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

• As Rafsanjani's five-year term as Expediency Council chairman is coming to an end, Bultan News writes Rafsanjani may not continue as chairman. Hojjat al-Eslam Hassan Rowhani is mentioned as a potential successor.
  • Shabestan draws the same conclusion, and adds that Rafsanjani has no political influence.
• Fararu's releases the names of individuals who attended a mourning ceremony arranged on the occasion of the passing of Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei's father in law. 
• Ayatollah Ahmad Alam al-Hoda, Mashhad Friday prayer leader, responds to former parliamentarian Emad Afrouq's recent statements in which Afrouq defended the right to criticize all authorities in the Islamic Republic, including the Guardian Jurist:
  • "The Islamic Republic was established according to the decree of the twelfth Imam of the Shia, and criticizing such a regime is not commendable... The Imam of the Era is alive and monitors this regime. And it is not possible that he gives this regime in the hands of someone who will follow his nature and lead it to destruction... One should not express criticism which makes the people doubt about the regime..."
• Neda-ye Enghelab levels embezzlement allegations against Mohammad Nourizad, who has criticized Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in his open letters and demanded the right to criticize the leadership.

Military and Security

• " The Popular Headquarters for Commemoration of Martyred Commanders of the World of Islam" condemning assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists announces: "Resistance cells of Muslims and freedom seekers all over the world are prepared to engage in their tasks by threatening the interests of the global arrogant powers all over the planet earth."
• The Islamic Republic's ambassador to the United Nations says Iran has no intention of closing the Strait of Hormuz.
• Stories about Admiral Hossein Alaei's article in Ettela'at:
  • Gholam-Ali Rajaei, former member of the Revolutionary Guards:
    • "Rather than seizing the pen out of the hands of people like Alaei, Nourizd, Khazali and the like, we must correct our own behavior so this criticism can be avoided... Let's assume that the entire criticism and conclusions of Dr. Alaei in his article is aiming at some of the latest behavior of the Leader. What is the problem with that? How can it be against the law...? Does the Leader consider himself above criticism...? If that is the case, it shows that the circle of red lines during the republic has since the [passing] of the Imam [Khomeini] become so narrow that even the likes of Alaei, who are founders of this sacred regime, can't open their mouths to give advice... There are those who accuse independent elements of doing this kind of thing [gathering in front of Alaei's home]... But if these gatherings are independent [and not directed by official institutions], who gives the time for participation to the participants? Who calls upon the press to film the gathering...? Who gives uniform placards of the Leader and sometimes the Imam to the participants...? Who prepares the slogans...? Who gives black spray to the participants so they can write slogans on the walls? And why don't they ever use red sprays...? These gentlemen should not underestimate the intelligence of the public."
  • Twelve commanders of the Revolutionary Guards who had attacked Admiral Hossein Alaei released a second open letter with a more conciliatory tone.
    • Raha Press, close to Ahmadinejad, slams the Revolutionary Guards for not dealing in a "decisive manner" with Alaei and others who "insult the Supreme Leader." 

Economy

• One dollar reaches 20,000 rial.
  • As the U.S. dollar and the price of gold reach new heights, the Central Bank is "absolutely silent."
  • Money exchange bureaus in Zarbatiyeh, Shalamcheh, Al-Manzariyeh and Al-Shahabi report significant increase in number of Iranian visitors purchasing US dollar.
  • Asr-e Iran releases historical statistics on the price of gold.
  • Hojjat al-Eslam Mesbahi-Moqaddam, head of the parliamentary Economic Development Scheme Commission, says the Central Bank has a foreign exchange reserve of "more than $100 billion," and that the government should have supported the Iranian currency. Mesbahi-Moqaddam adds: "The benefit from increased price of foreign currency is small compared with the harms dealt to the government. The prestige of the government is damaged." 

Trade

• Stories relating to the EU ban on the Iranian oil: 
  • Former oil minister Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh: "The embargo against Iran will push up oil prices... Iran's oil will not be without customers." 
  • Hojjat al-Eslam Ali Fallahian, former minister of intelligence:
    • "Now that the European Union has decided to impose embargo on Iran's oil, it needs six months to find substitutes to cover their needs... The best way is for us to stop our oil exports before six months so the price of oil goes up and all the plans of the Americans and the Europeans are foiled." 
  • According to Fars, there is "increased demand for Iran's oil" in China, Africa and India. 
  • According to Tabnak News, Iranian authorities have asked India to pay for its oil exports in Japanese yen.

• Snow in Tehran.