Which are Iran's main opposition groups?

"The establishment in Iran is facing mounting pressure from a fragmented opposition movement. While some groups and individuals in the movement are inside Iran, others are voicing opposition to the rulers from outside the country. They are mainly leaders who are living in exile or members of the Iranian diaspora. Groups in other countries, including the United Kingdom and Germany, have started to rally on the streets in solidarity with the protesters in Iran."

"Iran currently lacks a uniform opposition group which could form a government, Shahram Akbarzadeh, a professor in Middle East and Central Asian politics at Australia's Deakin University, told Al Jazeera. Opposition groups in Iran and outside are disjointed and have different aims. Some have clear leaders while others do not. No individual inside Iran, however, has emerged as a clear opposition leader in the ongoing protest movement. A possible reason for this is that opposition members are fearful of reprisals if they have identifiable leaders."

Protests that began in late December over soaring prices have broadened into a wider challenge to the religious rulers who have governed Iran since the 1979 revolution. State media reported more than 100 security personnel killed in recent days, while opposition activists say the death toll is higher and includes dozens of protesters; figures cannot be independently verified. Opposition forces are fragmented, with some leaders living abroad, including Reza Pahlavi, and activists inside Iran. Diaspora groups in countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany have rallied in solidarity. No single opposition leader has emerged inside Iran, partly due to fear of reprisals. The 2009 Green Movement remains a recent precedent of mass protest.

Read at www.aljazeera.com