on a resolution condemning human rights abuses in Iran.