Size matters

Iran | In tense Tehran, ruling mullahs press for voter turnout, but opponents put their numbers in the street | Priya Abraham

Bombings in a country five days before national elections usually cause poll jitters. In Iran's case, they caused an explosion of conspiracy theories.

Blasts in the southwestern city of Ahvaz on June 12 killed at least six people and injured about 80. Another bomb exploded in Tehran the same day, followed by three small explosions in the southeastern city of Zahedan two days later. Such attacks are rare in Iran, where the last bombings were more than a decade ago.

The Iranian regime immediately blamed Iraq, then opposition groups, warning that voting for them would bring chaos. Opposition groups turned the suspicions right back: Mostafa Moin, a reformist and one of seven candidates allowed to contest the presidency, hinted that the ruling mullahs themselves were behind the blasts.