Omid Memarian
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Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei may finally be losing patience with wayward president.
Hossein Derakhshan had hoped to return Iran safely, but hardliners arrested him and made him centrepiece of “coup plot” case.
Iran’s president pretends he had nothing to do with detaining alleged spies, but reveals himself by taking credit for Sarah Shourd’s release.
Saeed Mortazavi’s long career as prosecutor of dissidents founders amid mounting anger at mistreatment of post-election protesters.
Denying rights abuses could prove costly for Tehran, both economically and politically.
Targeted sanctions likely to pose serious problems for the Tehran regime, but it remains defiant.