The Latest from Iran (17 April): Making Claims

2130 GMT: Press Watch (IRNA Edition). In a day of curious stories, the tale of the detained journalist --- an employee of Iranian state media --- has another twist....

IRNA reports that Manouchehr Tamari was arrested by “six unidentified individuals” in Sananda, who "inspected Tamir’s home and confiscated his computer and laptop without providing any IDs”.

IRNA adds, “In recent weeks, following reports of terrorist operations in Sanandaj, the director and reporter of IRNA was summoned to the Kurdistan intelligence office and ordered to refrain from covering news regarding terrorist operations in the province.” The State media outlet said this order was rejected since it is in “contradiction of the inherent mission of the Islamic Republic News Agency".

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Iran Story: The Movie, The President, and the "Hidden Imam"

The "End Times" film about the Hidden Imam --- translation is by Reza Kahlili, a US-based critic of the Iranian regime

We begin this morning with a look at a curious, tangled story which has run for several weeks --- it includes a movie, President Ahmadinejad, and the "Hidden Imam", the 12th Imam of Shi'a who will return at some point.

This weekend Ali Asghar Sijani, the producer of a film about the Hidden Imam which has widely circulated on CD in Iran, declared that the epiphany of the 12th Imam is near. He added that the Supreme Leader led the movement welcoming the imminent return, and Ahmadinejad was the prophet Shoaib (a rough parallel in Christianity would be of John the Baptist paving the way for Jesus the Messiah). Sijani said that part of the $15 million cost of the film was funded by the Revolutionary Guards.

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The Latest from Iran (5 April): The Economy, Anyone?

1547 GMT: More news on Ebrahim Yazdi, the former leader of the Freedom Movement of Iran who was detained from early October until 20 March. This week, he gave an "interview" that alarmed many members of the Green Movement. (see our coverage on April 3)

Today, several sources are reporting that Yazdi has condemned the interview, given to IRNA without his consent while he was being detained in a "safe house." Also, Abdol-Ali Bazargan, a leader of the Freedom Movement in exile, presumably close to Yazdi, has said that the interview was faked, a montage of statements that has no credibility. 

1531 GMT: MP Hamidreza Katouzian, head of energy committee, has released a statement that, without proper investment, Iran will become the largest importer of oil and related products. He also said that subsidy cuts were generally positive, but that the lack of refunds will put Iranian industry in dire condition. 

1525 GMT: The Supreme Leader's younger brother, reformist Seyed Hadi Khamenei, has sent Mir Hossein Mousavi a letter of condolences after the death of his father last week. Hadi Khamenei is highly critical of, and estranged from, his brother.

1456 GMT: Check Engine - Oil Light is On:

Ghassem Noudeh Farahani, the head of domestic guilds, has announced that he predicts prices on all goods to increase by 15-20% this year alone.

MP Moayed Hosseini-Sadr, a member of the Energy Committee, has criticised the formula for deriving the price of gas, claiming that the way many are calculating the price of gas is not legal. The government has increased gas prices up to 40 times higher than previous, although there was only a shallow rise in price expected. Hosseini-Sadr said that gas prices should not exceed 90% of the exported gas price.

High gas prices have forced the free bakeries in the city of Khoy, and perhaps elsewhere, to stop business.

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The Latest from Iran (4 April): Taking Away Zeroes

1725 GMT: Mona Lisa Watch. The head of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization says Tehran has severed all ties with the Louvre Museum because the French art center has not fulfilled a promise to hold an exhibition in Iran.

Hamid Baghaei said that Iran had put on two exhibitions at the Louvre, one showcasing objects from the Safavid era and the other introducing the ancient Persian Civilization, and had given the French until the beginning of the Iranian year (21 March) for an exact date for the exhibition in Iran and a list of the artifacts to be displayed.

1715 GMT: A Stonewall on Oil. Khabar Online, the conservative website linked to Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani, features President Ahmadinejad's press conference answer to a question about $11 billion in missing oil funds: "What answer is there to give?"

Parliament's Energy Commission, the Supreme Audit Court, and other conservative publications have all raised questions about the shortfall in oil revenues.

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The Latest from Iran (29 March): The Party's Over

2030 GMT: Cartoon of the Day (Iran-Syria Special). Maya Nayestani depicts a special message from Tehran to Damascus, a woman explaining to her friend, "He is sending a smoke signal to Bashar al-Assad":

2015 GMT: The House Arrests. Kalemeh updates on the house arrest/detention of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Zahra Rahnavard....

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The Latest from Iran (28 March): Politics Resumes

1800 GMT: Economy Watch. Prominent economist Saeed Leylaz has declared that the main problem of the Iranian economy is domestic mismanagement rather than foreign sanctions, adding that smuggling is $20 billion per year.

1755 GMT: Labour Front. Claimed video of a strike on 19 March at the Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex in Mahshahr in southwestern Iran:

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The Latest from Iran (27 March): A Regime Party

1525 GMT: Back to the Regime Party. Iranian media have released pictures of regional Presidents being treated by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at Nowruz festivities. Not sure it's a 100% success, however --- Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai appears to be sleeping through the entertainment.

Better news for Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammadov --- Ahmadinejad gave him a two-seater LSA airplane worth $130,000.

Last week, Berdimuhammadov sent a thousand tons of flour to Iran for Nowruz.

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The Latest from Iran (22 March): A New Awakening?

2020 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. The chair of the Islamic Iran Participation Front, former MP, and university professor Mohsen Mirdamadi has been released on bail.

1120 GMT: A Death at the Fire Festival. A close friend of university student Behnoud Ramezani describes the 19 year-old's death at the hands of security forces a week ago during the celebration of Chahrshanbeh Suri.

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The Latest from Iran: Nowruz Mubarak

1905 GMT: Claimed video from Shiraz of people welcoming in Iranian New Year with political slogans such as "Death to Dictator":

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Iran Snapshot: The Flying Saucers Are Coming!

State media report that Iran has unveiled a home-made unmanned flying saucer as well as a light sports aircraft in an exhibition of strategic technologies.

There has been no response so far from US officials about the possible impact of this development on the current discussions over Iran's nuclear programme or even the prospect of a Flying Saucer Arms Race.

The Supreme Leader's office has also not responded to our enquiries as to whether Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered the development of a manned version of the Flying Saucer.

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