2120 GMT: The Most Important Story of the Day — There Wasn’t A Story. We’ll probably lead with this in the morning analysis but let’s be clear, especially with regime defenders continuing to hold onto the turnout of 30 December as proof of the Government’s legitimacy:

Where were the events today on the first day of the Anniversary of the Revolution celebrations? Normally, Hashemi Rafsanjani would give a speech in a grand event in Imam Khomeini’s shrine, surrounded by people. This year there was a small gathering, mainly officials, in Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery; member of Parliament Gholam-Ali Haddad Adel gave the speech. Seyed Hassan Khomeini, the Imam’s grandson, did not participate after his muted reception of President Ahmadinejad (see 1345 and 1430 GMT).

2105 GMT: Brother, Where Art Thou? For the second time in recent days, Davoud Ahmadinejad has indulged in a bit of criticism of his brother’s Government. He has declared that it must answer the denunciations of prominent member of Parliament Ali Mottahari, as “freedom has not been defined”.

2050 GMT: Well, That Settles It Then. Minister of Intelligence Heydar Moslehi has said that his ministry has found clues in the the case of “nuclear physicist” Masoud Ali Mohammadi. These establish that “a combination of Israelis and counter-revolutionaries” are involved, even though there have been no arrests.

2045 GMT: Khatami Comes Out for the Rallies. We’ve posted an English translation of Mohammad Khatami’s statement today.

1905 GMT: Marking Out the Protests. Effectively defending the right of protesters to gather for rallies, including 22 Bahman (11 February), while staying within the system, former President Mohammad Khatami said today, “We have always invited the people to peacefulness.”

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1855 GMT: Really, They Were Very, Very Bad. The regime, trying to justify last week’s executions of Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour, has released details of their purported interrogations:

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Tags: Ahmad Zeidiabadi, Alireza Beheshti, Allameh Tabatabei University, Arash Rahmanipour, Ashura, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Behrang Tonekaboni, CNN, Davoud Ahmadinejad, Farhang va Ahang, Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Hashemi Rafsanjani, Heydar Moslehi, Hojatoleslam Hadi Ghaffari, Iran, Iran Elections 2009, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Kalemeh, Kayhan, Kayvan Farzin, Lili Farhadpour, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Manouchehr Mottaki, Masoud Ali Mohammadi, Masoud Bastani, Massoud Ali Mohammadi, Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani, Mohammad Sadegh Larijani, Mohammad Satirafar, Sadegh Zibakalam, Sadredin Shariati, Seyed Hassan Khomeini

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2220 GMT: Politically, the evening highlight appears to be the Supreme Leader’s meeting with representatives of the four Presidential campaigns, calling for them to join together for “national unity”. The move seems to be more of an attempt to buy some more political time while the Guardian Council tries to sort out its options — all candidates will have been told of the necessity to keep demonstrations non-violent and non-threatening to the regime.

Elsewhere, chatter about gatherings has died down (it is, after all, 3 a.m. in Iran), so the hope is that there will be none of the violence that was feared earlier today.

Thanks to all for working with us today. We’ll see you about 0530 GMT — until then, our thoughts are with friends and colleagues in Iran.

2115 GMT: Breaking News On, citing the Wall Street Journal, says gunmen have seriously injured at least one person after opening fire on Mousavi supporters in Tehran. We’re unable to find the specific information on the WSJ’s site at this time. [Posted by Mike]

2100 GMT: Barack Obama has told CNBC that the outcome of events in Iran will make little difference to US policy towards Iran, and that Iranian hostility towards the US would remain:

“I think it’s important to understand that although there is amazing ferment taking place in Iran, the difference in actual policies between Ahmadinejad and Moussavi in terms of their actual policies may not be as great as advertised,” he said. “I think it’s important to understand that either way we are going to be dealing with a regime in Iran that is hostile to the US. We have long term interests in not having them with nuclear power and funding terrorism.”

[Posted by Mike]

1845 GMT: I am on a break for a couple of hours. Please keep items coming in for our late evening update — we are following stories of a possible large march tomorrow and a statement by Ayatollah Montazeri.

1825 GMT: Reuters, citing British newspaper correspondent, says loud cries of “Allah-o-Akbar” from Tehran rooftops.

Reports that former President Rafsanjani and his daughter were amongst demonstrators marching from Vanak Square today.

1755 GMT: Twitter sources say Presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi was at the rally in front of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting complex and spoke to the demonstrators.

1750 GMT: Has the BBC, normally cautious about showing any political opinion in a conflict, tilted toward the Iranian oppositions? The Beeb’s homepage has turned from its usual Red to Green.

1630 GMT: Press TV still focuses on pro-Ahmadinejad rally but adds, “Pro-Mousavi rallies surround the venue” (possibly a coded reference to demonstrating outside the main Iranian broadcasting complex), and says Mousavi is among the crowd.

1535 GMT: Twitter references to “tens of thousands” of opposition demonstrators in front of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting complex are complemented by witness reports to BBC of “a mass rally in northern Tehran”.

1530 GMT: Press TV English’s “News in Brief” highlights pro-Ahmadinejad rally noting, “This square was supposed to be the venue of a rally for Mousavi supporters but Ahmadinejad supporters decided to show up in the same location earlier.”

1520 GMT: The pro-Ahmadinejad rally has proceeded peacefully while, after the cancellation of the main opposition rally earlier today, smaller demonstrations have been occurring across Tehran. There are stories of more attacks by security forces and paramilitary Basiji at universities, including Shiraz and Mashaad. The BBC has reported the story, which circulated yesterday, that 120 faculty resigned at Tehran University.

A note on the media coverage: it became painfully apparent this afternoon that Al Jazeera’s correspondent was reported from the confines of his (badly set up for sound) office. When the programme’s host mentioned this, the correspondent replied that he was free to move around Tehran but, in a convoluted explanation, added that he was restricting himself “for his own safety”. I suspect Government monitors were either nearby or watching intently from a Ministry. Other international media have also been effectively blinded by teh restrictions on movement.
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Tags: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English, Ayatollah Khameini, Barack Obama, BBC, CNBC, CNN, Guardian Council, Hashemi Rafsanjani, John Lyon, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mohammad Ali Abtahi, Press TV, Sadegh Zibakalam, Silvio Berlusconi, Wall Street Journal

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We are signing off for the night. Thanks to all who kept up with us today and our thoughts with friends and colleagues in Tehran. We’ll be back about 0530 GMT.

2230 GMT: Reports indicate that, although it is 3 a.m. in Iran, people are still milling about and shouting on the streets.

2100 GMT: Claims are coming in that tanks are on the streets of Tehran.

2045 GMT: We’re sifting through reports of killings and of political developments; the latest is that Mir Hossein Mousavi will not be allowed to speak at the Tehran rally tomorrow afternoon. Meanwhile, we have posted latest video from protests yesterday and today.

1920 GMT: Protestors claim to have taken down Ahmadinejad’s website by “swarming” it. They are now targeting Ayatollah Khamenei’s website.

1845 GMT: Reports of four people killed in demonstrations in Rasht. There are claims of additional minibuses arriving with extra security forces and police.
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Tags: Al Jazeera, Al-Arabiya, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Hashemi Rafsanjani, Internet, Iran Election 2009, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mohammad Ali Abtahi, Mohammad Khatami, Mosharekat, Press TV, Sadegh Zibakalam, Sharif University, Tehran Bureau, Tehran University, Twitter