A Twitter Timeline of the Iran Election

The disputed June 12 Iran presidential election and the ensuing chaos were noteworthy not only for the swiftness with which the government cracked down on protesters but also for the role social media sites helped play in disseminating critical images and news. This was especially true after foreign journalists were essentially barred from reporting. Twitter, in particular, played a key role, allowing opposition supporters to communicate and organize protests, as well as to pass on information about what was happening on the ground to one another and the outside world. Below, we offer a rough timeline of events since the June 12 election, along with a daily sampling of tweets about events in Iran. (Note: Though we've made every effort to select tweets from informed posters, we have not been able to confirm the accuracy of the information contained in the posts. All times are ET, except where noted.)

Friday, June 12
On election day, long lines and 85 percent voter turnout spurs authorities to extend voting by six hours. Opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi claims victory.

Whatever happens today, Iran can never go back. You can't put this genie back in the bottle. #iranelections June 12, 2009 11:23 p.m. GMT (oxfordgirl)

I really believe we are heading for round 2 between Ahmadinejad and Mousavi #iranelections June 12, 2009 10:24 p.m. GMT (oxfordgirl)

Mousavi has called emergency press conference to dispute IRNA claims of Ahmadinejad victory. 11 p.m.: Africa Street/Taheri; No. 76, Suite #1 2:50 p.m. June 12 (TehranBureau)

Saturday, June 13
With 80 percent of the ballots counted, Iran's election commission declares Ahmadinejad the clear winner, 63.8 percent of the vote to Mousavi's 32.7 percent. As Ahmadinejad supporters take to the streets in celebration, so do thousands of protesters, clashing with police.

Ahmadinejad & his supporters will celebrate their victory today at 5pm local time in Valiasr square & we will try to ruin his party! 9:07 p.m. June 13 (Change_for_Iran)

ALL internet & mobile networks are cut. We ask everyone in Tehran to go onto their rooftops and shout ALAHO AKBAR in protest #IranElection 2:44 p.m. June 13 (mousavi1388)

Sunday, June 14
Despite government insistence that the election was fair, protests become increasingly violent. Meanwhile, Ahmadinejad calls the election "real and free" and compares protesters to soccer hooligans.

tear gas #iranelection 11:31 p.m. June 13 (Change_for_Iran)

Students & people fighting back a large group of police & Basij right now at university of physics! I'm going to join them. #iranelection 11:34 a.m. June 14 (Change_for_Iran)

Ahmadinejad is holding "Thank You Ceremonies"!!! all over the country, they are giving away ice cream and cakes... 2:03 p.m. June 14 (TehranBureau)

Monday, June 15
In Tehran, hundreds of thousands of people protest. Government security personnel (Basij) shoot into the crowd; state media later report seven people were killed in clashes. Protests spread outside the capital, with violence between supporters of the reformist Mousavi and police reported. In response to requests from the U.S. State Department, Twitter decides to suspend its scheduled maintenance, which would have interrupted the service for 90 minutes.

2am and people still on roof shouting death to khamenaie. a week ago that was unthinkable. people very fed up. want freedom. #Iranelection 4:37 p.m. June 14 (persiankiwi)

I am not sure if students killed in tehran uni dorm. unconfirmed that there was shooting heard were attacked in streets by mob on motorbikes with batons - firing guns into air - streetfires all over town - roads closed; #Iranelection 2:32 p.m. June 15 (persiankiwi)

Bassej are out in force in darkness. this is when they operate best. Streets are dangerous now for young people. #Iranelection 11:29 a.m. June 15 (persiankiwi)

@twitter Twitter is currently our ONLY way to communicate overnight news in Iran, PLEASE do not take it down. #Iranelection 6:06 p.m. June 15 (mousavi1388)

Tuesday, June 16
Domestic and foreign journalists are banned from reporting from street protests, which continue and are counterbalanced by Ahmadinejad supporters. At a Mousavi rally in North Tehran, most protesters walk in silence. As the government crackdown on information spreads, hackers target pro-Ahmadinejad Web sites, and Twitter users try to disguise those tweeting from Iran.

confirmed - today 5pm Valli Asr sq - supporters of freedom – wear black in respect of fallen - #Iranelection 2:46 a.m. June 16 (persiankiwi)

pls everyone change your location on tweeter to IRAN inc timezone GMT+3.30 hrs - #Iranelection - cont....5:24 p.m. June 16 (persiankiwi)

ok - tonight twitter is full of gov usernames. all users IGNORE all post except from reliable sources - #Iranelection 3:36 p.m. June 16 (persiankiwi)

Wednesday, June 17
Opposition rallies continue in Tehran, with 50,000 to 70,000 green-clad pro-Mousavi protesters reportedly demonstrating in Haft-e Tir Square. During a World Cup qualifying match, the captain of Iran's soccer team and several other players are seen wearing green wristbands, move seen as a sign of support for the opposition.

Tehran march TODAY 5pm - 7Tir Sq - Meydan 7 Tir - silent - sea of green - #Iranelection 4:28 a.m. June 17 (persiankiwi)

today's demonstration was a real victory & fortunately there were no basij/Sepah HQ in the way & nothing bad happened 11:57 a.m. June 17 (Change_for_Iran)

Football team protest was a big gesture as it took the message to every village in ever corner Iran #Iranelection #Iranelections #Iran #gr88 6:08 a.m. June 18 (oxfordgirl)

Thursday, June 18
Protests continue, with many Mousavi supporters wearing black rather than green in memory of those protesters killed earlier in the week. Ahmadinejad releases a recorded statement on state TV, downplaying his earlier criticism of protesters: "I only addressed those who made riot, set fires and attacked people."

Everybody is peaceful and quiet - everybody is wearing black - the number of people is unbelievable - SEA OF GREEN - #Iranelection 5:48 a.m. June 18 (persiankiwi)

some of Iran's universities were closed and exams canceled after Basij attacks/ @ Tehran & Shiraz & Ahvaz & Zahedan &... #Iranelection 5:00 p.m. June 18 (madyar)

Friday, June 19
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks publicly for the first time since the election, endorsing the results and saying that Ahmadinejad's 11 million–vote margin of victory is too large to have been the result of fraud or manipulation. Khamenei blames "foreign enemies" and "Zionists" for fomenting the protests and calls for protesters to stop. Amnesty International reports that at least 10 protesters have been killed and four students are still unaccounted for after an attack on Tehran University. Plans are made for a Saturday protest.

Unlike your revolution Mr Khamenei, this movement is not "Made in Britain," it is entirely Iranian. #Iranelection #iranelections #Iran 5:23 a.m. June 19 (oxfordgirl)

confirmed - 2 student activist arrested - Alirezah Khshbakht & Zahra Toheedi - #Iranelection 11:01 a.m. June 19 (persiankiwi)

After Khamanei's speech they will come down hard on you. Carry a Koran to stop Basijji attacks. #Iranelection 11:56 a.m. June 19 (libra0071)

Advice - your location can be identified from mobile signal - + delete all sms after sending in case u are arrested - #Iranelection 6:37 p.m. June 19 (libra0071)

Saturday, June 20
As the Guardian Council offers to recount a tenth of the votes cast, riot police crack down on opposition protesters. Iran's Mehr news agency reports that a suicide bomber blows himself up near the tomb of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. During clashes, as many as 10 people are killed; graphic video surfaces online of the death of Neda Agha-Soltan, who was reportedly shot by a sniper.

Bomb explosion in the tomb of Khomeini #Iranelection 8:29 a.m. June 20 (madyar)

Bassij opened gunfire on people near Sadeghieh, West of Tehran. #Iranelection 10:59 a.m. June 20 (madyar)

I am crying. Iran are crying.... 12:41 p.m. June 20 (madyar)

We must rest - Tehran is burning with the fire of freedom - but tomorow we fight again - we have injured ppl - #Iranelection 8:08 p.m. June 20 (persiankiwi)

Today was the 911 of Iran. Down with tyranny . And peace upon Neda's family #Iranelection 9:25 p.m. June 20 (libra0071)

Sunday, June 21
After Saturday's violence, the government fills the streets with police and militia members, and officials heighten their anti-Western rhetoric. Mousavi presses his supporters to continue to exert their rights and protest. Dozens of journalists, including NEWSWEEK's Maziar Bahari, are detained by government forces.

Crackdown on Journalists: Journalists are reportedly arrested in Boushehr, Mashad and Rasht #Iranelection 1:59 p.m. June 21 (libra0071)

ppl prepare - soon Iran will be cripple with strikes - already petrol shortages being reported - #Iranelection 4:46 p.m. June 21 (libra0071)

Neda was buried in Behesht Zahra cemetary earlier today, memorial service at mosque canceled on orders from authorities #Iranelection 8:25 p.m. June 21 (libra0071)

Monday, June 22
The Iranian oversight council admits that there were some vote irregularities, but the government continues to insist they would not have changed the outcome. Neda Agha-Soltan has become a symbol to many of the opposition protesters, many of whom carry signs with her image or name.

Gov. threatening anyone who doesn't show up to work tomorrow that they will be fired. #Iranelection 12:27 p.m. June 22 (madyar)

2009 will be a long summer of suffering for Iran - but Sea of Green will change Iran forever - #Iranelection 7:09 p.m. June 22 (persiankiwi)

In Tehran there is unofficial martial law at night - #Iranelection 7:12 p.m. June 22 (persiankiwi)

Tuesday, June 23
The government announces that it intends to certify Ahmadinejad's victory, though signs of growing divisions among his political supporters are emerging. Protesters largely stay off the streets of Tehran because of the government's comprehensive crackdown.

Call for a Mass Rally for Tomorrow infront of Parliament! #Iranelection 6:18 a.m. June 23 (omidhabibinia)

Gov demos outside UK embassy in Tehran today shouting 'death to England' - 'death to BBC' - #Iranelection 5:03 a.m. June 23 (persiankiwi)

Iranian political prisoners' situation is horrible in Iran, they are faced danger of torture and long accused #Iranianelection 12:45 p.m. June 23 (madyar)

Wednesday, June 24
Though precise numbers are difficult to confirm because of the crackdown on journalists, there are reports of hundreds, if not thousands, of protesters clashing with police. Ayatollah Khamenei insists the government will not yield to opposition demands for a new election.

all normal life in Iran has stopped - now everybody only talk about Sea of Green and rumours of how Khamenei will go - #Iranelection 1:08 p.m. June 23 (persiankiwi)

all foreign embassys surrounded by militia to stop ppl going in - #Iranelection 1:19 p.m. June 23 (persiankiwi)

Hundereds of aressted's families are taking refuge in front of Revolution Court ,Police besiged them #iranelection 7:36 AM June 24 (madyar)

All shops was closed - nowhere to go - they follow ppls with helicopters - smoke and fire is everywhere #Iranelection 9:03 AM June 24 (persiankiwi)

Thursday, June 25
Mousavi releases a statement saying he would continue to oppose the election results, and calling for protests to continue in ways that would not "create tension." The Basij bury eight members who they say were killed in election clashes.

BBC MPs appear 2 have snubbed invitation 2 Ahmadinejad vivtory party. All 290 MPs invited last night 105 did not turn up #Iranelection about 10 hours ago from web (4:26) (oxfordgirl)

I'm only posting this to say I'm still alive & not in Tehran, I had a bad incident with Basij and couldn't use computer about 11 hours ago from web (4:32) (Change_for_Iran)

Rafsanjani you put Khamenei where he is, you can remove him. Pls let tomorrow be his last FRiday Prayers #iranelection 11 minutes ago from web (4:29) (oxfordgirl)