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

• The state-controlled Iranian press' coverage of anti-regime demonstrations in Iran:
  • Kayhan editorializes: "There is no sugar without dirt [anti-regime demonstrations]."
    • Kayhan also calls the anti-regime demonstrations as "hooligans... provoked by the United States and the Zionist regime."
  • According to Tehran-e Emrooz, the streets were completely calm. Tabnak News Agency: "Despite heavy propaganda of foreign media and counter revolutionary groups, to this moment, agents of sedition only managed to mobilize a couple hundred individuals..."
  • Farda News Agency reports "total defeat of the sedition."
  • Abbaszadeh Meshkini, Interior Ministry political deputy:
    • "Any demonstration which has taken place today is without license and the Law Enforcement Forces will deal with them."
• The Green Movement's coverage of anti-regime demonstrations in Iran:
  • General coverage of demonstrations:
    • Kerman:
    • Shiraz:
    • Isfahan:
    • Heavy security presence in Tabriz:
    • Video of demonstrations:
    • Basij member surrounded by demonstrators.
  • Diplomats from Spain and Japan who were following demonstrations in Tehran arrested by the security forces.
  • Iran Press News reports strike at the oil refinery in Abadan.
  • Parliamentarians chant in the parliament: "Mousavi and Karrubi must be executed!"
  • Hojjat al-Eslam Rasoul Montajab-Nia, National Trust party deputy, was attacked by unknown perpetrators while praying.
  • Bagher Oskouei, head of the youth branch of the National Trust party, was arrested by the security forces.
  • Hojjat al-Eslam Ahmad Ghabel: "The government is legally and religiously responsible for security of demonstrators."
  • Grand Ayatollah Sanei: "The authoritarianism which we are witnessing now is historically unprecedented."
  • According to Ahmad-Reza Radan, Law Enforcement Forces deputy, 150 were arrested during yesterday's demonstrations.
  • One demonstrator was killed by the Law Enforcement Forces in Tehran. 
• E] Parliament Speaker blames US for “sham” anti-government protests in Iran.
• [E] Anti-government protests emerge throughout Tehran, prompting counter-protests in the capital.

Trade

• Ahmadinejad receives president of Turkey: "Our trade has surpassed $10 billion and we are determined to increase it to $30 billion through cooperation."
  • Mohammad Nahavandian, Iran Chamber of Commerce director, says commerce in rial and lira between Iran and Turkey has "to some degree" become operational.
• [E] Iran increases carpet exports by 14%.
• [E] Iran exports over $7 billion of petrochemical products in last 11 months.

Military and Security

• [E] China set to increase military ties with Iran.
• [E] Iran to launch photography and observation satellite next year.

Iran in the Afghan Media

• Gulab Mangal, the governor of Afghanistan’s southern Helmand Province, says Iran trains and funds insurgents to destabilize southern Afghanistan.

Photo of the Day:

• Turkey’s President Gul warmly received by Supreme Leader.