Now might not be exactly the best time for Iran to take the heavy-handed approach against pro-freedom demonstrators, but nonetheless this story has emerged:

An Iranian student detained for taking part in anti-regime demonstrations has been sentenced to 18 months behind bars and 76 lashes, his lawyer reported. The lawyer said that his client would appeal.

The lawyer said an Islamic revolutionary court had found Farab Samimi guilty of "propagating against the regime" and "disturbing public order" for taking part in an illegal gathering on July 9, 2003.

That's exactly the stuff the Shah's secret police did in the weeks and months leading up to the collapse of that regime. A heavy hand against demonstrators, plus economic sanctions, might not be the best recipe for preventing an overthrow of the government in Tehran.