Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Jul. 25 – Clashes erupted between protesters and security forces in the southern city of Ahwaz Sunday night after the authorities tried to prevent anti-government demonstrations from escalating. A number of police vehicles and state banks were set on fire, according to eye-witness reports.

Iran Focus: London, Jul. 25 – The Italian government has turned down an offer by Tehran to send the country’s Deputy Foreign Minister to Rome for an official visit, a website run by the entourage of ex-President Ali-Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani reported on Monday.

AFP: An Iranian court was hearing an appeal Monday over the murder in custody two years ago of Iranian-Canadian photographer Zahra Kazemi, following the acquittal of an intelligence agent in the case. The foreign media was not admitted to the tiny Tehran courtoom where the case was being heard, with one official declaring “there is no room.”

Iran Focus: Tehran, Jul. 24 – Iran’s jailed hunger-striking journalist Akbar Ganji has sharply attacked the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accusing him of planning to orchestrate his murder with the help of his cronies in the judiciary and the security services. The explosive allegations came in an open letter by Ganji to a prominent dissident ayatollah, Hossein-Ali Montazeri, that was posted on Persian-language websites on Sunday.

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Jul. 24 – A senior Shiite cleric in Iran has shed light on his involvement in his own son’s execution in his newly-released memoirs.