Iran's crisis enters a pivotal stage today with the hardline Guardian Council due to decide whether thousands of reformist candidates will be allowed to stand in elections next month.
Reformist MPs have warned that Iran could plunge into "religious dictatorship" if the unelected members of the powerful Guardian Council refuse to retract a ban on more than 3,000 candidates.
The MPs said they were bracing themselves for a negative result in which many moderates would be barred from standing.