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CNN Saturday Morning News

Reporting on Protests in Iran; Will Government Warnings Prevent Gatherings?

Aired June 20, 2009 - 09:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN, ANCHOR: We are getting some new information right now. we want to take you to our international desk where Ivan Watson has been following it all morning long for us. What are you hearing, Ivan?

IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Betty, first we know from eyewitnesses - they have told us in Tehran that at least one group of protesters, several hundred people were dispersed as they tried to move towards one of the key squares in Tehran dispersed by security forces who threw tear gas canisters towards the crowd. They were sent back. So there are people that are trying to attend this rally that has been organized.

Now let's take a look at some of these pictures. This is Ferdowsi Square in Tehran. We're getting this through Facebook. A picture. You can see down below, security forces on the ground here. Let's go back here. Security forces on the ground and this basically is correlated by the accounts we're getting from eyewitnesses in Tehran saying that there is a large presence of security forces. So more pictures that we have gotten from twitter. Look at these guys, they are riot police here. You can see the uniforms, you can see the armor that they are wearing, the helmets.

Now imagine if you were an unarmed protester trying to attend an illegal rally that the supreme leader in the country announced to the entire country and the entire world yesterday that no protesters would be tolerated on the streets of Tehran. So these are some of the most recent images we've gotten in there. The security forces and they do look like they mean business and we do have an account of tear gas being used to disperse several hundred protesters who tried to gather in one of those central squares. Betty.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN, ANCHOR: And Ivan, I don't know if you know which one, we can tell by the pictures or if the person who sent the picture had said where this is particularly, but we know there were two squares, that was Freedom Square and Revolution Square where the two main rallies are supposed to happen. Do we know where this one is? There are some reports that say it's been happening around Tehran University as well. So, where is this? Do we know?

WATSON: We've identified this as Ferdowsi Square. OK. That is one of Tehran's central square. This is -- no, no, no I've got to correct myself. Enghelab Square is where eyewitnesses told us that protesters, this one group of protesters, was dispersed by tear gas. And that is where Mir Hossein Mousavi, one of the candidates in the contested elections that's what his website directed protesters to. Take a look at his Facebook page. They have been calling on this Facebook page for demonstrators to assemble at that square.

And of course, we are really limited here, T.J., we cannot report on the ground in Tehran because of this fax that our team received in Tehran today. This comes from Iran's Culture Ministry. It is addressed to all international media saying you are not permitted to make any reports from within Iran without first coordinating with the Iranian authorities. A media, almost complete media blackout coming from Iran right now, T.J..

HOLMES: All right. But we have some media there on the ground and those are the private citizens of Iran trying to get the message out there. Ivan, we appreciate all of you, keeping an eye on things over there. We'll be checking back in with you, of course, very shortly.

NGUYEN: And our chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour, she joins us now live from London. Christiane, you've been watching this as well. It does appear that people have taken to the streets by the thousands although many are facing pushback from the military there, police forces there. And even some have faced tear gas today. How crucial is it that they continue despite this intimidation, despite the blockage?

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, let me just clear up what Ivan was saying about those squares. I mean, all those squares and Ferdowsi Square is the square that's dedicated to the great Iranian poet, Ferdowsi and it is not one of those squares that the Mousavi camp and others have traditionally used over the last several days for their demonstrations.

Just in terms of trying to figure out what's going on, just to confirm some of the twittering that Ivan has been talking about, our people have been telling us that a few thousand, certain groups are trying to get towards some of those squares, but have been repulsed by tear gas canisters or other kind of canisters maybe smoke grenades or something being thrown at their feet.

So that is just the limited information that we do have at the moment. We also know that we contacted a key member of the reform movement in Tehran by phone who said that they were trying to persuade people not to come out because of the consequences, because of the violence that they could incur. The police chief in Iran went on not only state television, but only on the state media, the agencies, the wire agency, to say that any gathering today would be illegal and would be met by the full force of the law, referring to the last several days before that where it was banned, but nonetheless they allowed it to happen.

The chief said, the police chief said, that now, things are different, presumably referring to Khamenei's speech Friday, and that any gathering would be considered illegal and the consequences would be forthcoming. So that's about what we know, again to re-report and re- confirm what eyewitnesses have told CNN is that the main protest squares are ringed as you saw in these one picture, ringed by riot police in riot gear as well as other regular police. Betty.

NGUYEN: And if you would, break it down for me as easily as you can. When it comes to protesters trying to demonstrate today, and they're facing, we're seeing right now on the television those forces out in the street, if they cannot go out in numbers, what does that mean for their push for reform? What avenues do they have if they cannot gather in the streets for a protest?

AMANPOUR: Those riot police THAT you're seeing out there match many of the ones that we saw for the last week although back then, they didn't intervene. Today, they're threatening to intervene if rioters or rather protesters do come out. Now in terms of what avenue is open, it's hard to say. I'm not inside the strategy or the camps and given the past, we have seen that clamp downs tend to put pain to the protesters. That's in the two previous incidents in 2003 in 1999. Much smaller, very distinctly student-led protests were put down quite quickly. These, of course, we're seeing after the election, much more sustained, much bigger crowds in the streets, not just young people and students, but men and women.

Some traditional, some more modern. A real cross section of people who are demanding reform within the system, by and large within the system. Because we spoke very clearly to the leaders of the reform movement and each and everyone of them denied that they were trying for a revolution. On the street however, the youngsters, people who say they've just had enough. They want a green movement. They want their rights. They want more freedom. But very few people talked about a revolution, although many did express dissatisfaction with the system.

So it is hard to see how within the system they would be able to expand their demands for reform. I think that's something we're going to have to watch and see how this unfolds.

NGUYEN: All right. Chief international correspondent, as always, we do appreciate your insight and we're going to be checking in with you throughout the day. Christiane Amanpour joining us live from London. Thank you, Christiane.

HOLMES: Now we have been bringing you some of the first pictures we are seeing of protests via twitter, other social networking sites, coming from people there in Iran. If you are watching television in Iran right now, you wouldn't think anything was going on in the streets of Tehran because this is what they are showing. This is state-run media, state run television. The operative word being state run. And this is what they're covering.

You see some sports coverage down there. There's a movie going on and other news coverage as well. But this has been the issue, this has been the trick, this has been the challenge for us here in trying to cover this story. We have been blocked. Several foreign media, all foreign media has been blocked from covering it. We don't have any live pictures coming out of any of those squares where these protests are happening. So we have to depend on people there on the ground who are able to get some messages out via some of those social networking sites. But again, state-run media, that's what you're looking at. That's what we've been monitoring. You see a Denzel Washington movie on right now. Nadal, Rafael Nadal, tennis star. Just everything except what we are trying to cover right now which seemed to be a story of international interest but looking at that media, it's not of any local interest and this has been the criticism that the government there just seem to be suppressing the freedom of press there and really not trying to get people out into the streets and trying to confuse them about what's happening there today.

Let me bring in Trita Parsi who has been certainly been on our airplay over the last week or so, the president of the National Iranian American Council. That is the largest Iranian-American organization in the U.S. Trita, we are - this is just fascinating what we are beginning to see unfold now. But tell me how this either emboldens or really does, I guess, kind of kill the spirit of some of those protesters given what we're seeing now. Are they going to respond to this and the reaction of the Islamic republic with bringing out the police? Is this going to embolden a lot of those protesters or will this quell those protests as the Supreme Leader had hoped to do?

TRITA PARSI, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL IRANIAN-AMERICAN COUNCIL: Well, what you've seen is the strategy appears to be aimed at preventing people from being able to come to these places to begin with. The government has placed riot police in various different places throughout the city, trying to prevent people from actually reaching the different squares. If they succeed with that and there are no images of any large demonstrations, then government may win a psychological battle, a very important psychological battle because the rest of the country will not see any images of large demonstrations and as a result believed that this thing is starting to end.

HOLMES: So the rest of the world might get one impression but the people of Iran are going to get another impression now. So where does that lead them and you know what, who is going to lead them?

PARSI: Well, so far, although a lot of focus has been, of course, on Mousavi, it seems like the streets are the ones leading Mousavi rather than the other way around. Mousavi himself seems to, at times, have been somewhat reluctant going forward. And of course, if he were to withdraw at this point, it would probably be demoralizing for the demonstrators, but without the crowd, Mousavi essentially right now is nothing.

HOLMES: OK. And I've had another guest on earlier who I think just made that same point that you made in that Mousavi himself - Mousavi is not the movement. The people on the streets are the movement. He was just the vehicle they were using here. If he does back out, what options do these people have now? Where do they go, do they look for another leader or do they continue this on their own and maybe try to get the supreme leader to react to them like he already has?

PARSI: Well, it's a very important question. It's very difficult to tell at this point, but the issue here and why this is so important is that many people believe that this has been the only way to be able to change a system from within. If their ballots no longer are counted, there's going to be a belief that you actually cannot change the system from within and that unfortunately may cause people to become much more radical than they are today.

HOLMES: That election, and I don't want to say it's unimportant, but does it still hold the same weight? Is it now as important of a rallying cry as it may be seen last Friday, last Saturday when people were upset about their vote, now, it seems to be a movement toward we're just upset about the way this government, our country is being run.

PARSI: Well, I think it's both. The fact that the belief, the impression amongst protesters is that their votes have not been counted. It's seen as a tremendous insult. A lot of people feel humiliated. They went out. They stood in line for hours, they cast their votes. They knew that by casting the vote, they may give the impression of legitimizing the system. At a minimum, they believe that their votes need to be counted, but as this grows, as time goes on. As the supreme leader remains quite uncompromising, the demands on all sides may grow and may actually increase the likelihood of a clash that no one can really control.

HOLMES: All right. I want to remind our viewers again, what we are keeping an eye on right now. Trita Parsi again, thank you so much.

PARSI: Thank you for having me.

HOLMES: The president of the National-Iranian American Council. But again, the word we are getting that we are now about two hours from when a scheduled - two hours ago is when these scheduled protests were supposed to take place. We are seeing some of the first pictures now coming to us now from the social networking sites because again CNN and other foreign press has been barred, restricted from what we can report. We have been restricted now to having to get permission before we file a single report there in Tehran.

So we have been getting pictures slowly but surely, from areas where these protests are supposed to be taking place. We have gotten word from witnesses on the ground that in fact thousands of people have taken to the streets. However, they have been held back from some of the main squares where they were trying to go and protest. So a lot of developments, slowly but surely, some of these is trickling out even though the Iranian government did not want their people and also want the word to see.

NGUYEN: Yes. And we also want to get some information as well from our I-reporters. They've been sending in lots of videos for the past week as well as the pictures. So please know that the site is up. We want you to send as much information as you possibly can because you are our eyes and our ears on the ground right now as there is indeed a media blackout.

I want to get to this though President Obama's guarded response to the situation in Iran, well that is drawing criticism and some republicans say that he should be taking a tougher stance. CNN national correspondent Kate Bolduan joins us now live from Washington. In light of what we are seeing today, obviously, a lot of people looking to the White House waiting for more word.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And we'll have to see how things develop today and if we will get new word from the White House. But despite this increasing pressure from the president to do more, say more as it relates to the Iranian election results and the demonstrations that have followed, the White House has not changed its position. The White House is taking a more hands-off approach to the situation.

The president earlier this week saying he didn't think it would be productive to be seen at meddling in the domestic affairs, the internal affairs of Iran. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, he maintained that cautious tone throughout the week, saying Friday that he doesn't, that t administration does not want to be drawn in and to become an issue of political debate in Iran. Listen here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We're not going to be used as political foils and political footballs in a debate that's happening by Iranians in Iran. There are many people -

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I should say in the south of Tehran, that is latest that we're getting in. There are people on the streets it seems but (inaudible) blasted mausoleum (inaudible) - more as we get it.

There seemed to be no plans to back off from activity in the occupied Palestinian territories. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman speaking in New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: All right. We have been watching press television as you saw there, the report, we caught just the tail end of it, that there has been a blast, at least two hurt, I believe she said at a mosque.

HOLMES: A mausoleum of the Ayatollah Khomeini, who, of course, was the one who rose to power after the revolution there. Now, again, we just took to that. That was coming to us from Iran television.

NGUYEN: Press TV.

HOLMES: Press TV there in Iran. So that was a report, some of the first coverage we have seen of events today. Now again, we are working to confirm that but again what we're hearing are two were hurt in a blast at a mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini there, the dead leader now, of course. That is all we have there. We will continue to monitor that. Our Iran desk, of course keeping an eye on that.

We want to bring to you anything happening out of there. We are trying to bring it to you as we can.

NGUYEN: Exactly. And we're trying to get it as many sources as possible so that we can confirm exactly what is going on right now in Iran, but as we know, as we've been telling you this morning, there are reports that thousands are in the streets. They are faced with police, armed police and there are reports of tear gassing used to push the crowds back, to push the demonstrations back to make sure that they do not gather today.

And we're also getting pictures in, you're seeing some of them right now, the streets of Iran and some of these squares where people were planning to gather today in demonstration, in protest and as we just heard from Press TV, that there has been a blast at one of the mausoleums there. And two people have been hurt. Again, that is unconfirmed. That is only what we are getting from press television but we are obviously scouring all the information that's coming in and out of Iran and trying to bring you the latest breaking news.

And as we get more in, of course, we will be bringing that straight to you. You're watching a special edition of CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

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NGUYEN: All right. News that's starting to come in to CNN and we've been watching state-run television out of Iran as it is showing pictures today, the first live pictures of what's going on the ground. We have heard that there has been a blast at the shrine of the Ayatollah Khomeini. Let's go to CNN's Ivan Watson at the international desk, the Iran desk is what we're calling it right now. What do you know about this?

WATSON: OK. This Betty has just come across from Iranian state TV from Press TV. A report of a blast at the shrine to Ayatollah Khomeini, the mausoleum of basically the father of the Islamic Revolution of 1979, which swept the Shah from power. He is revered as an imam, as a saint in Iran and Press TV is reporting two people wounded in that explosion.

That is big news if we can in fact confirm that independently. Very difficult for us to do right now, Betty, because we have had our hands tied on the ground in Iran by the Iranian authorities saying we can only report from within Iran, but first, we have to get permission from the Iranian authorities to do that. But once again, a report of an explosion coming on Iranian state TV, an explosion at the shrine to Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the modern Islamic republic of Iran.

HOLMES: Ivan, before we let you go here, I guess a lot of folks, I know, we can hear you not too far from us, where we're sitting in here. We hear a lot of stuff coming in and I want - we're trying to get as much as we can to our viewers as we're getting it. What else do we know about this shrine as far as location wise? Do we know where exactly it is in the area, if this is somewhere close to where any of these rallies were supposed to take place as well? And I think we're going to be showing some new pictures as you talk to us. Go ahead.

WATSON: The shrine, T.J., is a large structure. It is outside of the city itself. It's about 15, 20 minutes drive probably to get to the shrine itself. A very important site for Iranians because again Ayatollah Khomeini who swept to power in 1979. He was a charismatic figure. He is the father of the Islamic Revolution, of currently the Islamic regime in Iran. This is a big deal if in fact there was an explosion at that shrine. It is going to make many, many Iranian furious.

He is a revered figure in that country. There have been only two Supreme Leaders in the history of Iran since 1979, since that Islamic revolution. Ayatollah Khomeini who is at that shrine and the current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. No relation between those two men.

HOLMES: All right. Ivan Watson, we do appreciate you. We will, of course, be right back to you, you're collecting a lot of information over there for us. Meanwhile, we're going to take you back to Press TV, that is the Iranian state television and listen in to them now. The announcement they made just a short time ago, not about this blast in particular, about other parts of the protest that are happening today. Take a quick listen to them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... in Iran, police are using tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters who have gathered around Tehran's Enghelab Square to hold an illegal rally. Reports say hundreds of baton-wield security forces are trying to pacify the crowds at this point. Iran's assembly of combatant clerics had previously requested the permits to stage that rally, but later called that off, called the gathering all together after the Interior Ministry refused to give them permission. So that is the latest coming out. It does seem that people have gathered there at Enghelab Square and they are being dispersed or attempted to be dispersed by police who are using tear gas and water cannons and of course, that separate breaking news that we had, which was at two people have been hurt as a blast hits the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini in the south of Tehran. So those incidents coming out of the capital city -

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: So there, you hear state-run Iranian television - Iranian TV backed by Ahmadinejad -

HOLMES: By the government. Yes.

NGUYEN: This is government run television but they are confirming what we have been telling you for the past what - I don't know, 30 minutes to an hour, that people have taken to the streets in Iran, some by the thousands, but they are being pushed back by police in full gear there today and you're hearing that tear gas has been used as well as water cannons. Now back to what Ivan Watson was telling us just a little bit ago about the blast at a mausoleum there.

I want to take you to Iranian television, state-run TV so you're going to hear how they are reporting at what occurred. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some breaking news here on Press TV. As you can see on your screen, two people have been hurt as a blast hits the mausoleum of the Imam - Imam Khomeini mausoleum I should say in the south of Tehran. That is the latest that we're getting in. There are people on the streets, it seems but two hurt in a blast the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini in South Tehran. More as we get it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: And that again, state-run television there in Iran reporting that two people have been injured in a bombing at the mausoleum of the Ayatollah Khomeini, the father essentially of the Islamic revolution in 1979. Important information coming in out of state run TV. Again, this is government-backed television, but some of the best reports that we can get right now of what is happening on the ground. We're also getting reports from you, the folks inside Iran who are sending us tweets, who are sending pictures, who are trying to send as much information out as possible, despite the media blackout. So we're bringing you all of it just as soon as we get it right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, good morning and welcome back, everybody. I'm T.J. Holmes alongside Betty Nguyen. We bring you a special coverage of what we've been watching in Iran. Still the "Election Fallout," a week and a day after those elections. Well, it continues today. This is the latest. We can tell you. Breaking news we just got out from Iranian state-run television, Press TV is what it's called, still government-backed television, saying that there has been a blast at the mausoleum to the former Supreme Leader Khomeini. Now what you're seeing here on your screen are some of the few reports we are able to get out. These comes to us, these pictures coming to us from people on social networking sites, twitter including showing pictures. They are there and then posting these pictures.

You see on the left there, we're gathering reports from eyewitnesses that in fact police have come out to some of the main squares where the opposition was expected to have rallied and that is what they were greeted by police force in full riot gear, in many cases. As you can see there, essentially intimidating people.

Reports, as well, not here pictured necessarily, there's a good shot of it there, but reports, as well, that protesters in the hundreds and even thousands have come out to some of those squares to protest and have been turned back with water cannons and also with teargas by police and also other military officials.

So, that is the very latest we are getting from Iran right now, but again, a blast, we're hearing, happened at the mausoleum, a shrine to former supreme leader Ali Khomeini, a blast there that has injured two. And that is what state-run television has just reported.

NGUYEN: In the meantime, the protesters are trying to assemble and continue with these demonstrations and they are getting the push-back that we've been talking about, this morning.

And a lot of those protesters include women, they are defiant, they are determined to bring about change half a world away. Iranian- American women are making their voices heard on behalf of those who cannot speak freely and we are going to be delving into this. I believe that we have Rudy Bakhtiar on the line with us, out of Washington. She joins us, live. She's a former HLN anchor and FOX News anchor, as well.

And also have here with me on the desk, Octavia Nasr, our Mideast affairs expert to talk about the role of women and the movement here when it comes to these protesters.

First of all, let me start with you, Rudy, because as we're getting word of the protesters on the street facing pushback from armed guards, what does that tell you about the movement and what they are facing and risks that they were taking today?

RUDY BAKHTIAR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS ALLIANCE OF IRANIAN-AMERICANS: You know, it is showing me that they are ever so determined, that women in Iran feel that for the first time, they have a chance to move their position forward. They have had their rights stripped of them shortly after the revolution in '79. We saw so many examples of it.

I talked about Shirin Ebadi, the Nobel Laureate, who was the first female judge in Iran, and was removed from her position with other female judges. Women who are lawyers were not allowed to practice, they were made to become administrators until they fought back for the rights to be lawyers again. So, this women's movement has been going since shortly after the revolution, but has never taken -- seen the way it is now. You have never had a woman on the campaign trail standing next to her husband, holding his hand. Even holding his hand is a big symbol that you don't see in Iran.

And talking about the quality of women, the fact that women are equal to men, women have just the same rights as men. These are themes that have not been heard since pre-revolutionary days and women have been struggling. And right now, when you see them taking to the streets, even though, yesterday, Khomeini inequivocally (sic) said that if you go out, there will be bloodshed and the blood will be on the hands of those who are asking you to go out.

You see women are ever so determined. We're talking on FaceBook with each other. There's a lot of Twitter information coming out. I'm on the phone with my friends and my family. Some of my family members were deterred but the words, yesterday, and said, we want to stay home, but others, the younger ones are saying, you know what, we're going to go out today and they're showing -- you know, you really have to give them a lot of credit for how brave they're being today.

NGUYEN: And we are hearing and soon, we will be seeing pictures, hopefully, coming into CNN, of these protesters that are facing head- to-head with police as they try to demonstrate today. I want to bring in Octavia Nasr because when we talk about women in this movement and how women are at the forefront of it, as well, wanting reform, is it that they're placing all their hopes in Moussavi, or is it more than just getting him elected, more than just getting a revote, it's more about them finding freedom in this movement?

OCTAVIA NASR, SR EDITOR, MIDEAST AFFAIRS: It is a lot more than the elections, really. It is basically about democracy, it is about rights, it is about existing in this world and being heard and participating. Women in Iran are very, very strong women. It is known, they're described as strong and smart and active. They are active not just today, this is not new, they've always been active.

But what's happening, what we're seeing here is that the difference between today and the few years back is that social media is available to people in a real-time, so basically, a few years ago, there was a student protest led by young people and a lot of women, because half of the student population and universities is made up of women.

NGUYEN: Actually, 63 percent of women.

NASR: There you go, even more than half. That's right. So, women are in the forefront, but in the past, we didn't hear that because the government crackdown wouldn't allow these pictures to come out. We wouldn't hear about it until much later after they were suppressed. What's happening today is that we're seeing them in real-time -- almost in real-time. So, as you said, we wait and see pictures and video from the protest, today, and there will be women, women sometimes without a headscarf. They're really challenging the system, they're challenging the establishment.

And what they want is a lot more than these elections, they want democracy. They say the reason they support Moussavi is that he wants to open up to the world. They say that four years of President Ahmadinejad, Iran was seen as evil, Iran was seen as basically an evil, for the world, because of his -- they look at what he said, for example, denying the existence of the holocaust, denying -- wanting Israel to wipe off the map. They look at these words and statements and they say this is not what Iran is about and they want to make sure that their voices are heard and they want to make sure that their vote is counted. They feel cheated and it looks like, just looking at these pictures and watching what Iran went through in the past week, tells you that. They want change.

NGUYEN: And today, we are seeing people risk a great deal by going out into the streets and facing those police and facing what the supreme leader said: you will see the consequences if you decide to rally today and, of course, we are getting word, we're seeing pictures, we are hearing reports of people, indeed, in the streets.

Rudy Bakhtiar, thank you so much for your insight.

Octavia Nasr, we will be speaking with you very shortly. Thank you as well -- T.J.

HOLMES: All right, I turn now to Badi Badiozamani, again, author and scholar and expert on Iran. He joined us a little earlier.

Appreciate you being here and sticking around. Glad to have you here. This blast, for our viewers -- some of you may be just joining us. We know protesters, now, at least according to eyewitnesses on the street, have taken to the streets, being held back, in some cases, water cannons and teargas being used on them, but also we're getting word of a blast happening at the mausoleum to the former supreme leader, Khomeini.

So, tell us about this place. What we know about the blast right now, at least state-run television reporting two injured, but what do we know about this location and, in particular, this shrine?

BADI BADIOZAMANI, IRAN EXPERT: This location is south of Tehran. Between Tehran, actually, and the city Bonn, the religious city of Bonn. And this is the burial place of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who was the father of the Islamic revolution and he is revered by many. So, they built this shrine over his tomb and it has become a mausoleum. So, as a result it is very sacred to many people.

HOLMES: Very popular, as well?

BADIOZAMANI: Yes.

Very busy place, I would assume.

BADIOZAMANI: Busy place. Yeah. Actually, it has become like this business center. Like a city. People go there, they visit on a daily basis from all parts of Iran, you know, the followers Khomeini, so it's very revered. Now, the blast there, like anything else, has two sides. One side is, of course, is the government side. The government says look, there was a blast, two people got injured. Apparently there was news that one was killed, we don't know yet.

HOLMES: We don't know yet.

BADIOZAMANI: OK. But, so this is what the opposition is doing. On the other hand, the opposition said no, no, no, no. We know this. We expected something like this. We expected that the government is going to do something and then blame it on us and start a heavy crackdown -- and tell the whole world hey, you see this is...

HOLMES: So, this could be, as you're saying here, this could be a scheme. This could all be -- whoever is responsible for this, we're now about to see it play out on the air ways, maybe on social networking sites, a blame-game that will then guide us moving forward. Like you're saying, it sounds like you're saying the government could look at this and give them the green light to move forward with cracking down and also the opposition, they could be embolden by this as well.

BADIOZAMANI: Absolutely. And, let me tell you, we are watching actually, we are witnessing a mind game, so to speak, between two sides, two Iranian sides, both sides very intelligent, very smart. Don't forget, 10,000 years of civilization and seeing all kinds of people's ups and downs. So, it's very interesting.

So, but it's interesting that the opposition says we are not surprised, we were expecting something bad to happen and then the blame will be put on us.

HOLMES: Do you think the Iranian state television "Press TV" which came out and broke this news, essentially, not really surprising to you. I mean, if they were responsible for this, who knows what right now, but they came out and put it on television, so you think that was a, I guess, a little chess move on their part.

BADIOZAMANI: Yes, well, the thing is, no foreign reporter was suppose to be there or even can go there. Remember, they have to get a permission, a written permission from the ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, all foreign reporters, all foreign media representatives. So, they don't have freedom of movement, they don't have freedom of communication. The only source is the government source, now the government source says well, this is what happened.

HOLMES: Would this have been a busy place on a, what, a Saturday afternoon?

BADIOZAMANI: Yes.

HOLMES: It would have been a bustling place on a Saturday afternoon.

BADIOZAMANI: Yes. And there's a very question, very interesting question. Is this true? Because, we haven't seen any foreign media at the site. Is it really true? Did this really happen? We don't know.

HOLMES: This is something, to our audience, at least, that is completely to think that -- and it sounds like you're suggesting, and if you are, by all means go ahead and say that, that possibly, the Iranian -- again, state-run television, could be making this thing up. I mean, we can't independently go in there and verify. But you think it's possible, and again, this is a very foreign concept...

BADIOZAMANI: It's a very farfetched idea.

HOLMES: Very farfetched idea, but are you saying stuff like that could possibly be happening, you wouldn't be surprised, if this, again, was made up?

BADIOZAMANI: There's the thing, everything is possible. How probably? We don't know. Unless we see it. And if it's really true, then probably cameras are going to be there within the next at least half an hour or so. You know? The reporters are going to be transported there, preferably by helicopter. Probably takes about 20 minutes by helicopter from Tehran to that shrine, and then we'll see for yourselves.

HOLMES: We appreciate you sticking around. Badi Badiozamani, again, author, scholar, Iran expert. I've got a feeling I'll be talking to you again here, this morning. But again...

BADIOZAMANI: I'll be happy to.

HOLMES: ...state-run television telling us, Betty, that two people injured in blast at that shrine to this former supreme leader, Khomeini. We shall see.

NGUYEN: Yeah, state-run television also reporting that teargas and water cannons being used on the crowds that have started to gather. We are getting reports that a few thousand have attempted to go to these demonstrations in different areas in Iran, they are being pushed back by armed guards, by armed police in full riot gear. We even have some pictures of that, as well. We are following it very closely for you today. Special coverage of the situation in Iran, right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

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HOLMES: Good morning, again. Welcome back to our special coverage of the election fallout in Iran. What you are seeing are some of the first pictures we have gotten out of Iran. We are not, foreign press, CNN included, are not allowed to transmit our own pictures, take our own pictures right now, because the restrictions placed on us and foreign press by the government there, but these are pictures we are getting from people there on the ground, people who are participating in some of these demonstrations, snapping some shot for us.

What you're seeing on the right there is the one area where people were supposed to be protesting and you see kind of, you see some cars there, we normally are expected to see people there. But on the left, this is one of the first pictures we got today which shows what has turned many people away, we're hearing -- armed officers, you see them. We're being told they are armed, they're in riot gear, and that is what people are finding at several locations where demonstrations for the opposition were supposed to take place today. We have gotten word, again, from people we've talked to on the ground that yes, in fact, hundreds, even thousands have taken to the streets today, but were turned away. Also, water cannons, teargas being used on them.

And now, we're getting word from Iranian state-run television, again this is from their state, their government-run TV, that in fact there has been a blast. There you are, some of the video from the announcement they were making a short time ago, that there was a blast at a shrine to the former supreme leader, Khomeini. We're told again, according to "Press TV," the Iranian-state television, that in fact two people were injured, we're waiting to possible see if we'll get pictures of that scene. This happened just south of Tehran, again, at a shrine to the former supreme leader.

That is the very latest. What we're seeing today, still waiting to hear possibly from, I guess you can maybe call him the man of the hour, right now, Moussavi. Waiting to hear something from him, haven't seen him on tape, on audio, in any way. A few things on his FaceBook page, making announcements about people still having a rally, but those things aren't even reliable sometimes.

NGUYEN: Right, and we don't know if anyone has hacked into his FaceBook page if that indeed is his message or not. But, what we do know is that protesters have taken to the streets in Iran only to be met head-on by police. We saw some pictures of that just awhile ago.

Well, the situation in Iran is changing minute-by-minute, yet when it comes to the country, it's hard to separate fact from propaganda. So, in order to try to do so for you today, we turn to this man that you see right here, well-known authority on Iranian affairs Hooshang Amirahmadi, director of the Middle East Studies at Rutgers University.

You know, when I spoke with you a little bit earlier, you had gotten reports from people out of Iran saying that they were planning today to go ahead and indeed, we have seen people or at least seen reports of people on the streets. This is essentially the protesters going head-to-head with their supreme leader. This is a major statement being made today in Iran.

HOOSHANG AMIRAHMADI, RUTGERS UNIV: It's true. But, from what I gathered coming from Iran, personally, this hasn't been very successful. That is the leader of the movement obviously have listened to the leader and that a lot of people who have followed Mr. Moussavi and Karubi have also not shown in the streets, so I think there are three people, now that we are talking about, are people who are not controlled by Mr. Karubi or Mr. Moussavi.

NGUYEN: So this is a movement in and of itself, it's separate, say, from the cries of protesting, we want a re-vote. This is for reform and reform only is what you're saying?

AMIRAHMADI: Well, this is not obviously very similar to the revolution back in 1979. This is a movement that is yet has to find a target. It doesn't really have a target, for example, 1979 revolution had the shah as its target. It doesn't have an ideology because the ideology of this movement is still is Islam and then it doesn't really have a leader.

NGUYEN: OK, well, let me ask you this, there are thousands, we are getting reports on the streets, faced with blockades of the armed police forces that we're seeing in these pictures. If they cannot gather the protests, if they cannot rally today, what other means can be used to have their voices heard?

AMIRAHMADI: Well, I believe the movement has achieved a lot. I think that they have to -- at this moment I think they have to preserve the movement and consolidate, and then move forward at some other point. I think, you know, this is the case in every struggle. You just all the time don't go and push all the way. There are times that you have to wait, you have to take a step back so then you can take two steps forward. I think this movement has achieved a lot. Now it is facing a government that is determined to put it down, to destroy it. And I think the most important thing Mr. Karubi and Mr. Mir-Hossein Moussavi can do to preserve this movement to consolidate and to change its purpose. I think it is wrong for them to continue insisting on re- election. I think they should change that slogan to a free election.

The problem with Iran and this election is that the Islamic republic is not allowing a free and fair election. I was a candidate for president four years ago, I was disqualified. I was disqualified I don't believe for any particular reason, OK, but because I wasn't practicing Islam.

But, the point here is that I think the Iranian people, the young people, the women, everybody, I think, have to go back to ask their self a question. So what is this election that they're asking? Even if Mr. Moussavi was to be president, he would be the president of a system of an election process that have disqualified so many people, and only allowed four. NGUYEN: So, what you're saying for real change, there needs to be an overhaul, essentially. You're not asking for just simply a revote, which obviously from the supreme leader he says doesn't seem like that's going to happen. There has been a definitive victor in this. So, but what you're saying, that this movement, in order to make definite change, it has to be broader and bigger, but at this moment we're seeing a lot of opposition from those guards in the street, police in the street, blocking those protesters who are trying to assemble today.

AMIRAHMADI: OK, this is not -- going to the streets is not the only alternative available to them. There are other means of civil disobedience that they can take to move forward. The point here is that I think insisting, at this point, on re-election is a losing game. I think you don't insist on something that is losing. It is a losing game. They have to change tactic, they have to move the idea from re-election to free election, and bring the people on the basis of that ideology and push forward. I think they have already achieved significant, you know, movement, you know, successes, but they need to consolidate and redefine their target and the purpose.

NGUYEN: Hooshang, we are out of time, but we do appreciate your insight today, calling for not just a revote, but free elections. Right now they're just having difficulty even getting into the street to rally. And we're watching it very closely, right here. So, thank you for your insight.

You are watching a special edition of CNN SATURDAY MORNING. We'll be right back.

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HOLMES: All right, welcome back, everybody, to our special coverage of what's happening in Iran. A lot of fast-moving developments, we will continue to bring you the very latest.

We do want to go to New York now and our Susan Candiotti who is checking in with -- of course, a lot of people here, Susan, are keeping an eye on what's happening there, a lot of students and young people there, but that's the case here in the U.S., as well.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: In particular, we are with an Iranian student who attends Columbia University. And Leila primarily -- has her own blog primarily writing about women's issues, clearly she's been following all this very, very closely. Primarily right now we have your FaceBook account, you're also monitoring other Web sites.

LEILA, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY STUDENT: Yes, Twitter, for example, other Iranian-Persian Web sites. For example, from inside Iran, I'm just following the news.

CANDIOTTI: What are some of the things we're hearing right now as we look broadly at your screen?

LEILA: You know, the mainly people are just talking that the police are attacking people in the streets, mainly, for example, I have from some friend that they're attack with Iran that they're attacking people, for example (INAUDIBLE) the street or (INAUDIBLE) street, they are near the (INAUDIBLE) square. They are just having teargas on people and just want to spray people...

CANDIOTTI: And clearly we have to say these are unconfirmed reports?

LEILA: They are mainly from the people in the mass, you know, for example, none of them -- some of them, for example, the media has confirmed them, but some of them are so personal news from the people inside the streets. For example from Amural (ph), but there are people inside the street that are telling the police are attack us or do not let us to join the crowd, for example, in (INAUDIBLE) square. They have some friend just said on the FaceBook that they block the University of Tehran to not let their student to join the crowd in (INAUDIBLE) square.

CANDIOTTI: The students at the university wanting to come out and they're being prevented from doing so.

LEILA: Exactly.

CANDIOTTI: There are also reports on state television that two people were hurt at the mausoleum for the former Ayatollah Khomeini. What do you make of that?

LEILA: Well, I'm sure that the people never do such a violence. I'm sure. The people were so peaceful in the last week during demonstration, they were so peaceful. It just want stop -- legitimate, for example, they just want their words back, they are so independent, so peaceful and they just want -- they never want to overthrow the government, you know, they just want the legitimate, you know, vote back. And it is so important. I'm sure there is no violence by the people in Tehran. I'm sure about that. I don't know...

CANDIOTTI: I know you have ongoing concerns. We'll be checking in with you again as the day goes on.

LEILA: Thank you.

CANDIOTTI: Thank you very much for join us.

We'll throw it back to you right now, T.J., as we monitor the situation on these Web sites.

HOLMES: Susan, we appreciate you. We'll be checking in again with you. Meanwhile, to your viewers, we're going to transition right over into our 10:00 hour. We are at the top of the hour here, now.