VIA BILL QUICK, this fascinating story:

Media heads face prosecution in Iran over a ground-breaking opinion poll on mending relations with the United States.

It showed a large majority of the population in favour of dialogue with the “Great Satan” and nearly half showing sympathy with US policy on Iran. . . .

According to the poll of 1,500 Iranians, conducted by three separate institutes including the National Institute for Research Studies and Opinion Polls (NIRSOP) and published by Irna on 22 September:

74% of respondents over the age of 15 support dialogue with the US

45.8% believe Washington’s policy on Iran is “to some extent correct”.

But the judiciary has responded by charging NIRSOP director Behrouz Geranpayeh and Irna’s Abdollah Nasseri of “publishing lies to excite public opinion”, the Iran newspaper reports.

Advice to mullahs: Switzerland is nice this time of year.