Iran News Round Up
The Iran News Round Up ran from February 2009-September 2018. Visit the Iran File for the latest analysis.
Key takeaway: Iranian officials criticized and downplayed statements from President Donald Trump and National Security Advisor Michael Flynn that Iran is “on notice” for activities including its recent ballistic missile test.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi called the statement “groundless, repetitive, and provocative,” while Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Supreme Leader Ali Akbar Velayati publicly dismissed the Trump administration’s warning by stating that it is “not the first time an inexperienced person from America has threatened Iran.” President Hassan Rouhani similarly criticized Trump's travel ban by calling him a “political novice.”
The U.S. may impose new sanctions on over 20 Iranian entities as early as February 3, according to a Reuters report. The U.S. will sanction the entities “in a way that will not violate the 2015 Iran nuclear deal,” however, and will be for both terrorism and ballistic missile-related activities. The U.S. has imposed non-nuclear sanctions on Iran several times since the nuclear deal.
Velayati: Flynn’s comments on Iran were “irrational”
Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Supreme Leader Ali Akbar Velayati reacted to statements by National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and President Donald Trump that Iran is “on notice.” Velayati stated, “An inexperienced individual says irrational things. Iran does not pay attention… This is not the first time an inexperienced person from America has threatened Iran. Trump will understand, over time, that these empty harangues will only reduce his credibility.” Velayati claimed that the Trump administration’s actions thus far will be “detrimental” to U.S. interests. He stated, “Americans themselves are not happy with the extremism upon which Mr. Trump and his associates have embarked.” Velayati added the missiles that Iran has tested “are defensive missiles” and stressed that Iran “will continue its activities in the defensive realm forcefully.” (ISNA)
- Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi called Flynn’s statements “groundless, repetitive, and provocative.” Ghassemi echoed other officials’ comments that Iran’s recent ballistic missile test does not violate UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which calls upon Iran to refrain from activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of carrying a nuclear weapon. Ghassemi also stressed that Iran’s missile program is a non-negotiable element of national security. (IRNA)
Parliament speaker and senior advisor to the Supreme Leader praise Armenia
Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani commended Armenia for its “appropriate behavior” in the latest iteration of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan during a meeting with Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan in Tehran on February 1. Tasnim News Agency highlighted that Sargsyan said there is a “vital need” for Iran and Armenia to strengthen ties. (Tasnim News Agency) (E)
- During a separate meeting with Sargsyan, Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Supreme Leader Ali Akbar Velayati stated that Iran’s “collaboration with Armenia and Russia is one example of regional cooperation that can continue.” Velayati also likely referred to Iran’s claims that Israel uses Azerbaijan for intelligence-gathering and practice for a military strike against Iran, stating, “We must be vigilant for some foreign elements, including the Zionist regime, so that foreigners do not stoke flames in our region.” Sargsyan has met with officials including Iranian Defense Minister IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani during his visit to Iran. (IRNA)
Citations & Links
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ISNA: http://www.isna.ir/news/95111409743/%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7-%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%B2%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%BE%D8%B4%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87-%D9%86%DA%A9%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D9%82%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%AA-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%AA
2.
IRNA: http://www.irna.ir/fa/News/82413301/
Citations & Links
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Tasnim News Agency: https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2017/02/02/1315698/iranian-speaker-hails-armenia-for-preventing-crisis
2.
IRNA: http://www.irna.ir/fa/News/82413247/
Defense minister: Our missile test was successful
Defense Minister IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan denied reports that Iran’s recent ballistic missile test was a failure, as U.S. officials have claimed. He also denied that Iran's testing of ballistic missiles violates UN Security Council Resolution 2231. (Press TV)
Khatam ol Anbia deputy: Iran’s missiles are conventional weapons
Esmail Kowsari, a prominent IRGC officer who is serving at the IRGC Khatam ol Anbia Central Headquarters, claimed that Iran’s missiles “are a type of conventional missile.” He added, “If today we submitted to the U.S. and we agreed not to build any more missiles, the next day they would say we cannot have any Kalashnikovs or any other basic weapons.” (Mashregh News Agency)
Citations & Links
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Press TV: http://presstv.ir/DetailFa/2017/02/02/508814/Iran-Hossein-Dehghan-Missile-Tests
Citations & Links
1.
Mashregh News Agency: http://www.mashreghnews.ir/fa/news/686382/%D8%AA%D9%86%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%B2%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%87%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7
Transportation minister: Trump cannot cancel Boeing and Airbus deal
Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi claimed that Iran’s agreement to purchase civilian aircraft from Boeing and Airbus is a “commercial agreement” and therefore could not be abrogated by a U.S. executive order. The first of 100 Airbus planes arrived in Iran on January 11. Iran will also receive 80 planes under an agreement with Boeing, with deliveries set to begin in 2018. (Tasnim News Agency)
Citations & Links
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Tasnim News Agency: https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2017/02/02/1316122/iran-says-trump-cannot-call-off-boeing-deal
Supreme Leader’s military advisor warns of “enemy influence over decision-making centers”
Yahya Rahim Safavi discussed threats from Iran’s enemies in remarks on February 2. Safavi claimed, “In the realms of security and policy, our enemies are trying to influence decision-makers and decision-centers in order to ensure that all decisions comply with their desires.” Safavi also reiterated a frequent claim by Iranian leaders that the “enemy” seeks to “create conflicts and divisions among the people and officials,” likely referring to debates among Iranian reformists, centrists, and hardliners. (Mashregh News)
Citations & Links
1.
Mashregh News: http://www.mashreghnews.ir/fa/news/686464/%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%84%D8%B4%DA%A9%D8%B1-%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%88%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B4%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%AF%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%AE%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87%E2%80%8C%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%86-%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A8%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA
