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

• News stories about the parliamentary elections:
  • Shafaf News publishes anti-parliament statements by Ahmadinejad and his supporters and asks: "Who does not like a powerful parliament?" 
  • Mehr News details statistics for candidates, eligible voters, and polling stations. 
  • Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi says it is a "sin" not to participate in the parliamentary elections unless there is a genuine reason based on the Islamic law. 
  • Gholam-Reza Mesbahi-Moqaddam, Parliament’s Economic Reform Committee chairman, accuses the government of trying to persuade the people to participate in the parliamentary elections by increasing the amount of the cash handout. 
  • Alef News publishes a harsh criticism of some of the main policies of the Islamic Republic:
    • "It is well known that as the election is approaching, the political elites try to do things to make the people happy. But this time we see the reverse: The closer we get to the election, the factors making the people unhappy increase many fold."
    • "The rising prices and deterioration of the labor market are harming the urban population. These irresponsible conditions will only increase dissatisfaction."
    • "Paying attention to the people in the rural area, which is one of the shining points of the government's management, should not mean suppression of the people in big cities..." 
• Farda News accuses the government of keeping 25 trains of the Tehran Metro in the customs and deliberately not delivering it to the Tehran Municipality. 

Diplomacy

• [E] A senior Iranian legislator said that the accusations raised by Azeri officials against Iran is a scenario designed by the Zionist regime of Israel to sow discord between Iran and its neighboring states, and called on Baku officials to keep vigilant about Tel Aviv's plots. 

Military and Security

• Yahya Rahim Safavi, a former Revolutionary Guards commander now a military adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei: "I beg everyone who is hearing my voice to participate in the parliamentary elections..." 
• According to Mehr News, five "armed terrorists" were killed in Sistan va Baluchestan province. 
• Farzad Esmaeili discusses the Sarallah war game of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Defense Force in Bushehr. 
• Farda News releases information about the Najm radar system. 
• [E] Iran's air defense units assessed the performance and capabilities of different types of mobile and fixed radar systems on the third day of Sarallah military drills in Southern Iran. 
• [E] Iranian Army and Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) reviewed their latest air defense tactics during the current phase of the drills underway in the Southern province of Bushehr, Commander of Khatom ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli announced on Wednesday. 
• [E] Commander of the Iranian Border Guard Units General Hossein Zolfaqari underlined his forces' capability to maintain security all over the country, and underlined that security has been fully established at Iran's Eastern borders. 

Economy

• Iran Statistics reports two-digit unemployment rates in 20 out of 31 provinces in Iran. 

Trade

• According to Russian and Indian sources, both countries will continue their exports to Iran until the United Nations issues a new guideline concerning exports to the Islamic Republic.

Media

• News stories concerning filtering of Gmail and Yahoo Mail in Iran:
  • Esmail Ahmadi-Moqaddam, Law Enforcement commander: "We believe that connectivity with abroad should only be on the basis of necessity." 
  • Khabar Online criticizes the filtering and demands an explanation from the authorities. 
  • Alef News editorializes: "Connecting and disconnecting the Internet every minute and hour is getting on people’s nerves. There is not even a firm decision so that the people can plan accordingly... It seems as if the government is not the only responsible authority for the destruction of the Internet..., but no clear explanation has been provided in this regard from anyone. One may be able to persuade the public that the Internet is nothing but an instrument of the espionage without any scientific, professional, research or business utility, but when no explanation is given to the public, the only thing which remains is spread of dissatisfaction, which serves the enemy." 

Photos of the Day

• Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei receives "nuclear authorities and scientists."