US-based TV channels like Azadi have been accused of incitement

Editorial writers in Tehran's newspapers on Saturday adopted sharply different stances on the protests in the capital over the past four nights.

Conservative papers were firm in their belief that the unrest was US-inspired and would be resisted.

By contrast, the reformist press saw the events as a major test for the Iranian leadership and urged restraint.

It would be naive if anyone were to imagine that the recent unrest in Tehran is an accidental phenomenon and that there is no link between the unrest and America's threats against the Islamic Republic of Iran in recent days and weeks... If the people are fully informed about the course of events and the plots, they will safeguard their revolution and their system with all their might, and they will bury America's pawns and agents in a single day.

Jomhuri-ye Eslami - hardline, pro-Khamene'i

Stirring up unrest in Iran by elements inside the country and echoing their voices does not cost White House strategists anything. But final warnings have to be issued to those who are wandering stupidly and undecided in the midst of this great trial of strength... No nation or state will forgive traitors.

Kayhan - hardline

[Commentary by Ali Taheri] It seems as if the ultimate goal of the current pressure tactics against Iran is to topple the ruling establishment... Three US considerations are on the table with respect to Iran: fully-fledged military attack, limited military engagement and weakening the system from within. It seems that for now the last option is weighing heavier.

Iran Daily - moderate

While the necessary care must be taken, sensitivities must be rationalised so that a group of people cannot suggest that any protest or gathering must necessarily be based on foreign plans and be aimed at overthrowing the system, because this is, on the one hand, an insult to everyone who has a right to protest against government decisions ... and, on the other, exaggerates the enemy's power and suggests that others have undue influence on our country's internal affairs.

Aftab-e Yazd - reformist

This author's advice is that lessons should be learned from the past and efforts should be made to bear the cost of the process of finding solutions to crises, with our eyes focused inside the country not on the expectation of foreign intervention, because Iran belongs to Iranians.

Hambastegi - reformist

Paying attention to Iran's determining role in the region and the need to preserve this role demands that the country's officials and the political groups involved in the power structure concern themselves - before anything else - with safeguarding stability inside the country and, by adopting a wise approach, solve problems in a way that prevents tension and conflict in society.

Tose'eh - reformist

In previous years, the people still had hope in the reformists within the state, but, today, far from having hope in them, their main protests are directed at the reformists. This move has a message for the leadership as a whole and for [President] Khatami in particular. The message is too clear to need explaining and Khatami and his allies are too intelligent not to have received it... At the same time, it is a major test for the leadership as a whole so that they can display the extent of their tolerance.

Etemaad - reformist

None of us has the slightest affinity with any protests that are provoked by the foreign-based opposition with the aid of satellite TVs... but it is as clear as day to us that, by using vindictive beatings and uncontrolled actions undertaken by irresponsible or even responsible forces, the state will teach violence and hooliganism to the protesters... We hope that officials are aware of their sensitive responsibility and act with more wisdom.

Yas-e Now - reformist

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.