Below a collection of links to sites and blog which are offering actual news, photos, videos and detailled informations about the current situation in Iran.

The Daily Dish

Guardian News Blog

Unrest in Iran: Incident Statistics and Map for Protests, Arrests, and Deaths

List of killed and detained since June 12

The Lede Blog - New York Times

If Iran sleeps tonight, if will sleep forever - Blog

Tehran Bureau

Iran rigged election

Revolutionary Road

'Severe curbs' on Iran's Mousavi 
 
Mir Hossein Mousavi has not been seen in public for days
Iran's protest leader Mir Hossein Mousavi has complained of "complete" restrictions on his access to people and a crackdown on his media group.

Speaking via his website, Mr Mousavi warned that such moves would lead Iran "towards a more violent atmosphere".

He said he was under pressure to withdraw his call for the disputed presidential election to be re-run.

Separately, nearly two thirds of MPs appear to have stayed away from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's poll victory party.

 ANALYSIS
 
Jon Leyne
BBC News
There are signs the government is beginning to regain control. Wednesday appears to have had the least protests of any day since the result was announced.

But any idea that the opposition is about to go gently is probably an illusion.

This is an argument within Iran about the future of the country. The two sides have deeply differing views on how Iran should be run, and its place in the world. And neither is about to give ground.

Iran poll row set to rage on
 
All 290 MPs were invited to attend the party, Iran's press reports, but only 105 turned up. An earlier BBC report wrongly reported that 105 did not attend.

One of those who reportedly failed to turn up was Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, a high-profile figure who shares some of Mr Ahmadinejad's hardline views but has been critical of some aspects of the government's handling of the protests.

President Ahmadinejad on Thursday criticised US President Barack Obama for his condemnation earlier this week of the violence in Iran.

"Our question is why he fell into this trap and said things that previously [former US President George W] Bush used to say," he was quoted by the semi-official Fars news agency as saying.

'Violent atmosphere'

Mr Mousavi spoke on his website, Kalemeh, of the "recent pressures on me" that are "aimed at making me change my position regarding the annulment of the election".

He described the clampdowns he and his staff were facing.

 IRAN UNREST
12 June Presidential election saw incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad re-elected with 63% of vote
Main challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi called for result to be annulled on grounds of electoral fraud
Street protests saw at least 17 people killed and foreign media restricted

"My access to people is completely restricted. Our two websites have many problems and Kalameh Sabz newspaper has been closed down and its editorial members have been arrested," said Mr Mousavi, who has not been seen in public for days.

"These by no means contribute to improving the national atmosphere and will lead us towards a more violent atmosphere," he added.

He also warned "there will be chances of managing such an atmosphere from outside the country".

He said a "vigilance", or self-awareness, had developed among Iran's middle class and urged the government to utilise it for positive change in the country.

"If this vigilance is directed towards a goal, it will create a positive energy which will be very helpful for the reconstruction of the country," he said.

"However, if they are frustrated, the vigilance will be trouble making".

The Guardian Council, which supervises elections, has already said it will not re-run the election.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated on Wednesday that he would "not yield" over the election result.

Journalist arrest

About 50 MPs in the Iranian parliament are reformist and would not have been expected to attend Mr Ahmadinejad's victory party.

Ahmadinejad: US must not interfere
But the high number of MPs who stayed away is another indication that the disputed election has split the nation, says the BBC's Jeremy Bowen in Tehran.

Earlier on Thursday, Mr Mousavi's website said 70 university professors were arrested immediately after meeting with him.

Hundreds of opposition protesters and activists are believed to have been taken into custody and at least 17 people have died in the unrest since the election.

Wednesday's street protest was smaller than on previous days as the increasingly heavy security presence and government decrees to stop the demonstrations took effect.

But there were reports of riot police firing tear gas, shooting in the air and beating with batons demonstrators who defied the ban in central Tehran.

Severe reporting restrictions imposed on foreign media in Iran mean the BBC cannot verify the reports.

The Washington Times on Thursday said one of its freelance reporters, Jason Fowden, who has British and Greek nationality, was arrested at the airport as he tried to leave the country at the end of last week.

British officials said they were working with the Greek foreign ministry on the case.

Iran 'will not yield' over poll 
 
Ayatollah Khamenei had ordered protesters to stop their rallies
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said the nation "will not yield to pressure" over a disputed presidential election.

Several people have been killed in days of street protests since the 12 June poll returned Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the presidency.

Violence erupted after protesters claimed the elections were rigged.

Iran has also said it is "reviewing" whether to downgrade relations with the UK, as diplomatic tensions increase.

The UK has moved to expel two Iranian diplomats in response to Tehran's decision to order two UK diplomats to leave Iran, following allegations UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown called "absolutely without foundation".

The British prime minister's spokesman said Downing Street was monitoring the situation.

"Iran's decision to try to turn what are clearly internal matters for Iran into a conflict with the UK and others is deeply regrettable and without foundation," he said.

Streets quiet

Iranian riot police and militiamen appear to have put a halt to protests in the capital, in which officials say 17 people have killed.

 IRAN UNREST

12 June Presidential election saw incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad re-elected with 63% of vote
Main challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi called for result to be annulled on grounds of electoral fraud
Street protests saw at least 17 people killed and foreign media restricted
 
It was quiet in central Tehran on Wednesday, although there are reports that a further rally is planned for later.

There have also been calls for a day or more of mourning from Thursday.

The ayatollah, whose earlier command to stop protesting went unheeded, said: "I had insisted and will insist on implementing the law on the election issue.

He added: "Neither the establishment nor the nation will yield to pressure at any cost."

He had earlier agreed to extend by five days the amount of time allowed to examine complaints of electoral fraud.

However, the Guardian Council, Iran's electoral body, said there was "no major fraud or breach in the election".

The main challenger to President Ahmadinejad, Mir Hossein Mousavi, had alleged that the election was rigged.

His wife, in comments believed to be authentic and published on his website, called for the release of protesters who have been arrested.

"I regret that a large number of people among the political elite and others have been arrested, and I ask for their release," Zahra Rahnavard said.

Severe reporting restrictions placed on the BBC and other foreign media in Iran mean reports from the country cannot be verified independently.

Amid the restrictions, Western media outlets reported that 25 journalists and other staff at a newspaper owned by Mr Mousavi had been arrested.

AFP quoted one of the Kalemeh Sabz's editors saying that five women staff members had been released. The paper, launched in the run-up to the election, has already been shut down by authorities.

An NBC report about NEDA AGHA SOLTANA, THE ANGEL OF IRAN

Iran election annulment ruled out 

original article is here

Iran's legislative body, the Guardian Council, has said there were no major polling irregularities in the 12 June election and ruled out an annulment.

Opposition supporters called for the vote to be set aside and the elections re-run amid claims of vote tampering.

Iran has also condemned UN chief Ban Ki-moon for "meddling" in its affairs.

It comes after Mr Ban urged the authorities to respect fundamental civil rights "especially the freedom of assembly and expression".

Guardian Council spokesman Abbas Ali Kadkhoda'i said there was "no major fraud or breach in the election".

Meanwhile, opposition candidate Mehdi Karoubi urged Iranians to mourn for dead protesters on Thursday.

Mourning

Mr Karoubi, who is among those asking for the election to be set aside, wants mourning ceremonies to be held around the country, his aide Issa Saharkhiz said.

His call echoed an earlier one from cleric Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, who has called for three days of national mourning for those killed in the street protests.

 The secretary general reiterates his hope that the democratic will of the people of Iran will be fully respected

Spokesman for Ban Ki-moon

Where did votes come from? 
English-language Press TV reported the Guardian Council's rejection of an annulment on Tuesday.

On Monday, it had conceded there had been voting irregularities in 50 districts, including local vote counts that exceeded the number of eligible voters.

But it said they were not enough to affect the overall result and incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had indeed won by a landslide.

The council's spokesman said most of the irregularities happened before the election, not during or after voting.

In a letter to the council, Mr Karoubi said: "Instead of wasting time on recounting some ballot boxes... cancel the vote."

On Monday 1,000 people gathered in Haft-e Tir Square in the capital Tehran despite a warning from Iran's Revolutionary Guards, an elite armed force, against holding unapproved rallies against the election results.

 
Iranian riot police in Tehran observe as 1,000 attend rally
Basij militiamen wielding clubs were brought in to reinforce the police.

The protests in the last 24 hours are smaller than they have been over the past 10 days, amid the strong security presence on the streets.

BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen said the protesters are talking about finding other ways to show their opposition, including strikes or civil disobedience.

'Beginnings of change'

A spokesman for the US government said it "would not endorse" general strikes.

But he added: "We've seen the beginnings of change in Iran."

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told the BBC: "We want a very good relationship with the Iranians, we also respect the fact that it's for the Iranian people themselves to choose who their government is.

"But when there is a sign of repression or where there is violence that's affecting ordinary people in the streets, we have a duty to speak out and to say we want Iran to be part of the world, we don't want Iran to be isolated from the world."

On Friday Ayatollah Ali Khamenei banned protests, prompting street violence in which at least 10 people died.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for an end to the street violence, and threats of violence.

Have Your Say People are tired of being hopeless and have nothing to lose so they are very strong
IS, TehranMr Ban urged the authorities in Iran to respect fundamental civil rights, "especially the freedom of assembly and expression", and end arrests.

A spokesman for Mr Ban said he had been following the situation in Iran with "growing concern" and was dismayed by the use of force against civilians.

Call for dialogue

He called on Iran's government and opposition to resolve their differences peacefully through dialogue and legal means.

  Ban Ki-moon has damaged his credibility in the eyes of independent countries

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman
"He urges an immediate stop to the arrests, threats and use of force. The secretary general reiterates his hope that the democratic will of the people of Iran will be fully respected," a statement read.

But Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said: "These stances are an evident contradiction of the UN secretary general's duties, international law and are an apparent meddling in Iran's internal affairs.

"Ban Ki-moon has damaged his credibility in the eyes of independent countries by ignorantly following some domineering powers which have a long record of uncalled-for interference in other countries' internal affairs and colonisation."

A pro-government rally proposed by students to be held outside the British Embassy has been called off after they were denied a permit.

Reporting restrictions

Severe reporting restrictions placed on the BBC and other foreign media in Iran mean protest reports cannot be verified independently.

Election results show Mr Ahmadinejad won the 12 June election by a landslide, taking 63% of the vote, almost double that of Mir Hossein Mousavi, his nearest rival.

An independent British analysis of the disputed election results has found irregularities in the reported turnout, as well as "implausible" swings in the vote in favour of Mr Ahmadinejad.

Analysts from St Andrew's University and the Chatham House think-tank said votes in favour of Mr Ahmadinejad in a third of the provinces would have required an "unlikely scenario" of voting patterns.

Mr. Hussein Mussawi - former Iranian Prime-Minster - the access to his internet blog is blocked by the Irianian Government. We copied the titlepage from today.  

Click on graphic to read the copy of the blog titlepage