The Latest from Iran (2 May): Ahmadinejad Re-Appears

2015 GMT: A Matter of Intelligence. Borzou Daragahi of the Los Angeles Times, drawing from a source in Iran, offers this intriguing addition to the story of the political crisis over President Ahmadinejad's attempted dismissal of Minister of Intelligence Heydar Moslehi:

The source, an official in the conservative Islamic Coalition Party, said the President decided to fire Moslehi after being told that both Intelligence Ministry and Revolutionary Guard spies were eavesdropping on [Esfandiar Rahim] Mashaei, Ahmadinejad's in-law and right-hand man, who is mistrusted by hard-liners and right-wing clergy. Many believe Ahmadinejad is positioning Mashaei as his successor after his term ends in 2013.

"Top intelligence commanders of the Revolutionary Guard and Heydar Moslehi bugged the office of Mashaei --- as they must --- and monitored his private and public political behavior," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic.

Mashaei, himself a former Intelligence Ministry official, discovered the electronic surveillance with the help of the ministry's No. 2, Hassan Abdollahian, the source said. Moslehi fired Abdollahian after discovering his role in divulging sensitive information to the Presidential office.

Told of the surveillance and the firing of Mashaei's confidant, Ahmadinejad on April 17 ordered Moslehi to hand in his resignation, appointing Abdollahian to replace him.

1745 GMT: Economy Watch. According to Donya-e Eqtesad, the leading economic and business newspaper, the Central Bank has reported a 19.7% the inflation rate in the month which ended 21 April.

The inflation rate for the last Iranian year, ending on 20 March, was reported at 12.4%.

1540 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. Student activist Ashkan Zahabian has received a six-month sentence.

1530 GMT: Non-Story of the Day. Press TV has put out this pretence of a report:

A considerable number of Israeli warplanes were seen at al-Asad base in Iraq, reported a source close to prominent Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sader's group. The aircraft reportedly included F-15, F-16, F-18, F-22, and KC-10 jet fighters.

The warplanes carried out their week-long exercises at nights, the same source added. The drills were reportedly aimed at preparing to strike Iran's air defense systems, disrupt Iran's radars and attack targets deep inside Iran.

Iraqi officials had not been notified of the exercises, which were conducted in collaboration with the US military.

Despite the fact that there is exactly zero evidence for the claim apart from the mysterious source, the Iranian outlet succeeded in getting some attention: an Israeli army spokeswoman said she had no knowledge, an Iraqi air force commander rejected the report as "groundless", and Reuters --- even on the Death of Osama Bin Laden Day --- devoted 11 paragraphs to the non-story.

1430 GMT: Ahmadinejad Watch. The President might be back, but the political manoeuvres have not stopped. Mashregh News reports that Hojatoleslam Abbas Amirifar --- the head of the Cultural Council in Ahmadinejad's office, an ally of controversial Presidential Chief of Staff Esfandiar Rahim-Mashai, and the rumoured Ahmadinejad favourite to become Minister of Intelligence --- has been arrested by the Special Clerical Court.

Ten days ago, Amirifar asserted that Rahim-Mashai will be Iran's next President, explaining that principlists have "lost their efficiency" and all Rahim-Mashai's words are confirmed by President Ahmadinejad.

1320 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. Back from an extended media break to find that Mousavi activist Assal Esmaeilzadeh has been arrested in a raid on her home.

Labor activist Housein Moradi has been detained.

0815 GMT: Apologies to readers but we will be on limited service, because of media commitments on the Osama Bin Laden story, until early afternoon.

0630 GMT: After more than week in political seclusion, President Ahmadinejad re-surfaced on Sunday, chairing a Cabinet meeting. The President had withdrawn from Government discussions, including the two previous Cabinet sessions, after the Supreme Leader intervened to block the forced resignation of Minister of Intelligence Heydar Moslehi.

The Iranian media dressed up the news according to their political leanings. Fars, which has been sceptical about Ahmadinejad and his advisors, emphasised the President's declaration of loyalty --- read submission --- to the Supreme Leader. The pro-Ahmadinejad IRNA put in that line but followed it with Ahmadinejad's declaration of a "strong President" as well as a "strong Leader" serving the nation.