Internal conflict wracks Iranian political scene

An event held on 1 February to commemorate the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran featuring a cardboard cutout of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini deplaning at Teheran’s international airport in a re-enactment of his return from exile 33 years ago has sparked fierce criticism from several Iranian officials and much mockery from ordinary Iranians. The ceremony, during which the cardboard Ayatollah was greeted by lines of saluting honor guards and a marching band has been the subject of dozens of parodies which have been filmed and gone viral on the internet, while several Iranian politicians have criticized the ceremony as "distasteful," "damaging," and "regretful." In related news, lawmakers have summoned firebrand President Mahmud Ahmadinejad to appear before a parliamentary committee and answer complaints about his handling of the economy, an embezzlement scandal his political faction is involved in and many other matters. It is the first time this has ever happened and observers note that it is a strong sign of the continued internal tumult afflicting the Islamic Republic.

Meanwhile, the price of food staples such as rice and bread have tripled on the streets of Iran in recent months, causing widespread anger against the government amidst reports that Iran has defaulted on payments to rice producers in India.

A spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton blamed Tehran for any civilian suffering caused by sanctions.

“EU measures on Iranian oil are intended to affect the potential funding for the nuclear programme. Unintended consequences on the civilian population are therefore the result of policy choices by the government," Ashton’s spokesman Michael Mann said.

Elsewhere, Iran's Foreign Ministry has denounced as "psychological war" new U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic recently signed into law by US President Barack Obama.  Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast assured journalists in Teheran on Tuesday that the “antagonistic” U.S. "sanctions will not have any impact" on Iran’s renegade nuclear program.

In Washington on Tuesday, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman thanked US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the “very important message” the sanctions send to Iran and the wider world.

“The measures that were taken in the last weeks sent a very important message to the entire region,” he told Clinton, according to a statement put out by the Foreign Ministry.