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

• Rouhollah Qahremani-ye Chabok, ambassador to Kuwait and a former Gilan governor general, has been disqualified from the upcoming parliamentary elections. 

Trade

• Emad Hosseini, Parliament’s Oil Committee chairman, says the parliament will discuss a bill proposing immediate ban on oil exports to the European Union. 
  • Hosseini adds: "An oil war with Iran will force Europe into its knees since Iran will not allow export of a single drop of oil." 
• Mehdi Hosseini, former Oil Ministry international deputy, says losing the European oil market will have an impact on Iran's economy which needs rational planning by the authorities. Hosseini also stresses that selling oil at sub market level price is not a good way to counter the oil embargo. 
• While Pakistan’s minister of oil says his country has signed a contract to import natural gas from Iran, HBCL oil refinery in India announces it is reducing crude oil imports from Iran. 
• [E] Iranian Ambassador to Beijing Mehdi Safari underscored Iran and China's eagerness to further expand their economic cooperation, and said the two countries' trade ties have grown 55% in 2011 compared with the previous year. 
• [E] Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi welcomed the bilateral agreements signed between Tehran and Baghdad during Iraqi Transportation Minister Hadi Farhan al-Amiri's current visit to Iran, and said the two countries should further expand their railway ties and cooperation. 

Military and Security

• Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei extends his condolences upon the passing of the father of Ali Fadavi, Revolutionary Guards Navy commander. 

Photos of the Day

• Cooking sweets in Kermanshah.