Iran News Round Up

The Iran News Round Up ran from February 2009-September 2018. Visit the Iran File for the latest analysis.

July 14, 2015

 

A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by AEI Critical Threats Project Iran Analysts Mehrdad Moarefian, Marie Donovan, and Paul Bucala, with contributors Ryan Melvin and Mondona Salahshoor.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: Iran and the P5+1 members reached a final nuclear agreement that will place limitations on Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. President Hassan Rouhani praised the deal as signaling “a new page of relations with Iran.”

In a televised speech on state television, President Hassan Rouhani highlighted the nuclear deal as “the first step toward achieving the [height] of constructive interaction with the world.” He stressed that without “cooperation and coordination,” regional and global “stability and security” are impossible. Rouhani also stated, “We want to improve our relations with countries with which we have a cold relationship…” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei briefly thanked the negotiating team at the beginning of a meeting with Rouhani and his Cabinet members, but did not focus his remarks on the final nuclear deal. 

Expediency Discernment Council Chairman Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani congratulated the Supreme Leader and President Rouhani on the final deal, stating that the agreement is “more important than the [Iran-Iraq] War or the liberation of Khorramshahr” during Operation Beit ol Moghaddas in April-May 1982. Rafsanjani also stated, “We should not be afraid of visits to some [military] centers…” Members of Parliament, meanwhile, commended the deal as “a good agreement that protects Iran’s nuclear achievements,” “positive,” and a testament to Iranian resistance.

Regionally, Syrian President Bashar al Assad sent a congratulatory message to President Rouhani, and expressed his confidence that Iran will increase its backing of “just causes” in the region. A spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al Abadi stated that the nuclear agreement is “an important step” that “will leader to better unity in the fight against terrorism.”

AEI Resident Fellow J. Matthew McInnis discusses the implications of the debate over the arms embargo on Iran, and analyzes Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s June 30 announcement of Iran’s next five year development plan in his latest blog post, "Lifting arms embargo would be a real coup for Iran.”

 Domestic Politics and Reactions to the Nuclear Deal

  • Rouhani: “The world will experience a new page of relations with Iran.” President Hassan Rouhani delivered a live televised speech in which he hailed the results of the nuclear deal and said “today the world acknowledges that Iran is pursuing peaceful goals.” Rouhani cautioned, however, that “If one day the other side decides to pick a different road, the road of our nation’s former choice will be open.” He also stated: 
    • “Iran’s enrichment and nuclear technology are purely for the development of the country; this enrichment and nuclear technology will not be against any country in the region or the world.” 
    • “We are not of hypocrisy; if we have given a promise in the framework of…national interests, we will act according to it, provided that the other party fulfills its promises. If the other side does not fulfill its promises, Iran will act on its promises.” 
    • “Protection of nuclear rights, the removal of sanctions, and constructive engagement with the world have been and will be the basis for negotiations.”
    • “The world will experience a new page of relations with Iran.” 
    • ““Iran’s obligations are balanced and subject to the obligations of the other side.” 
    • “All economic and UN Security Council sanctions will be canceled on the first day of the implementation of the agreement.” 
    • Our approach was [to think that] in the world today, threats of others and pressure on others, is worthless; all should search for win-win, mutual respect, common interests, and the achievement of common goals.” 
    • “The nuclear negotiations are the first step toward achieving the [height] of constructive interaction with the world, because in the world today, progress, development, stability, and security in the region and the world are not possible without cooperation and coordination.” 
    • “The Islamic Republic of Iran will move towards constructive interaction with all countries which respect Iran and want cooperation in the framework of common interests with Iranians…”
    • “We want to improve our relations with countries with which we have a cold relationship…because we know this cooperation is for everyone’s benefit.” 
    • “We believe there is third way and it is the way of cooperation with the world.” 
    • “From the beginning the government had given promises to the people and we have always followed those promises in the framework of the national interest.”
    • “More than ever we need economic growth, youth employment, and the development of non-oil exports; and if this occurs, our people will experience an improvement in life and spirituality.” (Rouhani.ir) http://rouhani.ir/event.php?event_id=853
    • Supreme Leader thanks negotiating team. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei met with President Hassan Rouhani and his Cabinet members on July 14. Khamenei "expressed gratitude...for the sincere and diligent efforts and work of the nuclear team." http://www.leader.ir/langs/fa/index.php?p=contentShow&id=13421
       
  • Jalili: Iran is developing a spiritual “enrichment” which the West cannot take away. Representative of the Supreme Leader in the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili stressed that another, spiritual “kind of enrichment” in taking place within the “beliefs of the people of Iran.” He stressed that this “enrichment…has formed a power which” cannot be “limited, enclosed, or suspended.” The Expediency Discernment Council member said that the countries of the P5+1 “know that a religious thought is now developing” in Iran, which was established by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and continued by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; he stressed that “no global arrogance [the West] can harm it.” (Mehr News) http://www.mehrnews.com/news/2858469/%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%AA%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1-%D9%88-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%82-%D9%86%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%AF
     
  • Rafsanjani congratulates the Supreme Leader and the President. Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani congratulated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani on the final nuclear agreement. The Expediency Discernment Council Chairman said the agreement is “more important than the [Iran-Iraq] War and the liberation of Khorramshahr.” Regarding visits to military facilities, Rafsanjani stated: “we should not be afraid of visits to some [military] centers. I congratulate the Iranian nation on this great day…” (Alef) http://alef.ir/vdcbsfb50rhbwgp.uiur.html?283056
     
  • Aboutorabi Fard: Hopefully nuclear negotiations guarantee Iranian interests.  Deputy Parliament Speaker Mohammad Hassan Aboutorabi Fard expressed hope that the “negotiations would guarantee the national interests of the great nation of Iran” in a Tuesday address to parliament. (E) (Tasnim News Agency) http://www.tasnimnews.com/english/Home/Single/799386
     
  • Khamenei hosted iftar ceremony for Rouhani and presidential cabinet. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hosted an iftar (fast breaking) ceremony for President Hassan Rouhani and his presidential cabinet on Tuesday evening. (Tasnim News Agency) (E) http://www.tasnimnews.com/english/Home/Single/799773
     
  • Zarif to address Parliament next week. Parliamentarian Alaeddin Boroujerdi praised the Iranian negotiating team for observing the Supreme Leader’s redlines for a nuclear deal. Boroujerdi said that the P5+1 nuclear deal “is acceptable… because the designated redlines [set by the Supreme Leader] have been completely preserved.” The National Security and Foreign Policy (NSFP) Parliamentary Commission Chairman added that Foreign Minister Zarif will address Parliament sometime next week about the measures the Iranian negotiating team has taken under the nuclear deal. (IRIB) http://www.iribnews.ir/NewsBody.aspx?ID=87664
     
  • Iranian Parliamentarians praise nuclear deal and thank negotiators. In an open session of parliament, Iranian Parliamentarians praised the nuclear deal and lauded the nuclear negotiating team, while reiterating that the Iranian parliament must still examine the deal.
    • Parliamentarian Alireza Zakani thanked the nuclear negotiating team while emphasizing the need for Iran to continue securing its national interests.  He noted that Iran has entered “a sensitive phase”, and must prevent “discord” and “polarization” from becoming pretext for actions contrary to Iranian interests. He added that deal is a testament to Iranian resistance with respect to protecting the nuclear achievements of Iranian scientists.
    • Parliamentarian Ahmed Tavakoli told journalists that “the overall outcome of the completed negotiations has been positive”, and commended the nuclear negotiators for their “perseverance” and “victory in the negotiating field.” 
    • Parliamentarian Mohammad Mehdi Barvamande stated that the nuclear negotiating team had made “everyone opposed to the great nation of Iran bow down [to them] and recognize [them] under the shadow of the guidance and wisdom of the Supreme Leader.”
    • National Security and Foreign Policy (NSFP) Parliamentary Commission member Mohammad Hassan Asfari emphasized that pursuant to articles 77 and 126 of the Constitution, all agreements between Iran and other countries must be submitted to parliament, and that the final agreement must therefore be sent to parliament for approval.
    • NSFP Parliamentary Commission member Hojjat al Eslam Vahid Ahmadi said the agreement “was a good agreement that protects Iran’s nuclear achievements,” and emphasized that Iran accepted the agreement because all of the sanctions would be removed the day the parties involved fulfilled their obligations. He added that the parliament should prioritize ensuring the agreement removes all sanctions when examining the nuclear agreement. 
    • NSFP Parliamentary Commission member Sayyid Hossein Naqavi said that Parliament will examine the final agreement until it concludes the national interests of Iran are included in the agreement. 
    • Parliamentarian Hojjat al-Islam Hossein Sobhani Niya Nayat said that up to this point, the negotiating has observed the red lines that have been put into place for negotiations with the P5+1. (Mashregh News) http://www.mashreghnews.ir/fa/news/441156/%D8%AA%D8%B4%DA%A9%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D8%AD%DA%A9%DB%8C%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87-%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A8%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D9%82%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%D9%86%D8%AF%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B4%E2%80%8C-%D8%B7%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%AF%DB%8C%D9%BE%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AA%E2%80%8C%D9%87%D8%A7

Nuclear Talks

Economy

  • Iran postal service signs MOU with DHL and TNT. The Islamic Republic of Iran Post Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation with German logistics firm DHL and Dutch express and logistics services firm TNT. Under the agreement, Iran Post Company will collect parcels on behalf of DHL and TNT, and then forward them to DHL and TNT for delivery outside of Iran to reduce shipping time. (ISNA) (E) http://isna.ir/en/news/94042312651/Iran-post-company-links-up-with-DHL-TN

Regional Developments and Diplomacy

Military and Security

  • Izadi: Slightest threat from Israel will result in destruction. IRGC Maj. Gen. Mostafa Izadi stated that Israeli officials have discussed attacking Iran's nuclear facilities; he warned that such acts would yield "a strong response from our armed forces." The Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces reiterated the "right to defend our country," while describing the large Iranian military in contrast to Israel’s. He concluded by stating that the “slightest error” by Israel would bring destruction to Tel Aviv. (Defa Press) http://www.defapress.ir/Fa/News/49592
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