Dariush Mirzai

Iran’s opposition calls for a boycott of Nokia and Siemens, accused of providing Iran’s secret services with technology capable of monitoring telephone use. Along with the Pasdaran and Basij, the powerful spy agency has one main purpose, to crush the country’s democratic aspirations, by torture and beheading if necessary.

Iran’s opposition is bringing together all those who have become disillusioned with the country’s failed reforms. Demonstrators are perhaps just being used in a war over the country’s economy.

The decision to arrest Iranians working for the Britain’s embassy is an attempt to play the nationalist card in order to stop the spread of the protest movement. Iranians working for foreign embassies are under tight controls and kept apart from expat communities. The action might be a warning to the BBC Persian service.

The supreme court absolves six “volunteers” who killed five people believed to have been drug or arms traffickers. But at least two, married, were innocent.

With the arrival of spring in Teheran, police clamp down on dress codes for women. If their hair is visible, they wear too much make-up or are under- dressed; they are accused of inciting “insecurity in public spaces”. Those considered “irregular”, are subjected to humiliating procedures.

Forces linked to the President of the Republic aim to limit the country’s most important cultural festival, which was a traditional point of contact with the international community. The grip of state censorship tightens.

The Security Council resolution demonstrates the International community’s consensus on the issue of Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, in a novel move it sends a clear signal to Iran that authorities will be targeted not the civilian population. The nation mulls over the possibility of a visit by Ahmadinejad to New York.

The trial of five women accused of demonstrating against stoning and in favour of equality begins just a few days before March 8, International Women’s Day. Spring ‘public morality’ campaign also begins.

As happened with the nuclear question, different factions of the regime are making their voice heard in a debate which is largely domestic. Meanwhile the head of the Pasdaran has threatened Iraqi Kurds: we could neutralize them even beyond our borders.

The ceremony behind closed doors followed the traditional norms governing these events. But there was also an attempt to justify the fact that women and lay jurists were not elected. All the regime representatives were there, except for Khamenei: health reasons?

With the embargo in mind, Iran’s president launches a charm offensive towards Christians. In his Christmas message he even exalted the eschatological return of Jesus and acknowledged the value of the Christian community in Iran.

There are “native” Christians who are discriminated against but have legal status. They prefer to meet in their “clubs”. Then there are foreigners who turn to embassies and consulates for support. Worst off are the “illegals”, Muslims who converted or children of mixed couples: police watch churches to stop them from entering.