While the massive protests seen last week in Iran have subsided, the enduring split among the nation’s clergy appears to be playing out in behind the scenes struggles for power punctuated by the occasional public proclamation.

Opposition candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi, whose claims of election fraud sparked the massive demonstrations on the streets of Tehran, claims he is under pressure to drop his challenge to the vote, as conservative opposition candidate Mohsen Rezaei did yesterday.

The government has cracked down harshly against Mousavi’s campaign as the demonstrations turned violent, and Iran’s state media is reporting that one of his top aides has been denied permission to leave the country for Britain.

The unrest in Iran has strained ties with the British government, as the two sides have expelled one anothers’ diplomats to express dissatisfaction at their respective stances on the post-election violence.

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