2205 GMT: The Tajik Show? BBC Persian follows up on the curious story of the “release” of former Vice President Mohammad Reza Tajik from detention. Tajik appeared on the 22:30 programme on IRIB 2 saying that there was no election “fraud” and that “foreign and Zionist media” are riding the wave of the protests.

2145 GMT: Lawyer Forough Mirzaei and Mahin Fahimi, a member of “Mothers for Peace”, have been released from detention.

2100 GMT: And Analysing Rumour of Day (Week? Month?). We’ve posted a snap analysis considering the reasons for and implications of a Rafsanjani “ultimatum” to the Supreme Leader.

NEW Iran Snap Analysis: The Rafsanjani “Ultimatum” to the Supreme Leader
NEW Iran Feature: Human Rights Round-up (1-7 February 2010)
Latest Iran Video: Protest at Sharif University, Tehran (8 February)
Iran Document: Khatami Statement for 22 Bahman (8 February)
Iran Special: The 57 Journalists in Iran’s Prisons
The Latest from Iran (8 February): Staying with the Real Story

1924 GMT: Rumour of Day (Week? Month?) — Rafsanjani “Ultimatum” to Supreme Leader. The Green site Rah-e-Sabz, without citing a source, makes the following claim:
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Tags: 22 Bahman, Ali Malihi, Alireza Beheshti, Amir Kabir University, Arash Rahmanipour, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri, Ayatollah Mousavi-Ardebili, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Behzad Nabavi, Emadeddin Baghi, Etemaad, Forough Mirzaei, Hashemi Rafsanjani, Hossein Karroubi, International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran, Iran Elections 2009, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Kalemeh, Mahin Fahimi, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Medhi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mohammad Khatami, Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani, Mohammad Reza Tajik, Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, Mostafa Tajzadeh, Parleman News, Peyke Iran, Reza Aslan, Sadegh Masouli, Shah of Iran, Shahid Beheshti University, Tahavol-e-Sabz, The Daily Beast, uranium enrichment, Vahid Ostadpour

NEW Iran: The Karroubi Letter to Rafsanjani on Abuse of Detainees
UPDATED More Iran Drama: Will Rafsanjani Lead This Friday’s Prayers?
Iran: President Ahmadinejad’s Battle in Parliament
The Latest from Iran (9 August): Once More on Trial

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1830 GMT. Sinking. Ship. Etc. Further to our news that members of Parliament have criticised President Ahmadinejad’s choice for Minister of Defence, Sadegh Masouli, two MPs have gone public with more revelations of trouble. Javad Arianmanesh, an MP from Mashhad, has stated that the probability of a vote of confidence for Mahsouli, who is the current Minister of Interior, is very weak, and Mehrabian, Aliahmadi and Eskandari (Ministers of Industry, Education, and Agriculture) are also unlikely to go through. Mr. Hosseini, the MP from Gharaveh and member of the Parliamentary Energy Commission, has asserted, “In these conditions more that half of the ministers will not get a vote of confidence”.

In these circumstances, Ahmadinejad’s selection of Masouli was either very brave or very stupid: the Interior Ministry had difficulty getting confirmation last year amidst a running battle in the background between Ahmadinejad and Speaker of the Parliament Ali Larijani.

1710 GMT: Aftab News is repeating the assertion that Rafsanjani will not lead the Friday prayers. Still no comment from the former President’s website.

1705 GMT: In a new directive the Intelligence Ministry has warned the media to “refrain from publishing information that has been classified as top secret material by this ministry….This includes documents, identity of Intelligence Ministry personnel, information about the hierarchical framework of Intelligence Ministry etc….Ignoring the rules and regulations in this matter would lead to legal prosecution.”

I am sure this announcement has nothing to do whatsoever with the revelations of the mass firings by the President of Ministry of Intelligence personnel.
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Tags: Aftab News, Ali Larijani, Etemade Melli, Hashemi Rafsanjani, Iran, Iran Elections 2009, Islamic Revolution Guard Corps, Kahrizak Prison, Mehdi Karroubi, Mohammad Ali Jafari, Sadegh Masouli, Seyed Reza Taghavi, Yudollah Javani