The Latest from Iran (29 May): "Death to Deviant Mashai"

2035 GMT: Ahmadinejad Watch. More volleys this weekend in the political conflict --- former Presidential advisor and current head of IRNA Ali Akbar Javanfekr warns of a "parliamentary dictatorship", while Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Ali Jafari says the "deviant current" was trying to make money through the private sector and then using this to influence future elections.

2015 GMT: Khamenei v. Ahmadinejad. More on this weekend's clash between the Supreme Leader's supporters and those of the President, courtesy of Ayatollah Khamenei's representative in Fars Province, Ayatollah Asadollah Imani.

Imani criticised the Minister of Interior, Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, for replacing the provincial governor, Abdollah Hosseini with Farhad Sajjadi. The ayatollah claimed Hosseini had resisted against pressure from the "deviant current" around Ahmadinejad.

A pro-Khamenei website adds that Hosseini had been pressured by Najjar to resign as governor ever since his appointment and had told Presidential Chief of Staff Esfandiar Rahim-Mashai, "I will not be a 'yes, sir' man."

1935 GMT: Ahmadinejad Watch. Mohammad Hossein Saffar-Harandi, former Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, has asserted that a report about the "deviant current" --- the euphemism for the controversial advisors around Mahmoud Ahmadinejad --- has been submitted to the President.

Saffar-Harandi said, "Ahmadinejad has been hit with an ailment. We should pray for his salvation."

1545 GMT: Claim of Day. Ali Banaei, an MP from Qom, has asserted that the Ahmadinejad Government --- in another jab at the Supreme Leader --- eliminated funding for Ayatollah Khamenei's visits to the religious city from the 2011/12 budget.

Khamenei has been to Qom on several occasions since a 10-day stay last October.

1540 GMT: Diplomatic Front. Egyptian authorities have freed an Iranian diplomat who was detained over spying allegations. They said his diplomatic status was confirmed but his activities had breached protocol.

The Iranian regime denied the diplomat, Qassem Hosseini, had been detained but said Tehran was dealing with the case through official channels.

1535 GMT: Picture of Day. Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh and husband Reza Khandan grab a moment together during the court hearing today that confirmed Sotoudeh's disbarment.

Sotoudeh, prominent for her defence of activists and political prisoners, was arrested in September and sentenced in December to an 11-year term, as well as a 20-year ban on practicing law, for activities that threatened national security.

1515 GMT: Parliament v. President. Back from a break to find that the Supreme Leader's narrative of "reconciliation" is already facing complications. Parliament has balked at passing a motion for a Ministry of Infrastructure, part of President Ahmadinejad's controversial re-organisation of ministries.

1225 GMT: Ceasefire? The Supreme Leader, in an address to legislators, has called for reconciliation between Parliament and the Ahmadinejad Government: "While there is weakness and problems...the composition of the executive branch is good and appropriate, and the Government is working. The government and Parliament must help each other."

The Supreme Leader said this was necessary to "fight the enemey" undermining Iran's economy, creating differences between authorities, and challenging Islamic beliefs and feelings.

At the same time, Ayatollah Khamenei cautioned Ahmadinejad, "When the law is passed, the government must implement it with full power and without any excuse."

On several occasions during the current political conflict, Ahmadinejad has been criticised by Parliament and the Guardian Council for imposing decisions without consultation. This has included measures on the budget, the merger of Ministries, the attempt to push out the Minister of Intelligence, and the President's declaration of himself as caretaker Minister of Oil.

Khabar Online, linked to Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani, adds that the Supreme Leader had demanded that no one interfere in the electoral process. The allegation of manipulation has recently been levelled at Ahmadinejad's advisors.

1055 GMT: Ahmadinejad Watch. Gholam Hossein Elham, a member of the Guardian Council and former spokesman of the Ahmadinejad Government, has admitted "serious problems" in governance, with "serious disagreements" between a "strong executive" and Parliament.

1035 GMT: Reformist Watch. Former President Mohammad Khatami, repeating his message about the need for "reconciliation" in Iran, has told an audience of women that "extremist groups" have increased "the cynicism and violence" in Iran.

Khatami also emphasised his call to free female political prisoners.

0745 GMT: Oil and Politics. Aftab claims that the Minister of Oil, Masoud Mirkazemi, was removed for a report he wrote on how officials used the funds from the sale of South Pars gas and oil fields.

0740 GMT: A Message for Ahmadinejad. The top item on the website of Fars is a one-paragraph story, "A Special Recommendation from Imam Khomeini to the President: 'Be Careful of Flatters and Hypocrites Who Try to Divert You".

Ayatollah Khomeini died in 1989.

0725 GMT: Peyke Iran claims that all executive activities in Fars Province have been shut down following the lockdown of the Governor's office by the Supreme Leader's supporters on Saturday (see 0620 GMT).

0620 GMT: And so the political conflict within the Iranian establishment reaches the point where supporters of the Supreme Leader rally with signs demanding "death" for the "deviant" Esfandiar Rahim-Mashai, President Ahmadinejad's right-hand man.

The incident (see Saturday's LiveBlog) occurred in Shiraz, where rival factions are disputing who should be Governor in the southern province. It followed another day of denunciations of Ahmadinejad's advisors, with some sporadic defences from the President's camp.

Not that you would notice this in some of the State media --- Press TV's lead Iran story is actually about Palestine, with the head of the Basij militia pronouncing, "The new wave of Islamic awakening in the Middle East and North Africa will lead to the liberation of Palestinian lands from Israeli occupation." And stay tuned, because later this morning the Iranian website will be bringing you the tale of how the US military "may have played a role in the 1997 death of Princess Diana".

Which brings us to today's rather humourous juxtaposition. The top headline on the State news agency IRNA is that an Egyptian political activist has called for the resumption of ties between Tehran and Cairo. But if you head over to Reuters, you learn:

Egypt has detained an Iranian who worked at Iran's diplomatic mission in Cairo, security sources said Saturday, in a potential setback to improving ties between the two countries.