Iran is Pissed Off, Supreme Leader to Speak

TEHRAN — As another day of defiance and uncertainty loomed in Iran’s capital on Friday, it was increasingly apparent that there was no clear path out of a deepening confrontation that has posed the most serious challenge to the Islamic republic in its 30-year history.

After another day of mass protests Thursday, apparent concessions by the authorities and ominous threats, many Iranians looked to a scheduled appearance by the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is to lead the national prayer service from Tehran University on Friday.

Political analysts said they hoped that the leader will reveal his ultimate intent, indicating a willingness to either appease the opposition or demand an end to protests.

Hundreds of thousands of silent protesters flooded into the streets Thursday. They roared a welcome to their champion, Mir Hussein Moussavi, the opposition candidate for president whose reported defeat by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in elections a week ago touched off the crisis.