SBS Dateline | Toppling Tehran

The images of brutaility on Iran’s streets made headlines around the world a year ago, as huge protests took place in Tehran over the disputed election of President Ahmadinejad.

But a new investigation shows that all was not well within the country’s leadership too… three members of Iran’s military elite, who have since fled the country, have told of deep rifts and open dissent in the ranks.

They also describe the measures used to crush the protesters, including rape and torture, and the leaders with a plane on standby to get them out of the country if their regime collapsed.

The men were tracked down in Turkey and Thailand by UK-based Guardian Films and The Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

WATCH - Unfortunately Angus Stickler's report is no longer available on the Dateline website for copyright reasons, but it can still be viewed on the Guardian's website. This story is also available there with Arabic subtitles and in Farsi.

LIVE CHAT - Replay our live online chat with producer Chavala Madlena.

EXTRA - You can also still see our recent profile of Iran's Maestro, Mohammad Shajarian, who's an outspoken critic of the Ahmadinejad government.