Iranian Government Increases Pressure on Opposition
By Edward Yeranian
Cairo
25 June 2009

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-25-voa6.cfm

From that Voice of America site:

Former Iranian president Abolhassan Bani Sadr, who was overthrown by a coup in 1981, says he thinks Iran's ruling military clique is difficult to dislodge.

He says the Guardians of the Revolution, a powerful economic and military clique now controls the reins of power in Iran, including much of the Iranian economy, the executive branch, the parliament, and much of the judiciary branch, too. He also argues that he doubts former president Rafsanjani has the power to go against the Guardians to unseat Ayatollah Khamenei.

Nevertheless, Mr. Bani Sadr thinks the government crackdown on opposition rallies is unlikely to stop demonstrators.

He says that during the 1979 revolution the demonstrations took place every 40 days. Now, he notes, they are taking place every day. They begin at night, he says, because the police cannot do much to stop them. During the day, he says, the police cannot really control them, either, because demonstrators are spreading out all over Tehran.

Meanwhile, according to Iranian state TV Mr. Ahmedinejad, the winner of the disputed June 12 election, has slammed U.S. President Barack Obama for criticizing the violence being used against Iranian protesters. He said Mr. Obama "has been trapped into following the same path as former president George W. Bush," despite the fact that he "advocates change."

I hope the young Iranians someone understand that American sentiment is on their side.  I think they need that.

As for Ahmedinejad the pretender, he loves to pass the buck and point fingers at America even when Americans are being more restrained than they've ever been.  Besides which, if Barack Obama advocates 'change', that certainly fits in with advocating a change in the Iranian government. Dimwit.

Arab activists watch Iran with wonder, awe

Protests have triggered soul-searching, with many wondering, ‘Why not us?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31559156/ns/world_news-washington_post/

Who truely rules Iran

Video

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31559156/ns/world_news-washington_post/

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Iran cleric urges executing some protesters

Meanwhile, opposition leader shies away from street protests

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31564910/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/31566597#31565220

Video

Ahmadinejad: Obama has made a 'mistake' Iranian president lashes out anew at the United States

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31582572/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

That's more like it:

"The Obama administration wants to improve contacts with Tehran, especially because of concern that Iran is developing nuclear weapons, and Obama appeared unwilling to jeopardize that goal with strong statements against Iran's authorities.

'But on Friday, he hailed the demonstrators in Iran and condemned the violence against them.

"Their bravery in the face of brutality is a testament to their enduring pursuit of justice," Obama said. "The violence perpetrated against them is outrageous. In spite of the government's efforts to keep the world from bearing witness to that violence, we see it and we condemn it."

This is a problem, however:

"Amnesty International called the prospect of quick trials and capital punishment for some detainees "a very worrying development." It said Iran was the world's No. 2 executioner after China last year, with at least 346 known instances of people put to death. The group also called on the regime to release dozens of detained journalists it said faced possible torture."

Quiet crackdown drains Iran dissidents Mass detentions of potential pro-reform leaders muting opposition

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31585735/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa//

Human Rights International stated that Iran is # 2 in killing it's dissidents