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

Military and Security

• Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's website quotes his sermon from last Friday: "[Tehran's] defense of Palestine and toppling of the Zionist regime are not only spiritual but also political..." The article argues that Tehran has had a "positive intervention" in domestic Palestinian affairs, and will continue doing so in future. 
  • Hojjat al-Eslam Ali Govahi, representative of the Supreme Leader to the Tehran Revolutionary Guards unit, interpreting Khamenei's statements says the Islamic Republic's intervention in the 33 Days war was based on "a neighborly Muslim right." 
• Hossein Salami, Revolutionary Guards deputy: "Should the enemies desire to use the method and spirit of threats, we will naturally also threaten them." 
• Asghar Shokr-Allahi, Seyyed al-Shohada Marines Training Facility commander, says the Revolutionary Guards Navy will soon stage a war game in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. 
• Daughter of the late Imad Mughniyeh gives an interview about her father at the Islamic Awakening Conference in Tehran.
• [E] Tehran announced that 11 of the Iranian pilgrims who had been abducted in Syria have been released. 

Trade

• Authorities in Sri Lanka say they intend not to pay for oil imports from Iran in U.S. dollar and will use another currency. 
• Central Bank of Iran is opening an account in a governmental bank in India in order to receive payments for Iran's oil exports to India in local currency. 
• [E] Iran and Pakistan agreed to increase energy ties, including a multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline. 

Religion, Society and Culture

• Ahlul Bayt News Agency releases a detailed report on Shi'a political activism in Bahrain last Sunday. 
• Shi'a News slams the government of Azerbaijan's "machinations against the activities of the Ahulul Bayt Hosseiniyeh in Baku
• According to Ahlul Bayt News Agency, 31 families in Sri Lanka have converted to Shiism with the support of the Al-Zahra Women's Association. 

Photos of the Day

• Khamenei convenes the "Islamic Awakening Poetry Conference."