In the face of massive protests at the disputed result of the Iranian election, the theocrats who rule the country have been taken by surprise. Seldom have the divisions within their ranks seemed so apparent. They are seeking to suppress the demonstrations by clamping down on communications, banning independent media coverage and arresting leading reformers. Yet they also know that ruthless suppression, in the wake of rigged elections, would severely damage their legitimacy.

Tuesday’s decision by the Guardian Council to order a partial recount of the votes in the presidential election is a sop to the opposition and is unlikely to defuse the situation. According to the official result, Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, the populist incumbent, won a landslide victory against his more moderate challenger, Mir-Hossein Moussavi, and no selective recount is likely to reverse it.