The Latest from Iran (8 August): Reformists Step Back from Elections

1950 GMT: Economy Watch. In his speech in front of senior officials yesterday (see 1420 GMT), the Supreme Leader said problems such as employment, inflation, and "labour culture" have not been solved yet.

1835 GMT: (Potential) Political Prisoner Watch. Yesterday we summarised the significant remarks of Mohsen Armin, former Deputy Speaker of Parliament and a reformist senior member of the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution, that "all essential prerogatives" for involvement in the 2012 Parlimentary elections "are missing" --- "Coalition with hardliners never; debate yes."

Today, Armin was summoned to appear in court on Wednesday.

1825 GMT: Rafsanjani Watch. Former President Hashemi Rafsanjani, who suffered public criticism from the Supreme Leader yesterday over his claims about a "better" foreign policy than that of President Ahmadinejad, has hit back.

Rafsanjani praised freedom-loving Arabs as copying their approach from the Islamic Republic; however, he continued because of Iran's bad foreign policy, "we don't accept it". He said, "Repeating errors is inexcusable, and officials should adjust for this."

Rafsanjani continued, in the context of Ahmadinejad's removal of top diplomats, "The worst loss is that former elites are forced to sit at home. If we used their knowledge, we could be a model for the region."

1820 GMT: (Confusing) Claim of Day. Leading principlist MP Mohammad Reza Bahonar gives this assurance that there is no problem of bringing principlists and reformists together in agreement on the way forward, "In principle we have no principlists who are not reformists."

Not so confusing is this summary of Bahonar's remarks on Aftab News, "We beg reformists to participate in elections."

1420 GMT: Smackdown of the Day. The official record of the Supreme Leader's speech on Sunday, in front of senior officials including the President, is that he "hailed the wave of Islamic Awakening in the Middle East and North Africa" and hailed "the deteriorating image of the United States" in the region.

Far more interesting was what did not make it into the summary --- an EA correspondent who heard the speech reports that Ayatollah Khamenei took two swings at former President Hashemi Rafsanjani, who was not present.

The Supreme Leader hit back at a provocative statement last month by Rafsanjani that his foreign policy was superior to that of President Ahmadinejad because of its pragamatism, including the pursuit of beneficial diplomacy with the US. Ayatollah Khamenei --- referring to "previous Governments" --- criticised the subordination of Iranian interests to relations with Washington. (1620 GMT: Mardomak has now posted on this point.)

Then Ayatollah Khamenei piled on the denunciation by calling on Islamic leaders to pursue a "simple" life, a clear reference to the wealth of Rafsanjani and his family.

1250 GMT: Labour Front. ILNA reports that sugar workers in Ahwaz in southern Iran have gathered in front of the Governor's office to protest seven months of unpaid wages.

0958 GMT: All-is-Well Alert. In a meeting with senior officials, including the President, the Supreme Leader has insisted that the trust of Iranian people in the system has increased, and he regrets that some officials have claimed the opposite.

0955 GMT: Nuclear Front. Asgar Jalalian, a member of Parliament's committee on the Bushehr nuclear plant, said the facility will not begin operations in late August as planned. He blamed the delay on Russia, who provided the equipment and technical advice for the plant: "We believe the Russians are not being honest ... about the plant."

The 1,000 megawatt plant, in the southern port city of Bushehr, was supposed to start delivery of energy last autumn. When it was commissioned in 1995, the plan was for a launch four years later.

0945 GMT: Ahmadinejad Watch. Leading MP Mohammad Reza Bahonar has supported a proposal, put by Government critic Ali Motahari, that elections are not under sole control of the Government. Bahonar also said the Parliament was still deciding about whether to interrogate President Ahmadinejad, adding that the issue could be to the Supreme Leader's new Arbitration Board, and that the Majlis would soon discuss "Government infringements".

0935 GMT: Reformist Watch. The interview with Ahmad Khorram, a minister in the reformist Khamati Administration (see 0645 GMT), offers a significant insight into the political developments in Iran....

Khorram said that a nonpartisan committee was formed two months ago with Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani, Supreme Leader advisor Ali Akbar Velayati, and former Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi to forge an agreement on political measures, including the 2012 Parliamentary election.

According to Khorram, the presence of Kharrazi was interpreted as reformist interest in participation in the election, but Kharrazi not a representative for reformists. The initiative failed in any case because of division amongst "hard-liners".

0750 GMT: Ahmadinejad Watch. Yadollah Javani, the head of the Political Bureau of the Revolutionary Guards, declares that the deviance of people close to President Ahmadinejad "is no figment" of imagination.

0745 GMT: Journalists Day. Revolutionary Guards commander Seyyed Masoud Jayazeri explains the meaning of Journalists Day: the priority of Iranian journalists shld be national interests and the benefit to our country.

0720 GMT: Give Us Back Our Satellite TV. Women challenge security forces who are taking away satellite dishes, ownership of which is illegal in Iran:

0715 GMT: Reformist Watch. Another entry for our opening theme --- opposition spokesman Ardeshir Amir Arjomand, asserting that Iran's regime "act like Pharaohs as they pretend to support republicanism", has said participation in next March's Parliamentary elections is a "strategic error".

0710 GMT: Journalists Day. An activist has used CNN's iReport, on the occasion of Journalists Day Iran, to publicise the situation of detained reporters and editors. Paralleling EA's rolling list of imprisoned journalists, "Utkanos" profiles 15 cases and notes this weekend's statement from behind bars appealing to the world about the violation of human rights and prohibition on freedom of the press.

0700 GMT: Economy Watch. Friday's story by Thomas Erdbrink, the Washington Post correspondent in Tehran --- "Iran’s rich eat ice cream flecked with gold as poor struggle to survive" --- continues to resonate in Iranian media.

Ayande News notes that the management of Milad Tower, the restaurant 1427 feet above the capital, has maintained silence about Erdbrink's report of $280 fixed-price meals (golden ice cream not included).

0645 GMT: We begin today with a series of developments among Iran's reformists, who have been debating whether to participate in next March's Parliamentary elections. 

MP Mohammad Reza Tabesh said yesterday that reformists will run for elections only if the demands of former President Mohammad Khatami --- freeing of political prisoners, restoration of and freedom of political parties, acceptable supervision of fair and free elections, and adherence to the Constitution --- are met. Tabesh insisted there could only be "lively elections" with the involvement of the reformists. 

Ahmad Khorram, a minister in the Khatami Administration, said reformists will not be deceived by hardliners' invitation to elections and will participate only if hardliners"actively" prove changes have been made. He declared, "We won't serve as firewood to bake their bread, bread must be for all people." 

Mostafa Kavakebian, one of the most prominent reformists to embrace participation, took another step back on Sunday. After a discussion with Seyed Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the late Ayatollah, he said there had been no launch of a reformist committee and any announcement was likely to be made in October.

Khorram also said no nonpartisan committee has been launched and any "National Front" would only be successful if free elections were guaranteed.

An EA correspondent adds, "If Khomeini's grandson joins the reformers' camp, it's a big problem for the regime. They can't arrest him for obvious reasons), but will probably pressure his family."