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Friday's Iran Live: Ex-President Rafsanjani's Camp Makes Its Election Move
1905 GMT: Sanctions Watch. Billionaire businessman Babak Zanjani has shrugged off his sanctions black-listing by the US Treasury on Thursday.
Zanjani, who was also named by the European Union in December for being a "facilitator of oil deals", said, "We haven't had any problems in our business since the EU ban. Actually, business is much better since December. Sanctions have provided publicity for us."
1245 GMT: Ahmadinejad Watch. It's definitely a day for headlines about President Ahmadinejad and manoeuvres for the June election....
Fars features Ahmadinejad's assertion that Iran's economic problems have been caused by enemies at home and abroad and his reassurance that he will work until his last day in office.
However, the President may be facing a new difficulty, with some within the regime unhappy about his flag-waving appearance with right-hand man and would-be successor Esfandiar Rahim-Mashai (see 1105 GMT). General Hassan Firouzabadi, the head of Iran's armed forces, has taken offence at Ahmadinejad handing over the Iranian flag to Rahim-Mashai in an appearance in Semnan last night.
Firouzabadi said handing over the flag is a clear case of campaigning and causes tension in society.
1235 GMT: Ahmadinejad Watch. An incident during a two-day visit by Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani to the holy city of Qom points to the depth of animosity towards President Ahmadinejad, at least among clerics....
Ayatollah Fazel Lankarani said that if the Guardian Council had "acted correctly" in the last two Presidential elections --- Ahmadinejad's 2005 victory and his disputed re-election in 2009 --- then Iran's "domestic situation would not be like this".
1105 GMT: Ahmadinejad Watch. More on the President's tour....
Speaking last night in Semnan, Ahmadinejad called for "radical reforms" as part of the "Year of Political Epic" declared by the Supreme Leader.
The President also promoted participation by youths and women in June's Presidential election as he stood alongside his right-hand man --- and prospective candidate --- Esfandiar Rahim-Mashai:
0945 GMT: Election Watch. Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, a member of the principlist 2+1 coalition, has said that he would focus on the economy and foreign affairs.
These two areas are interconnected and exerted a mutual influence, he added.
Regarding foreign affairs, Haddad-Adel said that if America had common sense, then it would be possible to solve the issue of Iran's nuclear program.
"The Americans must cease their hostilities against the Iranian nation, and just like the Supreme Leader said, you can't hold a gun to someone's head and ask him to negotiate at the same time. The Iranian nation is not willing to negotiate under these current circumstances," he said.
Haddad-Adel is a former Parliamentary speaker whose daughter is married to the Supreme Leader's influential son Mojtaba. The 2+1 coalition --- consisting of Haddad-Adel, Ali Akbar Velayati and Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf --- intend to hold a public opinion poll to decide who will be formally nominated as an election candidate.
0912 GMT: Foreign Affairs Watch (Turkey Edition). Iran's new ambassador to Turkey, Alireza Bikdeli, has accused foreign powers of attempting to undermine relations between Ankara and Tehran.
Bikdeli, who began serving as Tehran's ambassador in Ankara in March, said that while it was in the interests of Iran's enemies to sow dissent in the region, these efforts would not succeed.
Syria, Iran and Turkey had and could continue to have a "good rapport", he said.
Iran and Turkey should take joint action on Syria and both countries have a common goal in the Middle East, Bikdeli added.
0700 GMT: Trade Watch. "Trade sources" have said Pakistan has not shipped any wheat to Iran under a 1-million tonne barter deal, proposed in March last year and agreed in August 2012.
An initial consignment of 100,000 tonnes was due to be delivered to Iran in mid-February but has not been shipped to date, traders said. Payment had been agreed for a reduced 35,000 tonnes of Pakistani wheat but this will not be shipped as the contract period has expired.
The barter deal was to involve Iran exporting fertiliser and iron ore to Pakistan in exchange for the wheat. However, it has been deadlocked over price and quality.
In addition, the sources said, "Iran has been buying a lot of grain elsewhere earlier this year and does not seem to be under much pressure to complete the barter deal."
0610 GMT: Election Watch. The Guardian Council is investigating early election efforts, according to Fars News' Persian service.
Alireza Nilchi of the Council's election committee said the vetting body would consider "early campaigning violations".
Nilchi said that all those involved with supervising the elections must be fully aware of the rules and laws.
The official reassured Iranians were not concerned about the "health of the election". Invoking the New Year's slogan of the Supreme Leader, he said, "The people of Islamic Iran have foiled the enemy by creating a political epic."
0605 GMT: Oil Watch. India continues to walk a tightrope over its diminished but still significant imports of oil from Iran.
A day after Indian officials said they would not cap purchases --- despite the sharp fall, encouraged by US-led sanctions, last year --- sources have said that OPEC's biggest oil producers are in talks to supply extra crude to New Delhi to cover further cuts in Iranian imports.
The sources said Indian refiners, waiting for an order from the Ministry of Oil on whether to stop buying Iranian cargoes, are discussing annual term contracts with Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait for the year starting 1 April.
Iran earns about $11.5 billion from sales to India.
0525 GMT: Ahmadinejad Watch. In his latest provincial tour, President Ahmadinejad has been in Iranian Kurdistan, opening development projects. This morning, pro-Ahmadinejad State news agency IRNA headlines his christening of a housing initiative, part of the Government's high-profile effort in residential construction.
These tours have been a feature of the President's eight years in office, but they take on added significance as the Presidential election approaches and Ahmadinejad promotes his choice --- though to be his right-hand man Esfandiar Rahim-Mashai, though he has yet to declare his candidacy --- for the office.