Iran News Round Up

A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by Ali Alfoneh, Ahmad Majidyar and Michael Rubin.  To receive this daily newsletter, please subscribe online.
 
(E) = Article in English 

 Politics

• According to Asr-e Iran Khamenei and Ahmadinejad had a meeting about "current affairs" Monday.

• According to Fararu, Ahmadinejad has asked Mohammad-Mostafa Najjar, interior minister, to resign. Najjar is reportedly close to Supreme Leader Khamenei.

•  Digarban reports "unconfirmed reports" on Ahmadinejad's absence from the presidential office which has been interpreted as his resignation.
  • RAJA News complains of "compromised intelligence" in the wake of spread of rumors about Ahmadineajd's absence from office.
• Ammariyon columnist likens Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei to Abol-Hassan Bani-Sadr. 
• Judiciary Spokesman Hojjat al-Eslam Gholam-Hossein Ezhehi says he has seen Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani's interview with Rooz and that he intends to prosecute her.

Diplomacy

• Bahrain declares one Iranian diplomat persona non grata for alleged espionage.
  • Mohammad Karami-Rad, parliamentary National Security Committee member, urges the Foreign Ministry to retaliate by expelling a Bahraini diplomat from Tehran.

Military and Security

• Passive Defense Organization Chief Gholam-Reza Jalali says Iranian scientists have "identified the Stars [cyber] virus," which has targeted the central administration in Iran.
• Basij Chief Mohammad-Reza Naqdi addresses regional Basij chiefs: "We damn those who want to limit the revolution and Islam within the boundaries of Iran. God damn those who try to dilute public attention towards domestic issues at these sensitive times when oppressed nations are in need of the Islamic Republic's aid."
• [E] Commander of the Students' Basij Brigadier General Mohammad Saleh Jo-Kar : "The world hegemonic powers and dictatorial regimes feel unable to stop the growing wave of the Islamic awakening and, thus, accuse Iran of interference in the other countries' affairs."

Nuclear Issue

• [E] Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi in a meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Tehran Kinichi Komano on Tuesday reiterated that the so-called international and western sanctions against Iran had left no impact on the country's progress.

Economy

• Central Bank director Mahmoud Bahmani says removing four zeros from the national currency will be decided by a "referendum."
• Mohammad Rouyanian, Transport and Energy Management Headquarters director, says there will be no increase in the price of gasoline.
• Islamic Republic of Iran Post increases the price of postal services between 40 to 1000 percent.
• Tehran Commerce Organization decides the price of bread in Tehran: Sangak: 5,000 rials, Barbari: 3,750 rials, taftoun: 2,500 rials, Lavash and Taftoun: 1,250 rials.

Trade

• The Islamic Republic negotiates purchase of Tupolev 204SM planes from Russia. The engines are reportedly produced by the [U.S. company] Pratt & Whitney.
• The Ambassador of South Korea to Iran donates $83,000 to Imam Khomeini Relief Committee.
• [E] Iran is the source of almost 40% of the world's exported carpets, Iranian Commerce Minister Mehdi Qazanfari announced on Tuesday, adding that the country's carpet exports amounted to USD500mln in the last Iranian year (ended on March 20).

Photos of the Day

• Khamenei and Rafsanjani visit Tabas, the site of the aborted United States hostage rescue mission.