The Latest from Iran (21 August): All Hail the Supreme Leader

0115 GMT: Nuclear Watch. Iranian officials will meet again with the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna on Friday, discussing remaining "outstanding issues" around the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme.

IAEA chief inspector Herman Nackaerts and deputy director general Rafael Grossi are expected to attend the talks at the Iranian mission.

The IAEA meets next month with Iran among the items at the top of the agenda.

0045 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. Majid Dorri, a prominent student activist imprisoned for 6 1/2 years, has protested in a letter against former political prisoners Shiva Nazar Ahari, Jila Bani Yaghoub, and Reyhaneh Tabatabai being summoned to Evin Prison on Tuesday.

The three activists now face a resumption of prison terms imposed after the 2009 Presidential election.

2214 GMT: Military Watch. An Iranian commander, Mohammad Hosseini, has said that the Islamic Republic has started construction of its largest air defence base.

Hosseini said the base in Fars Province in southern Iran would be built at the cost of $300 million and will have 6000 personnel.

Rahim Zare', an MP for the area, said, "This air defense site will be the product of the achievements gained in all areas of science in the world."

2206 GMT: Human Rights Watch. Iranian officials have written the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, to call on the UN Human Rights Council to investigate the alleged support of Western states for "terrorists" in Syria.

"It is much clear that certain western countries along with their regional allies intend to change the Syrian government at any price and they don't pay any heed to the bloody and inhumane consequences of this seditious measure whose painful manifestations are already evident," the letter asserted. "We demand your Excellency to compile a report on the role of such countries in equipping and arming the terrorists in Syria, which has had a direct effect in increasing the number of human rights violation cases in the country and committing of crimes against humanity, and inform the world of its results."

2146 GMT: Earthquake Watch. Radio Zamaneh says private owners of accounts set up for aid to the victims of the 11 August earthquakes in northwestern Iran have been summoned by the Ministry of Intelligence and Cyber-Police because of their Facebook network.

2138 GMT: Chicken Watch. Mehr reports that one kilogramme (2.2 pounds) of chicken meat is selling at 5300 to 5400 Toman (about $4.25 at official rate) but up to 6000 Toman (about $4.75) in Tehran.

The price of chicken, even with Government subsidies, has soared this year. Unsubsidised chicken has sold for up to 9000 Toman in Tehran this summer.

2132 GMT: Economy Watch (Revolutionary Guards Edition). Minister of Oil Rustam Qassemi has announced the signature of a $1 billion contract with Khatam al-Anbia, the engineering arms of the Revolutionary Guards, for construction of a gas refinery project.

Before becoming Minister of Oil, Qassemi was a Revolutionary Guards commander.

1332 GMT: Parliament v. President. Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani has reportedly cancelled two Government laws over investment in the petrochemical industry and the National Refinery Company.

1325 GMT: Economy Watch. Ali Mohammad Ahmadi of Parliament's Budget Committee says that, according to the Statistics Center, food prices have risen 35% and housing 48% within one year.

1125 GMT: Chest-Thumping. Reuters has a bit more on the unveiling of six weapons, including an upgraded short-range missile and more powerful naval engine, on Defense Industry Day. President Ahmadinejad pronounced, "Defensive advances are meant to defend human integrity, and are not meant to be offensive moves toward others. I have no doubt that our defensive capabilities can stand up to bullying and put a halt to their plans."

Reuters spoils the party, however, "Military experts have cast doubt on Iran's claims of weapons advances, especially its assertions about its missile program, saying Tehran often exaggerates its capabilities."

1118 GMT: Welcome Back, Mr Secretary-General. Fars features the assurance of a United Nations official that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon will attend the summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Tehran on 30-31 August.

When it was reported earlier this week that the Secretary-General would not be coming, Iranian officials, including Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani, said his absence was no big deal and would only reflect badly on the UN.

Now the tune, played by Iranian spokesman Mohammad Forghani, is much different: "The calls, demands and pressures to prevent Ban Ki-moon's attendance in the NAM summit in Tehran were ineffective and the UN secretary-general will certainly visit Tehran."

0941 GMT: Ahmadinejad Watch. The President has tried to display his own authority this morning by unveiling a new version of a short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, Fateh-110 (Conqueror).

The missile has been in service for a decade, with the ability to strike land and naval targets within 300 kilometres (185 miles).

0935 GMT: Economy Watch. The Secretary of the Dairy Association has announced that the price of milk has risen 135% in the past year.

0855 GMT: We begin by noting the unanimity of front pages of Iranian newspapers, displayed by Peyke Iran, hailing the Supreme Leader's statements at the end of Ramadan. From "Leader Slams Enemies' Divide-and-Rule Policy: Zionism A Threat to All Humanity" to "Palestine is Main Issue of Islamic World", the headlines and images proclaim unity behind one man. Only Mardomsalari despatches Ayatollah Khamenei to the side, preferring a central photo of Iranians at the beach.

The acclamation is taken to great and curious lengths by Press TV, which declares, "Leader Grants Clemency to Iranian Prisoner[s]", this morning --- in fact, the amnesty is six days old.