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

• Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei receives representatives of the people in Azerbaijan province, praises their "enthusiastic participation in Revolution Day rallies," and urges them to maximize their participation in parliamentary elections. 
• Mehdi Khorshidi, Ahmadinejad's son in law, is appointed Mohsen Rezaei's deputy at the Expediency Council secretariat. 

Military and Security

• Iranian leaders react to allegations of Islamic Republic’s involvement in assassination attempts against Israeli diplomats:
  • Ramin Mehmanparast, Foreign Ministry spokesman:
    • "From our viewpoint, the Zionist regime and its supporters are the main perpetrator of terrorism. Making allegations against the Islamic Republic of Iran in the wake of the recent events is totally baseless and without any foundation. It seems that the suspicious events were planned by the authorities of the Zionist regime in order to damage the face of the Islamic Republic of Iran..." 
  • Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi:
    • "With the things that the Zionist regime does in the world, it has [created] many enemies and it is possible that different groups and individuals have perpetrated these things. I doubt there is any state or nation which has not suffered from the deeds of the Zionist regime." 
  • Hossein Sheikh al-Eslam, International Conference Supporting the Palestinian Intifada general secretary:
    • "Israel has done these things to create an anti-Iran atmosphere." 
• Ahmad-Reza Radan, Law Enforcement Forces deputy, comments on public demonstrations on February 14, 2012 which marked the anniversary of house arrest of reformist leaders Mehdi Karrubi and Mir-Hossein Mousavi:
  • "Our people are vigilant and will not be deceived by the enemies... Also today, the people, by ignoring the provocations of partial media, and with cooperation and participation of the Law Enforcement Forces and their preemptive security measures, foiled the enemy plans so that their revolution can continue its original path." 
• Gholam-Hossein Gheibparvar, Fars province Fajr Revolutionary Guards unit commander, urges the people to vote for "individuals who follow the guardian [jurist, Ali Khamenei]" into parliament. 

Nuclear Issue

• Ahmadinejad unveils the first 20% enriched nuclear fuel rod at the Tehran nuclear reactor. 
• Fereydoun Abbasi, Iran Atomic Energy Organization director, discusses Iran's nuclear progress.
• According to Fars News, a new generation of centrifuges has been installed in Natanz. 
• Said Jalili, nuclear negotiator, welcomes the 5+1 Group's readiness to resume nuclear talks with Iran. 
• [E] Iran loaded the first batch of its home-made uranium rods into the Tehran research reactor on Wednesday. 

Religion, Society and Culture

• Qom News releases a report on Valentine's Day in Qom, one of the most culturally conservative cities in Iran and home to the main theological faculties in Iran. The report warns against "cultural invasion" by the West. 
• AhlulBayt News Agency releases a report about anti-government demonstrations in Bahrain. 
• Ayatollah Dorri Najaf-Abadi warns the ruling family of Bahrain to learn from "the destiny of Saddam Hussein." 
• Hojjat al-Eslam Akhtari says the "misery of the Bahraini nation is also the misery of the Iranian nation." 
• According to Shi'a News, the Kuwaiti Shi'as protest against a Kuwaiti author's alleged "insults" against the Imam of the Era.

• According to Press TV, Iran has stopped its oil exports to the Netherlands, Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Portugal. 

Media

• Digarban reports filtering of pro-Ahmadinejad websites. 

Iran in the Afghan Media

• The leaders of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan are set to meet in Islamabad to discuss Afghanistan’s future. 

Photos of the Day

• President Obama’s poster depicted as a terrorist at Revolution Day rally. 
• Valentine’s Day shopping in Tehran.