Latest from Iran (3 September): Elections and the Revolution

1901 GMT: People protest in Tabriz, but there appear to be snipers on the rooftops.

Yet another video from Tabriz. Some of the people there are carrying objects (it is unclear whether they are looters, or merchants who work in the area) when suddenly gunfire breaks out:

1856 GMT: Video of the protests in Tabriz, in support of the people of Urmia and against government policies that have led to the drying of Urmia lake:

Also, this video appears to be the first half of the last video, gunfire erupts in Tabriz:

1854 GMT: This video, handed to us by a trusted activist, claims to show a wounded protester in Tabriz:

1824 GMT: The regime seems to be taking these protests very seriously. A heavy security presence has been deployed to the streets of Tehran, focused around a few major roads and the Majilis (parliament) building. This video shows the latter:

1806 GMT: We're keeping our eyes on Urmia and Tabriz, but we have other dramatic developments today in Iran.

Iranian officials are claiming that they have killed 30 Kurdish dissidents, alleged members of the PJAK, in the mountains near the Iraqi border.

A member of the PKK in Turkey confirmed the developments:

"After realising that the Iranian forces are not only targeting the PJAK party but targeting all Kurds and their achievements, for this reason we announce that from now on we will start fighting the Iranian forces side-by-side with PJAK fighters," Dozdar Hamo told Reuters

"From now on we will start to cooperate directly to support the PJAK and together defend the achievements of the Kurdish people."

1759 GMT: HRANA is now confirming the existence of protests, arrests, and clashes in Tabriz and Urmia. Without independent media, so far the student movement is still the only source regularly updating. However, activists in Iran have also been able to confirm that live ammunition has been used in Tabriz and Urmia.

1753 GMT: According to the Persian liveblog posted by the South Azerbaijan Student Movement, 13 people have been injured "by bullets" in Urmia, 4 are in critical condition, and they have been brought to the University Hospital.

1748 GMT: A second video, also posted on the South Azerbaijan Student Movement liveblog, shows protesters, and small fires, on the streets of Urmia:

1742 GMT: According to the South Azerbaijan Student Movement, this is the first video taken from Urmia today, showing a large amount of security forces on motorcycles:

1738 GMT: A protester snapped this cell phone photo of protests in Tabriz earlier today:

1700 GMT: Protest Watch. The website of the South Azerbaijan Student Movement continues to live-blog the demonstrations and clashes in Orumiyeh (Urmia) and Tabriz, as 1000s came out today to protest over political and economic conditions as well as the flashpoint of the damage to the receding Lake Orumiyeh.

1650 GMT: Oil Watch. Here's one way to create a vibrant energy market and the impression of income --- the National Iranian Oil Company has reportedly sold oil at the newly-founded International Oil Stock Market on Kish Island to itself. The "buyer" of a major shipment is an NIOC sub-company.

1640 GMT: Sychophancy Watch. Emtedad Monthly, associated with the Foundation of Preserving and Spreading the Values of Holy Defense, has published a special newsletter to admire the Supreme Leader.

The newsletter is filled with quotations from Ayatollah Khamenei's relatives, as well as Khamenei's speeches, written statements, and memorials.

One of the Supreme Leader's bodyguards gives a featured interview describing Khamenei's daily activities. The Supreme Leader is always praying to God and very interested in mountaineering, and all of his family memorise the Qur'an.

1551 GMT: James Miller takes over the blog, and he has news.

It appears that there are once again protests, and clashes, in Iran. But they aren't happening in Tehran, and it has nothing to do with elections, or freedom of speech.

In Tabriz, and in Urumiyeh, the people have taken to the streets to protest the government policies that have led to the drying of Urmia, which in turn is harming the residents of both cities. Protests began around 6 p.m. local time, according to the Azerbaijani national activists who called for marches. The protests were supposed to be peaceful, and according to the South Azerbaijan Students' Movement, thousands showed up and chanted protest slogans.

According to the account, the protesters took control of the central square in Urmia, but were met by security forces. Tear gas was fired, clashes broke out between police and protesters, people threw stones in retaliation, tires were set on fire, as chaos broke out within the first 40 minutes.

In Tabriz, thousands also turned out to protest, and those protests have met a similar fate. Between Market Street and Mohammadi Street, police clashed with protesters, tear gas was fired, as were rubber bullets.

The most recent updates suggest that the streets of Urmia are deserted, but there is still fighting in St. Atai, and in Tabriz, where one person has reportedly been shot.

This is dramatic news, but unconfirmed. We'll see if we can dig up more sources.

1458 GMT: Sanctions Watch. Ordinary Iranians have reportedly been hit hard by US-led sanctions and economic difficulties, but the regime can give them this piece of good news: Italian luxury sports car maker Maserati has announced plans to open a dealership in Tehran next year.

1455 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. University student Behnam Ganji Khabiri, has committed suicide shortly after his release from prison.

Khabiri, a friends of detained human rights activist Kouhyar Goudarzi, was arrested along with Goudarzim, Goudarzi's mother, and another friend on 31 July. He was released eight days later.

Khabiri has no history of political activity, He was reportedly interrogated and pressured to make a false confession to implicate Goudarzi.

Khabiri died on Thursday after an overdose of prescription pills.

1452 GMT: They're Coming to Get Us Watch. Hossein Shariatmadari, the editor of Keyhan, has warned students, "Today, a chain of all European embassies in Iran have devoted the main pivot of their activities to Iran's 9th Parliamentary elections [in March 2012] in a bid to create a challenge for our security."

Kazem Jalali of Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission has better news on the armed front, however, "Any military operation against any part of the Iranian territory will no doubt receive a crushing response."

Jalali was responding to comments that week by French President Nicolas Sarkozy warning of firm action if Iran proceeded with militarisation of its nuclear programme.

1450 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. Ehsan Abdoh-Tabrizi, a Ph.D. student at Britain's Durham University, has been released after 20 months in detention. He appears to be one of almost 100 political prisoners given an amnesty by the Supreme Leader last weekend.

Abdoh-Tabrizi was seized as he was visiting his family in Tehran, charged with “insulting the Supreme Leader”, taking part in protests and “having links with foreign elements”. He was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Abdoh-Tabrizi has spoken with fellow Durham student Afshin Shahi, who said that the freed postgraduate would resume his studies.

1445 GMT: On the Border. State television says the Iranian military has launched new attacks against the Kurdish insurgent group PJAK on the border with Iraq, days after Turkey said its airstrikes had killed up to 160 of the opposition fighters inside Iraqi territory.

Last month, there were sustained clashes between PJAK, the Turkish Kurdish insurgency PKK, and Iranian and Turkish forces, with attacks on camps inside Iraq.

1440 GMT: Getting Tough on Water Games (cont.). Remember last month's incident when Iranian security forces arrested dozens of youths for daring to play in a public water park in Tehran, splashing each other and using water guns?

It has happened again. More than 50 young people, including a 12 year-old, have been arrested in a Tehran park and several have been detained in Mashhad for "security crimes" after they dared to have fun in the water.

1310 GMT: We begin today with another look at the claim by Hojatoleslam Ali Samari, a former advisor to President Ahmadinejad, that the Supreme Leader has warned the President and his Cabinet not to make remarks that would "deviate from the Revolution". At the same time, Ayatollah Khamenei said that it is imperative to focus on the name of "Iran" as well as the name of "Islam" when making remarks or slogans. This seems to be a balancing comment between the "Islam-first" approach generally advocated by the Iranian establishment and the "Iran-first" position of advisors like Ahmadinejad's right0hand man Esfandiar Rahim-Mashai.

Meanwhile, confusion on the foreign front. Ayande reports that the trip of Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani trip to China and North Korea has been cancelled. No official reason has been given, but MP Hossein Sobhaninia said the cancellation had occurred because Larijani's visit was "not coordinated".

Ayande returns to the incident this week where an anchorman on State television cut off a guest after the expert said both Iran and Pakistan were interfering in Afghanistan's affair. The website chides that, if Government and State broadcaster IRIB had a responsible public foreign diplomacy, it would not be endangered by an interview with an analyst.