SPLIT, CRACK, DIVISION, FISSURE, RUPTURE, RIFT

* * In another sign of the ongoing and irreparable contentions within the ruling elite of Tehran’s regime, Javan newspaper, a Revolutionary Guard media outlet reports that a large cache of arms were discovered in a mosque run by Ayatollah Hadi Ghaffari (photo right) a member of the central council of the line of the Imam (Khomeini) and president of the Al Hadi institute. Javan writes: “The discovery of a warehouse of arms in an institution run by one of the leading reformists and the assembly of combatant clerics, someone who also happens to support Mousavi and Karubi, begs all kinds of answers. It is without a doubt that the root of all the assassinations that have occurred during recent months, like that of the girl, Neda Agha-Soltan in June, Mousavi’s nephew on Ashura (December 27th),  Professor Massoud Ali-Mohammadi and so on stem from one shared outlook; it is clear that this is actually an assassination plot that is being implemented by shadow forces in order to make the regime look accountable.”

During a long speech in late June, Ghaffari harshly criticized Khamenei for the regime’s actions following the election. Ghaffari’s comments were extremely pointed and challenging to Khamenei himself as well. Below is a copy of the video with an abridged translation directly beneath it.

GHAFFARI: Khamenei, your recent actions and behavior has brought shame to us clerics. Our image in the streets and bazaars has been tarnished as everyone is placing us in the same category as Ahmadinejad….Khamenei, you are wrong, your actions are wrong. I believe in the Velayat-e-faqih [system of clerical authority] more than you….

I’m not preaching these messages so that I could be associated with the West. I loathe the West and will fight to the last drop of my blood before I or my land succumbs to the West. On the contrary, I’m preaching these messages on the count that the respect for our profession is gone….

Young people are not praying anymore, whose fault is that? It is your fault Mr. Khamenei, it’s your fault for placing us in the same line as that lunatic Ahmadinejad….Ahmadinejad is nobody, you should congregate with us instead of him.

*  * Below: Former Iranian diplomat in Japan, Abolfazl Eslami is asked to make comments. He says: “The only comment I can make is to call upon all Iranians residing in Japan and all Iranians in general, living around the world, please do not attend any of the (Iranian regime’s) celebrations and banquets (outside Iran) for the 22nd of Bahman (February 11th) because they are paid for by the blood of those Green wave martyrs. Participating in any such banquest would be a betrayal of the Green movement of the people of Iran. I also call upon my colleagues in the regime’s foreign ministry not to insist on staying on board this regime’s sinking ship and learn from the 20 year old who that regime executed, who just before his execution told his father that in his short life, he refuses to be beholding such a regime. Please learn from this young man who is young enough to be your own child and tear yourselves away from this abject catastrophe (of a regime). Do not think that if you take refuge in some corner of the world with the dollars you’ve pocketed, that you will live in peace…you will have to struggle with your own conscience. Please jump ship from this regime’s crumbling ship.”

*  * Below: Iranian residents of Vienna and non-Iranian supporters of the Green movement gather in front of the Iranian embassy in Vienna to protest.

* * Internet blocked and disruption in Iran, as the next wave of protests approach on the 22nd of Bahman (February 11th). As of Monday, February 1st, once again the internet became virtually impossible to access.

In an interview with the semi-official Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), Hossein Shafie, the deputy director of public relations and international affairs of the proposed communications company claimed that disruptions were due to the installation of the new fiber optic internet lines between Tehran and Mash’had which will be completed by Tuesday, February 2nd. The other semi-official news agency, the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA) which reported the same item, claimed that the installations will not be finalized for “a few days”.

Rumors about the throttling of the internet have been circulating around Iran and is expected in the same manner as during all recent protests.

* * Iran is building a 51-km railway linking the southwestern city of Khorramshahr and the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Iranian Railways Director Abbas Nazari told Mehr the regime-run news agency that nearly 90% of the first phase of the project inside Iran (about 16 km) was already complete.  He said Iran was currently in talks with the Iraqis over the construction of the Iraqi section of the line. The project will improve transport links between Iraq and the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

According to Iranian regime-run English language network, Press TV, Iran has allocated $1 billion for Iraq’s reconstruction; a portion of the amount is allotted to railway construction projects.