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 subscribe to this daily newsletter, please visit this page, fill out the "New Subscribers" section, and check "Iran News Round Up" listed under "Projects." 
 
(E) = Article in English

Politics

• Mohammad-Nabi Habibi, Motalefeh party general secretary, warns against "deviant currents who operate in the name of Principalism but pursue a strategy of marginalizing the clergy."
• Parliamentarian Hamid-Reza Fouladgar says authorizing activities of the National Trust Party depends on the party severing its ties with party founder Mehdi Karrubi.
• Judiciary Chief Sadeq Larijani warns against "deviant currents" which try to "sanctify traditional festivities [such as Nowruz]."
• Alef News reports increased clerical criticism of a CD-Rom titled Zohour Nazdik Ast [Emergence is Near] in which Ahmadinejad is depicted as one of the facilitators of the emergence of the Imam of the Era. The latest clerical criticism against the CD-Rom comes from Grand Ayatollah Sistani, Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi, and Ayatollah Ostadi.
  • Online version of the Emergence is Near. Video:
• [E] Citizens, senior clerics and scholars and students of theological schools staged a massive rally in the Iranian capital city of Tehran on Wednesday to protest the “massacre” of protestors in Bahrain and other Islamic countries in the region.

 Diplomacy

• Assembly of Experts chairman Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani addressing the students at the Theological Seminary of Tehran: Iran will always be the supporters and defender of freedom seeking nations all over the world."
• Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami urges the Muslims to rise against "the injustice which is done to the Muslims in Bahrain."
• Parliamentarian Ali Mottahari dismissed the idea that the Islamic Republic has double standards when it comes to its reactions to regional events: "Some points of criticism against the Syrian regime are valid. For example, the fact that the president is in office for life, like in Egypt and Libya. But there are two differences between the Syrian regime and these regimes: First, the president of this country [Syria] enjoys great popularity, and the government is fairly righteous. Of course, they must reform their system of government and Iran supports those reforms since a hereditary and lifelong rule is not acceptable according to reason and the Islamic law. Second, Syria is the first line of the fight with Israel and has had a good position in the face of Israel. These two reasons may be why Iran has had a different position towards Syria compared with other countries of the region."
• Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani sends an open letter to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to condemn Saudi military intervention in Bahrain.
• Report on the Iranian expatriate community in Lebanon.
• [E] As Tehran and Cairo edge toward the resumption of diplomatic ties, Iranian lawmaker calls for caution and insight in the new relationship.
• [E] Iranian Vice-President denies recent media reports that he has called for rapprochement between Tehran and Washington.

 Military and Security

• [E] Senior military official accuses the US of stealing classified files and information from Middle Eastern states who face popular uprisings.
• [E] Iranian scientists develop new multimode aeronautical radio to provide air-to-air and air-to-ground communication and can be installed on all types of fighter jets, cargo planes as well as helicopters, to facilitate excellent audio performance.

 Trade

• According to Tabnak, Siemens has increased its trade with Iran despite the sanctions regime.

 Photos of the Day

• Family photos of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah.