Insight for Sunday 5 July 2009

The BBC's John Simpson has reported on Iran since its birth in 1979 and witnessed the recent events in Tehran until the authorities refused to renew his visa.

Hundreds of opposition protesters and activists are believed to have been taken into custody and at least 17 protesters have died in the unrest since the contested presidential election.

In this programme he reflects on the situation and exposes how the protests and crackdowns are intricately linked to a power struggle inside the clique of powerful men who first created the Islamic state.

Photo:Where is My Vote? The motto of demonstrators against the purported vote fraud.