Iran News Round Up

A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by the AEI Critical Threats Project's Iran research team. To receive this daily newsletter, please subscribe online. 

(E) = Article in English

Excerpts of these translations may only be used with the expressed consent of the authors

• Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy Commander Brig. Gen. Ali Fadavi spoke about the IRGC’s readiness to defend Iran’s interests in the Persian Gulf, warning that “Firing even one bullet at the country will burn the entire world.” Fadavi also declared that the U.S. is unable to act on its “slogans” in the region:
  • “The Americans are passive today and they have not at all been in a situation in the last several years to even pose such threats as military action against Iran.”
  • “If the Americans believed that they could decapitate us tomorrow, they would not hesitate to do so and would not delay the job, but they themselves are well aware that they don’t have the power to do so, and they know that the losses that they would sustain by doing so could not match its benefits thanks to our deterrence doctrine.”

• Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham announced that representatives from Iran and the P5+1 plan to start drafting a final nuclear agreement in the next round of talks, beginning on May 13. Afkham denied reports that negotiators have already prepared a draft agreement.; however, she said both sides have a set of guidelines and “This is natural that each party has [its own] roadmap and draft…based on the issues and the rights that it is pursuing.” 
  • Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi announced that thechief inspector of the IAEA is set to visit the Saghand uranium mine in Yazd and the Ardakan yellowcake production facility. 

• Iran and the Kurdistan Regional Government signed an energy deal following Iran and Iraq Relations Expansion Headquarters Secretary Rostam Ghassemi’s recent visit to Irbil. The agreement proposes the construction of two pipelines between the Kurdish region of northern Iraq and Iran.

• Iraqi Shi'a militant group Badr Brigade buried member Na'me Fazel, killed in Syria, this past Friday. Pictures of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were carried in the funeral procession. Senior Badr Brigade commander Ghasi Qazi Faisal al Tamimi was also reportedly killed in Syria within the past three weeks ago.  

• Iranian Minister of Economy and Finance Ali Tayyebnia stressed the importance of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline during a meeting with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz. The two officials reportedly agreed to work toward completing the pipeline in the near future.  

• Head of Lebanese Hezbollah’s sharia Board Sheikh Mohammad Yazbek condemned the Bahraini government’s decision  to deport Ayatollah Hassan al Najati, the representative of Iraqi Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, and warned that many other Bahraini Shi’a are at risk of being deported.