Iran Live: An Ahmadinejad Election Comeback?

Images of Thursday's rally --- reportedly backing President Ahmadinejad and his would-be successor --- in Tehran's Azadi Stadium

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2115 GMT: Nuclear Watch: No New Dates for IAEA Talks?

An "Iranian source close to Iran's nuclear negotiator" has said that no agreement has been reached between Iran and the IAEA over when the next round of talks will take place, Fars News, close to the Revolutionary Guards, reports.

The source said Iran has discussed the matter with the IAEA but as yet no agreement has been reached over the timing of the next round of discussions.

2046 GMT: Election Watch: New Principlist Camp Declares Candidate

A new Principlist camp --- the Front of the Epic Makers of the Islamic Revolution (FEMIR) ---- has announced that its candidate for the June presidential elections will be MP Ali-Reza Zakani.

FEMIR's name is a reference to the Supreme Leader's call that Iranians make this year a political "epic". FEMIR spokesman Mojtaba Shakeri said that the new group consists of war veterans from the "Holy Defense" --- the Iran-Iraq War, according to Tasnim News, the "Islamic Awakening News Agency".

Meanwhile, the Perseverance Front has nominated former health minister Kamran Bagheri Lankarani as its presidential candidate.

1254 GMT: Ahmadinejad Watch: Where Was Mashaei Yesterday?

As speculation continues as to why Ahmadinejad's closest aide, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, did not attend the president's rally in Tehran's Azadi stadium on Thursday, the most likely explanation is that the president feared a backlash if he used the event to announce Mashaei's candidacy.

Instead of having Mashaei appear at the rally, it seems Ahmadinejad ensured his aide was seen elsewhere, by setting up a photo-opportunity. In an article asking "Where Was Mashaei?" hardline Mashregh News cites a report by Mehr News , saying that instead of attending the rally, Mashaei visited the Behesht-e Zahra cemetery. The presidential aide visited the grave of Iranian actress Asal Badiee, who passed away on April 1, Mehr said. The president's brother, Daoud Ahmadinejad, had been present at the funeral on April 7.

Pro-Ahmadinejad website Serat News says that the president once again surprised his rivals on Thursday, noting that in the run-up to the event, the president's opponents had accused him of "electoral abuse" and said he would use the Azadi event to announce Mashaei's candidacy. Some fringes had even accused the president of embezzling public funds for the event, Serat said.

Serat -- whose report includes pictures of the event -- writes that considerable media coverage was devoted to speculating over the event in recent days. The media never misses an opportunity, Serat added, to report whenever Mashaei attends events alongside Ahmadinejad.

ISNA also commented on Mashaei's absence , noting that prior to the event it had been widely publicized that he would attend the rally and speak, and that his candidacy would be announced.

Meanwhile, speculation has also continued about how many people actually attended the rally. Footage published on the President's website shows tight shots of a crowded stadium, whereas footage aired by Iranian state TV showed an almost empty stadium.

1015 GMT: Your Tehran Friday Prayer Update

Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami took the podium today to instruct the crowd that it should not be taken in by Presidential candidates who are "advertising slogans", but should look to those who have experience and capabilities and talk to the people".

1005 GMT: Dissent Watch

In an interview with BBC Persian, journalist and activist Kouhyar Goudarzi --- who has left the country after his detention last summer --- has urged the separation of human rights and politics.

Gouhyar also spoke about social matters, expressing sorrow over the high levels of depression and anger among youths "without perspective".

0955 GMT: Ahmadinejad Watch

Mehr offers an interesting additional note on yesterday's Azadi Stadium rally and the reported non-appearance of President Ahmadinejad's right-hand man Esfandiar Rahim-Mashai.

Mehr claims that Rahim-Mashai, who some claimed was to be the "star" of the Azadi event as preparation for a campaign for the Presidency, paid a visit to the grave of Iranian actress Asal Badi'i, who died earlier this month at the age of 36.

0620 GMT: Ahmadinejad Watch

We will be watching the political signals closely today, after Thursday's rally in Tehran's Azadi Stadium --- widely seen as an event for President Ahmadinejad to promote his desired successor, Esfandiar Rahim-Mashai.

Confusing and conflicting reports yesterday pointed to a ceremony which may have been less than the President desired. At one point, Western media, citing pro-Ahmadinejad news agency IRNA , said 70,000 people attended the event; however, the actual reports on IRNA late on Thursday said only that the rally took place in the 100,000-capacity stadium, without saying how many people attended.

It is also unclear if Rahim-Mashai, who still has not declared his intention to run and who may not be approved by the Guardian Council to stand, attended the rally.