A troubled week in Iran

In the ten days since Iran's disputed presidential election, street demonstrations have taken place every day. Iranian citizens, supporters of opposition candidates, continue to take to the streets and document what they encounter there, despite explicit government bans, the danger of arrest (many hundreds placed in custody), or possible physical harm (at least 19 deaths so far). Iranian officials maintain their stance that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was the undisputed winner, and have increased restrictions and pressure on opposition members, protesters, foreign media and communication networks as they work to regain control. President Barack Obama recently stated that the government of Iran should "recognize that the world is watching." Many of the photographs here were taken and transmitted at great risk in the past week, in the hopes that others would be able to see and bear witness. [ previously on Big Picture: 1, 2, 3 ] (38 photos total)

Supporters of Iran's presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi face off against riot police during a demonstration on June 20, 2009 in Tehran, Iran. Thousands of Iranians clashed with police as they defied an ultimatum from supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calling for an end to protests over last week's disputed presidential election results. (Getty Images)

Iranian supporters of reformist presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi demonstrate on June 17, 2009 in Tehran, Iran. (Getty Images) #

A demonstrator heads towards Azadi Square during a rally in support of presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi in western Tehran June 15, 2009. (REUTERS/Caren Firouz) #

hands are held up in front of supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi demonstrating on June 18, 2009 in Tehran, Iran. (Getty Images) #

A picture obatained from the election campaign website of Iran's presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, GHALAMNEWS.IR, shows his supporters cheering him during a massive rally in Tehran's Ferdowsi square June 18, 2009. (AFP/Getty Images) #

This June 18, 2009 photo made available from Mousavi's election campaign media operation Ghalam News, shows Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, surrounded by a sea of supporters and cameras, as he addresses the crowd at a demonstration in Tehran. (AP Photo/Ghalam News, File) #

Iranian relatives of Fatemeh Rajabpour and her daughter, who were both killed on June 15 violent protest, mourn over their grave at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery in Tehran on June 17, 2009. (AFP/Getty Images) #

A supporter of Mir Hossein Mousavi raises a fist as he prepares to throw stones at riot police during a demonstration on June 20, 2009 in Tehran, Iran. (Getty Images) #

Protesters run for cover during clashes with Iranian police at a demonstration in Tehran on June 20, 2009. (ALI SAFARI/AFP/Getty Images) #

Supporters of opposition leader Mir Hossien Mousavi run from tear gas fired by riot police during a protest in Tehran on Saturday June, 20, 2009. (AP Photo) #

Iranian police sit on motorcycles as they face protesters during a demonstration in Tehran on June 20, 2009. (AFP/Getty Images) #

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivers his sermon in front of a picture of the late spiritual leader Ayatollah Khomeini, during the Friday prayers, at the Tehran University campus, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 19, 2009. Iran's supreme leader said Friday that the country's disputed presidential vote had not been rigged, sternly warning protesters of a crackdown if they continue massive demonstrations demanding a new election. (AP Photo/Hayat News Agency, Meisam Hosseini) #

Holding posters of the late Ayatollah Khomeini and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, worshippers chant slogans, during Friday prayers, at the Tehran University campus, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 19, 2009. (AP Photo/Hayat News Agency, Meisam Hosseini) #

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, kneeling at center left, leads Friday prayers, at the Tehran University campus, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 19, 2009. Iran's declared presidential winner, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, kneels in prayer as well, directly behind Khameni. (AP Photo/Hayat News Agency, Meisam Hosseini) #

Iranian men pray after listening to the Friday prayer sermon, delivered by the Islamic republic's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on June 19, 2009 at Tehran University. (OLIVIER LABAN-MATTEI/AFP/Getty Images) #

A handout picture posted on the Iranian Supreme Leader's website on June 17, 2009 shows Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (left, center) meeting with representatives of the four presidential candidates in Tehran on June 16, 2009. (AFP/Getty Images) #

In this photograph posted on the internet, protesters clash with riot police at an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran on Saturday June 20, 2009. (AP Photo) #

A member of a pro-government Basij militia throws a rock from the group's building in the direction of demonstrators as they approach the militia's base, near a rally supporting leading opposition presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi in Tehran, Iran on Monday June 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) #

An Iranian protester stands next to a burning bus during clashes with Iranian police at a demonstration in Tehran on June 20, 2009. (ALI SAFARI/AFP/Getty Images) #

Supporters of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi set burning barricades in the streets and chant slogans as they protest during a demonstration on June 20, 2009 in Tehran, Iran. (Getty Images) #

Supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi overtake an intersection in Tehran, Iran as they set burning barricades in the streets during a demonstration on June 20, 2009. (Getty Images) #

Iranian security forces and Basij militia retake control of an intersection (seen in previous photo) in Tehran, Iran after disrupting a demonstration on June 20, 2009. (Getty Images) #

Supporters of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi take a break from demonstrating on June 18, 2009 in Tehran, Iran. (Getty Images) #

Backers of Mir Hossein Mousavi throw stones at riot police during a demonstration in Tehran on June 20, 2009. (AFP/Getty Images) #

Supporters of reformist presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi demonstrate on June 18, 2009 in Tehran, Iran. (Getty Images) #

A supporter of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi looks up as she passes below the photographer during a demonstration on June 17, 2009 in Tehran, Iran. (Getty Images) #

Iranian protesters run for cover during clashes with riot police in Tehran on June 20, 2009. (ALI SAFARI/AFP/Getty Images) #

In this photograph posted on the internet, two Iranian women take cover from a cloud of either tear gas or smoke at an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran Saturday June 20, 2009. (AP Photo) #

Iranian protesters cover their face from tear gas during clashes with riot police in Tehran on June 20, 2009. (ALI SAFARI/AFP/Getty Images) #

In this series of four photographs, supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi confront riot police and Basij militia members in Tehran, Iran on June 20, 2009. In the top photograph, the man at far right brandishes a handgun that he apparently just fired into the air. In the second photo, protesters approach in spite of the brandished gun - the man in the gray shirt apparently comes too close, and in photo three, he is attacked by a member of the militia. Photo four shows an apparent retreat of militia members as stone-throwing protesters advance on them. (All photos by Getty Images) #

In this photograph posted on the internet, a wounded man is treated on the street by others in Tehran, Iran on Saturday June 20, 2009. (AP Photo) #

A supporter of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi shows her hand, covered in the blood of a wounded person during a demonstration on June 20, 2009 in Tehran, Iran. (Getty Images) #

In this photograph posted on the internet, an Iranian woman carries rocks at an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran Saturday June 20, 2009. (AP Photo) #

A screen grab taken on June 21, 2009 from a video posted on YouTube reportedly shows Iranian men trying to help a wounded woman named "Neda" after she was shot in the chest during a protest in Tehran on June 20, 2009. She died only moments later. Neda Soltani has become an iconic figure among supporters of the opposition, her memorial on June 22nd was apparently disrupted by Iranian riot police (AFP/Getty Images) #

In this photograph posted on the internet, Iranian riot police clash with demonstrators in Tehran, Iran Saturday June 20, 2009. (AP Photo) #

In this photograph posted on the internet, an Iranian protestor flashes the victory sign from behind a public trash bin set on fire at an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran Saturday June 20, 2009. (AP Photo) #

Supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi demonstrate in Tehran on June 20, 2009. (AFP/Getty Images) #

A picture obtained on June 21, 2009 shows Iranian riot police blocking protesters on a street of Tehran in front of a burning trash container on June 20, 2009. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) #

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