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

• Ali Saeedi, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s representative to the Revolutionary Guards, says Mohammad Khatami’s past actions could be forgiven if the former president “apologizes to the people of Iran and avoids repeating the mistakes.”

Diplomacy

• Khamenei's Eid al-Fitr prayer sermon in Tehran:
  • "The developments which have taken place in the world of Islam are extraordinary and rousing developments that will decide the future path of the Islamic community of believers. We hope that, God willing, the nations of the region who have managed to do these great things  and the authorities [who] have done commendable work will continue this behavior at this pace, so that the enemies of the Islamic community of believers, whose strategy become more complicated by the day, cannot prevail."
• According to Asr-e Iran, Ahmadinejad did not participate at the second day of the meetings of the Mecca summit and the Iranian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi. Asr-e Iran also writes that the Iranian and Algerian delegations did not demand a vote on suspension of Syria's membership of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The report adds that Ahmadinejad did not mention Syria even once in his speeches in Mecca. Following criticism of Ahmadinejad's absence from the earthquake zone, government officials said Ahmadinejad and the Iranian delegation had to attend the Mecca summit in order to prevent Syria's suspension from the organization.
• [E]Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani welcomed the participation of Egyptian President Mohammad Mursi in the 16th heads-of-state summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Tehran, stressing Iran and Egypt's importance as two big Muslim states.

Military and Security

• Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, Lebanese Hezbollah general secretary, warns Israel of Iran's "lightening and shocking response" to any Israeli attacks.
• Revolutionary Guards Commander Mohammad-Ali Aziz Jafari says the Iranian nation is "the vanguard of the enmity against Israel in the world."
• According to Shi'a News, a group of Shi'a youth from al-Awamiyah in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia have organized the so called Free Awamiyah Army to release Sheikh Nimr, a local radical leader who is under arrest.
• Ayatollah Sanei says efforts should be made to avoid a possible war with Israel.
• [E] Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi underlined the Iranian nation's full preparedness to push back enemy pressures and threats, and reiterated that the country's Armed Forces will give a swift and crushing response to any possible enemy attack.

Religion, Society and Culture

• News stories regarding the end of Ramadan:
  • Office of Supreme Leader Khamenei declares Sunday the end of Ramadan.
    • Khamenei led the Eid al-Fitr on Sunday.
  • The Office of Grand Ayatollah Sistani declares Monday the end of Ramadan. 
  • Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi slams Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Qatar's decision to celebrate Eid al-Fitr Saturday, saying it is "impossible."
  • According to Digarban, seven sources of emulation, including Mohammad-Taqi Modaressi, Sadeq Shirazi, Eshaq Fayyaz, Mousa Shobeiri Zanjani, Nasser Makarem Shirazi, Hosswin Vahid Khorasani and Ali Sistani have opposed Khamenei's ruling on Ramadan’s end and have declared Monday the first day of the month of Shawwal. Digarban also writes that the websites of those sources of emulation were shut down.

Photos of the Day

• Iranian comedian Mahmoud Basiri, who has been barred from appearing on Iranian television since 2005 because he resembles Ahmadinejad.