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 Tehran-e Emrooz, the process of fielding candidates for the 2013 presidential election has gained momentum. The names mentioned are Gholam-Ali Haddad Adel, Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi, Manouchehr Mottaki, Mohammad Nahavandian, Kamran Baqeri Lankarani, Said Jalili, Mohammad Khatami, Ali-Akbar Salehi, Ali Nikzad, and Fereydoun Abbasi. 
• Iran slams the Islamic Republic Voice and Vision's alleged "propaganda" for Tehran mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf. 
• According to E'temad, Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani has returned to Iran from London.

Diplomacy

• Jomhouri-ye Eslami slams United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki-moon for criticizing Ahmadinejad's statements about Israel as a "cancerous tumor" but not Israel's threats to attack Iran. 
• According to Abrar, the list of heads of states participating at the Nonaligned Movement's Summit in Tehran includes the emir of Kuwait, president of Pakistan, emir of Qatar, president of Turkmenistan, president of Tajikistan, king of Oman, president of Afghanistan, president of the Palestinian National Authority, the prime minister of India, president of Iraq, the chairman of the Libyan parliament, and the president of Egypt. 
  • And the leader of North Korea. 
  • [E] Fars News: The vast participation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) member states in the upcoming summit meeting of the bloc in Tehran means that the US has failed in its efforts to isolate Iran. 
  • [E] Some 51 countries have so far announced their participation in the 16th heads-of-state summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) at the highest level, Iranian officials said, and added that the number is growing. 
  • [E] Former Iranian Defense Minister Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani said Iran will reciprocate any Israeli aggression with a full-scale and long term response. 

Military and Security

• Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi: "Iran's defense and security memorandum of understanding with Syria is still valid, but the main problem in the Syrian crisis is this country's struggle with terrorist groups. Should the government of Syria not be able to solve these problems, we will realize this memorandum upon this country's request."
• Ahmadinejad inspects the latest productions of the Islamic Republic defense industry. 
• Mohammad-Reza Raouf Sheibani, ambassador to Damascus, says the embassy is aware of the locations of abducted Iranian citizens in Syria. 
• Sobh-e Sadeq editorializes: "[Anything short of] total destruction of Iran's nuclear capacities will change everything to the favor or Iran's increased nuclear activities and Iran will accelerate its legitimate work... Iran's military retaliation to any potential attack of the Zionists would be so heavy and crushing that no Zionist authority would be able to tolerate it..." 
• BBC Persian releases more details from Andisheh-ye Pouya's interview with Said Hajjarian. 
• According to Jomhouri-ye Eslami, seven Saudi Home Guard officers were arrested by the authorities for not carrying out orders to suppress protesters in the Eastern Province. 

Nuclear Issue

• Tehran-e Emrooz reports further delays in inauguration of the Bushehr nuclear power plant. 
• Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Fereidoon Abbasi underlined Iran's preparedness to build new nuclear power plants in joint venture with those countries which enjoy the necessary standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 

Economy

• According to the latest Central Bank of Iran report, inflation has reached 27.06 percent. 

Trade

• Ali Mousavi, spokesman of the Iraqi prime minister, dismisses rumors concerning Iraq selling Iran's oil in the international market. 

Religion, Society and Culture

• A number of Saudi Shi'a clerical leaders from Qatif in the Eastern Province praise King Abdullah's call for establishing a center to promote dialogue between different Islamic sects. 

Photos of the Day

• Iranians flock to cinemas to see the new movie: "Kolah-Qermezi va Bacheh-Naneh" [The red hat and Momma’s boy].