Today's New York Times reports that the Iranian government has engaged in "an epidemic" of arrests in advance of the 31st anniversary of the Iranian Revolution tomorrow. The crackdown is designed to head off opposition street protests. For more on the situation inside Iran, Daljit Dhaliwal interviews Ervand Abrahamian.

Large-scale political violence has returned to the streets of Tehran, but foreign media have been banned by the Iranian government from covering the protests. Post-election protests are now in their sixth month, and demonstrators are now frequently attacking Basiji security forces. For more on the situation in Iran, Martin Savidge interviews Ervand Abrahamian.

The international standoff with Iran over its nuclear ambitions seemed to go from bad to worse today, as the country test-fired a new version of its longest-range Sajjil-2 missile -- capable of reaching Israel, U.S. bases in the Persian Gulf and parts of Europe. This drew quick reaction from western governments. For more, Daljit Dhaliwal speaks with Ervand Abrahamian.

Ervand Abrahamian, a distinguished professor of history at the City University of New York, joins Martin Savidge to discuss today's UN watchdog agency's rebuke of Iran. He argues that the censure reflects an unusual degree of international unity and strengthens the threat of further sanctions against Iran.

In Iran, tens of thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Tehran once again on Friday. Ervand Abrahamian of the City University of New York discusses the current situation in Iran and a shakeup in the country's nuclear program.