Mick Hartley

There's a feeling – eloquently expressed by this young Egyptian – that Iran is next. The Iranian authorities are certainly worried:

Reports from Iran say several opposition activists have been arrested and international broadcasters are being jammed.

The moves come after the opposition called for a march in Tehran next week in support of the protests in Egypt.

Opposition websites say at least eight people close to opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi have been detained.

They include his brother-in-law, former minister Mohammad Hossein Sharifzadegan.

On Thursday, another opposition leader, Mehdi Karroubi, was placed under house arrest….

Meanwhile, the BBC Persian TV network has been jammed inside Iran.

Analysts say Tehran is trying to stop opposition groups from seizing the moment with rallies linked to the Egyptian crisis.

So what does President Ahmadinejad have to say about it all?

In his fiery style, Ahmadinejad, showed his messianic beliefs on Friday, saying the world was witnessing a revolution managed by Imam Mehdi, the 12 Shiite imam who disappeared as a five-year-old in the 10th century and who Shiites believe would return on the judgement day.

"The final move has begun. We are in the middle of a world revolution managed by this dear (12th Imam). A great awakening is unfolding. One can witness the hand of Imam in managing it," said Ahmadinejad, wearing his trademark jacket.

Ahmadinejad, who has often denied the Holocaust, said the United States is an "accomplice to the oppression of the Zionist regime."

"If you want people to trust you, first of all do not interfere in affairs of the region, including in Tunisia and Egypt. Let them be by themselves," he said.

Best not mention Lebanon then.

"Come and take away the Zionist regime which is the source of all crimes… take it away and liberate the region. Free the region and give it to the people and take this regime, which is the child of Satan (the United States), out."

This is not a man with his finger on the pulse of history.