Iran News Round Up

A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by AEI Critical Threats Project Iran Analysts Marie Donovan, Paul Bucala, and Caitlin Shayda Pendleton with contributors Ken Hawrey and Alice Naghshineh. To receive this daily newsletter, please subscribe online.

(E) = Article in English

Excerpts of these translations may only be used with the expressed consent of the authors.

Key takeaway: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized Iranians who downplay the threat of foreign influence in Iran.

Khamenei reiterated warnings about foreign influence in the lead-up to the February 26 parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections. He stated, “A group inside the country has been indignant because we always speak of influence, but this indignation is misplaced… The issue of influence and infiltrators is real, but sometimes individuals do not realize that they themselves have become part of this current.” Khamenei did not name specific politicians, but President Hassan Rouhani is among the officials who have publicly criticized an over-reliance on the concept of foreign influence to arrest individuals or denounce ideas unsupported by hardline members of the regime.

Iranian media reported that Ahmad Esmaili, who appears to have been a member of the 27^thMohammad Rasoul Allah Division, was killed in Syria.

Matthew McInnis discusses Iranian perspectives on the possible deployment of Saudi Arabian and Emirati special operations forces to Syria in his latest blog post, “Iran isn’t sweating Saudi intervention in Syria.”

Domestic Politics

• Khamenei: Iranians will elect a Parliament that “will not be intimidated by America.”Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denounced “the enemy’s tricks” in the February 26 elections to Parliament and the Assembly of Experts. Khamenei criticized the enemy’s creation of “a false dichotomy between a pro-administration and anti-administration Parliament” and added that Iranians instead want a Parliament that is “unable to be deceived, whose officials oppose the avarice of the Arrogance [the West] and are defenders of the nation’s honor and independence… and who will not be intimidated by America.”
  • Khamenei indirectly criticized several non-hardliner elements in Iran. He stated, “A group inside the country has been indignant because we always speak of influence, but this indignation is misplaced… The issue of influence and infiltrators is real, but sometimes individuals do not realize that they themselves have become part of this current.” He also criticized the use of “extremist” and “moderate” as labels for Iranian political factions as a longstanding tool of Iran’s enemies. Khamenei’s comment is another likely criticism of Reformist and centrist candidates, who have often used the word “extremist” to refer to hardline Principlist opponents. (Khamenei.ir)
     
• Guardian Council Secretary: We will catch would-be infiltrators in the Assembly of Experts. Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati warned that “corrupt individuals, in coordination with foreign policies, have worked for a long time both inside and outside” of Iran to infiltrate the Assembly of Experts. The Guardian Council Secretary noted, “Insofar as we [the Guardian Council] have been able to detect infiltrators, I do not think we will have problems in the future.” (Tasnim News Agency)
   
• Judiciary Spokesman: Maybe the British have a secret relationship with the candidates they are supporting. Judiciary Spokesman Hojjat ol Eslam Mohseni Ejei highlighted the threat posed by foreign interference in the elections during a press conference. He stated, “The question is whether the British have a relationship with the people they are saying to vote for… The people must be smart and not be fooled.” These comments are in response to BBC Farsi’s coverage of the elections in recent weeks, including one BBC article in particular titled “Could Yazdi, Jannati, and Mesbah be removed from the Assembly of Experts?” (Mehr News Agency)
   
• Rouhani orders Interior Ministry to hold “healthy elections.” President Hassan Rouhani emphasized the role of the Interior Ministry in “safeguarding the vote of the people” and facilitating healthy elections during a cabinet meeting on February 24. The Interior Minister is appointed by Rouhani and oversees the elections in addition to the hardline Guardian Council and the police. Rouhani also reiterated the importance of electing a Parliament that focuses on improving Iran’s economy and stated, “The Iranian nation will show the ill-natured that they do not accept libel, backbiting, being ill-natured, and divisiveness in the country. The direction that [the Iranian people] have taken for the country’s advancement will continue.” (ISNA)

Regional Developments and Diplomacy

• Rouhani discusses Syrian ceasefire in telephone call with Putin. President Hassan Rouhani and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed the Syrian conflict’s “cessation of hostilities,” which is scheduled to begin on February 27.  Rouhani underscored the importance of enhancing Tehran-Moscow relations for improving the plight of the Syrian people and praised the “effective Russian air strikes, Syrian army ground operations, and Syrian popular forces” for forcing “terrorists and their supporters to the negotiating table.” (President.ir) (E) 

Military and Security

• Former BBC reporter reportedly freed from prison. Former BBC journalist Bahman Daroshafaei was released from prison on bail, according to his friends. Daroshafaei wasarrested for unspecified charges on February 3 and had been working as a translator in Iran prior to his arrest. (AF News) (Iran Wire) (E)
   
• Tehran Special Police Unit: We are ready for the elections. The commander of Tehran’s Special Police unit, Brig. Gen. Hassan Karimi, stressed that his forces are “well-prepared” to provide security for Friday’s elections. (ILNA)

Casualties in Iraq and Syria

• Iranian killed in Syria. Ahmad Esmaili appears to have been a member of the 27^thMohammad Rasoul Allah Division. He will be buried in Tehran. No information on his rank was given. (Basij Press)