Iran -- not over yet

Yesterday's protest demonstrations had smaller crowds and they were met by violence from the government, especially the basij paramilitary forces.

It's important to look behind the government's determination to stop the street protests and try to get some sense of what may still be going on behind the scenes.

Early yesterday, the Tehran Times reported that the Assembly of Experts, a powerful clerical group, had expressed its strong support for the election results. However, it turns out that was not true. The statement had been signed by only the deputy leader of the Assembly, who is a rival of Rafsanjani and who apparently has little influence; it was not a statement by the full Assembly.

Later in the day, the Speaker of Iran's Parliament, Ali Larijani, spoke on the state tv (IRIB) and said that "a majority of people are of the opinion that the actual election results are different than what was officially announced. . . . The opinion of this majority should be respected and a line should be drawn between them and rioters and miscreants."

Not only was this the Speaker of Parliament, it was carried on state tv. And he didn't some "some people," he said "a majority of people."

It could be part of their repressive tactics: deal harshly with the "rioting" and make a show of respecting the widespread mistrust, do some sort of "recount," and still uphold the election.

Or is there some real power struggle going on behind the scenes that might end in some change?

Saying "majority" rather than "some" suggests to me that it is the latter.

Ralph