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

• Rafsanjani dismisses rumors about his resignation from the chairmanship of the Expediency Council. 
• Abbas Ghaffari, close to Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, is tried on charges of engaging in "exorcism" and "geomancy." 
• Fars News Agency criticizes participation of "women with bad hijab at the Revolution Day" rallies in Tehran. 
  • So does Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani. 
  • BBC Persian releases photos of "deficiently dressed women" participating at the Revolution Day rallies in Tehran. 

Military and Security

• Saham News, close to Mehdi Karrubi, reports popular presence in Tehran answering the call of Mehdi Karrubi and Mir-Hossein Mousavi to demonstrate. 
  • BBC Persian also reports scattered demonstrations in Tehran. 
  • Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ezhehi, prosecutor general, a day prior to the Green Movement's planned February 14, 2012 demonstration, says popular presence at street level is due to the "new year shopping," and is not politically motivated. 
• Tabnak reports "suspicious explosions in the homes of three Iranians residing in Bangkok." 
  • BBC Persian reports the Iranians were involved in the bombing as their residences were encircled by the Thai police. 
• Revolutionary Guards Commander Mohammad-Ali Aziz Jafari addressing the people at the Ansar al-Hossein Mosque in Martyr Mahallati residential complex:
  • "A poll done by the Guards... shows that more than 80% of the people are the followers of the principles of the revolution and the positions of the Leader..."
  • "The geography of the Strait of Hormuz taken into consideration, the Revolutionary Guards, as the military unit in control of this strait, is capable of closing it militarily. Their concern [the concern of the United States] is due to the threat expressed by Iran. Iran has declared that if Iran's oil is sanctioned, oil transfers through the strait will only be possible for those states not responsible in the sanctions against Iran's oil exports. This is what worries Obama and the Israeli authorities and now there is no longer military threats in their political rhetoric..." = 
• [E] Iranian leaders reject Israeli allegations that Tehran was behind terror attacks in India and Georgia. 

Economy

• Donya-ye Eqtesad surveys the "giants of Iran's economy." 

Religion, Society and Culture

• According to Fars News Agency, Sean Stone, son of filmmaker Oliver Stone, has converted to Shi'a Islam while visiting Isfahan. Fars News also writes that he has chosen the name "Ali." 

Media

• Following filtering of Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail and Gmail+ in Iran, Asr-e Iran criticizes the government of "impoliteness" for not giving the users a prior notice. 

Photos of the Day

• Sean "Ali" Stone, newly convert to Shi'a Islam.