Iran News Round Up

A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by AEI Critical Threats Project Iran Analyst Will Fulton and Iran Intern Amir Toumaj. To receive this daily newsletter, please subscribe online.

Politics

• Addressing the National Explanation of Moderation Conference, President Hassan Rouhani stated, “I believe that moderation is a realistic ideal and vehicle for Iranians’ better living conditions.”
• Minister of Islamic Culture and Guidance Ali Jannati appointed Said Owhadi to Deputy Minister and Head of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization. Owhadi was previously the Head of Tourism and is reportedly a close friend of Parliament Vice-Chairman and Principlist figure Hojjat al-Eslam Mohammad Hassan Abu Torabi Fard.  

Regional Developments

• The Shahid Beheshti University Students Islamic Association announced that Iraqi-born university student Ali Daraji was killed in Syria this past week “guarding [the Sayyeda Zeynab shrine].”  
• Head of the Foreign Relations Parliamentary Committee Hojjat al-Eslam Vahid Ahmadi said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran and Syria have a strategic relationship with each other and our relations with Syria are deep and extensive…. Iran considers the conspiracy of an attack on Syria by the West a weakening of the Resistance, Palestine, Hezbollah and the Axis of Resistance countries. In the past thirty years, it has not allowed Arrogance and the Zionists to reach their goals.” 
• National Security and Foreign Policy Parliamentary Commission (NSFP) Spokesman MP Hossein Naghavi Hosseini stated, “In the case of an American attack against Syria, the Syrian Army will have the right to fire at all American interests in the region…[and] Damascus will reserve the right for a total attack against the Occupied Territories [Israel].” 
• NSFP Vice-Chairman MP Mansour Haghighat Pour echoed this message and threatened Israel:
  • “With a military attempt against Syria, America will commit a very great mistake, and this mistake will be costly for the leaders of the White House.”
  • “Without a doubt, the fire of war in Syria will spread to the Occupied Territories.”
  • “Any military measure against Syria is considered the greatest danger for the Zionist regime, and the Zionists must be aware of the consequences of an American military attack against Syria.”
  • “In the case of an American military attack against Syria, the raging fire of the region’s revolutionaries will [spread to] the Zionist regime.” 
• According to a source quoted by Ahlul Bayt News Agency, Lebanese Hezbollah officials warned against military intervention in Syria and said that its result would be the beginning of a regional war. 
• Hezbollah supporter Sheikh Afif Nablosi stated that any American military attack against Syria will be met with a “hard reaction and answer, and American and Israeli interests in the region will be directly threatened.” 

Diplomacy

• Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif condemned chemical weapons in Syria and said, “I doubt that the American government lacks tact to such an extent that it would want to enter a new war in the region or has not paid attention to the dangers of entering into such a fiasco. If rationality and reason dictate, an international consensus must be allowed to determine transparently and clearly to [investigate] who used these weapons and why.”  
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Abbas Eraghchi warned against any military operations against the Assad regime and condemned chemical weapons use in Syria:
  • “We vehemently warn against using any military operation measures in Syria and believe that this will have dangerous consequences and serious outcomes for the region that will not be limited to Syria and will include the entire region.”
  • “As one of the victims of chemical weapons, the Islamic Republic of Iran categorically condemns the use of these weapons.”
  • “If chemical attacks are in America’s interest, it has been silent and if it is not in its interest, it has sought excuses.”
• President Hassan Rouhani confirmed Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's recommendation for Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna, Reza Najafi. Najafi’s previous positions include Iran’s Representative and Liaison in the United Nations Disarmament Committee in New York City, Deputy to the Permanent Representative of Iran in the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in the Hague, and Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Disarmament and International Security Directorate. 

Military and Security

• Artesh Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Commander BG Farzad Esmaili stated, “The Zionist regime is vulnerable, and the Iron Dome, which I call the tissue dome, has become easily vulnerable.”

Nuclear Issue

• Head of the Bushehr Atomic Energy Plant Hossein Derakhshandeh announced that Russian contractors will transfer the safety and maintenance responsibility of the plant to Iranian specialists within two months. 
• Chief of Staff to the President Mohammad Nahavandian announced that a think-tank has been established regarding the nuclear issue and P5+1 negotiations, with the presence of a number of Foreign Ministry diplomats. He added, “The administration’s basis in this field is utilizing all opinions and creating national coordination, and in this regard, centralized decision-making will take place.”

Economy

• According to an unnamed source, Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh has ordered Petropars Company to concentrate in Southern Pars gas fields phase 12, and that the company’s contract in phase 11 may be voided. 
• According to the 2013-2014 budget, the difference between the allocated currency to agricultural, dairy and medical products and primary goods and the market currency rate [that is, importing such products with a lower currency rate than the market rate] will be secured through the projected credits of targeted subsidies. 

Photo of the Day

• Incoming and outgoing heads of Iran's General Inspectorate Organization, Naser Seraj and Hojjat al-Eslam Pour Mohammadi.