Iran News Round Up

President Hassan Rouhani stated on July 22 that he plans to retain half of his current cabinet for his second term in office. First Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri is reportedly confirmed to remain in his position.  (Tasnim News Agency) (Tasnim News Agency)

Kermanshah Friday Prayer Leader Ayatollah Mostafa Elmi stressed that one of the principles of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was that “there would be no more sanctions” despite the imposition of a new round of sanctions by the U.S. He added that the Rouhani administration and Parliament “should deliver a tooth-shattering response to America.” (Tasnim News Agency)

• Tehran Prayer Leader: “Iran is the most powerful country in the region.” Tehran Friday Prayer Leader Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami claimed that the US-Israeli lobby is attempting to damage Iran’s relations with its neighboring countries, referring to the recent rift between Iran and Kuwait. Khatami added that “whether you want it or not, whether you accept it or not, Iran is the most powerful country in the region” and that “friendship with Iran is beneficial” to neighboring countries. (Press TV) (E) (Fars News Agency)

IRGC Khatam ol Anbia Construction Base Chief Brig. Gen. Abdollah Abdollahi highlighted the IRGC’s welcoming of private sector contributions to construction in Iran. Abdollahi stressed that the IRGC would “support” and “permit” private sector participation wherever possible. He added that the IRGC seeks to limit the opportunities for foreign investment. (Fars News Agency)

Combatant Clergy Association member Hojjat ol Eslam Hossein Ebrahimi welcomed President Hassan Rouhani’s criticisms of U.S. sanctions against Iranian entities and groups. Ebrahimi stated that “the truth is that Rouhani has confessed” the true nature of the agreement “despite the fact that he previously always defended this issue and emphasized that the sanctions would be lifted.” He commended Rouhani for his statement and added that “fortunately, Mr. Rouhani’s latest position on America is an expression of the truth.” (Fars News Agency)

Deputy Parliament Speaker Ali Motahari criticized President Hassan Rouhani for introducing the list of proposed ministers for his next cabinet to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei before introducing it to Parliament. Motahari claimed that such a move limits Parliament’s ability to give its opinion on the proposed ministers. (BBC Persian)

Kerman Friday Prayer Leader Ayatollah Yahya Jafari presented his resignation to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating that he resigned due to his old age. However, Jafari’s son commented that his father resigned due to “some pressure.” Jafari is a supporter of President Hassan Rouhani, according to BBC Persian. (BBC Persian)

Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Jaberi Ansari met with the leader of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq Hojjat ol Eslam Ammar al Hakim during a visit to Baghdad on July 24. The two parties reportedly discussed regional developments and other Iraqi issues. (ILNA)

IRGC forces reportedly detained a Saudi fishing boat in the waters off the coast of Bushehr Province in the Persian Gulf after it entered Iranian territorial waters on July 22. Five Indian nationals were reportedly on board. (BBC Persian)

Senior Foreign Policy Adviser to the Supreme Leader Ali Akbar Velayati responded to the most recent round of U.S. sanctions against Iranian entities and networks in remarks on July 22. Velayati stated that “the U.S.’s breaking of its promises with regard to the nuclear deal will not go unanswered.” Velayati stressed that as a member of the Council for the Supervision and Implementation of the JCPOA, he protests America “going back on its word.”  (Mehr News Agency)

• Boroujerdi: Iran won’t take up the burden of another nuclear negotiation. Chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Borujerdi echoed Foreign Minister Javad Zarif’s opposition to another round of nuclear negotiations in remarks on July 23. Borujerdi stressed that “under no circumstances will [Iran] take up the burden” of another such negotiation. (Mehr News Agency)

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi demanded that the U.S. release Iranians detained in American prisons, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump called on Iran to release three U.S. citizens. Ghassemi added that the White House statement is “an example of interference in Iran's internal affairs.” Judiciary Head Ayatollah Sadegh Amoli Larijani added that the U.S. should return “Iranian property” which was seized by the U.S. in “a form of open piracy” over baseless terrorism charges. Larijani is referring to $1.6 billion of Iranian assets held by the U.S. as compensation for the September 11 attacks and $2 billion of frozen Iranian assets for the victims of a 1983 bombing in Beirut. (Press TV) (E) (Mehr News Agency) (Fars News Agency)

Khatam ol Anbiya Air Defense Base Commander Brig. Gen. Farzad Esmail announced the official start of production for the mid-range Sayyad (Hunter) 3 missile on July 22. Esmail stressed that the technology used in the development of the missile was “totally domestic.” (Mehr News Agency)

• Jafari: Increase in production of missile models used to strike ISIS. IRGC Commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari stated that the IRGC was set to increase production of the Zulfiqar and Ghiyam missiles used to strike ISIS targets in Deir ez Zour on June 18. (Tasnim News Agency)

Forces from the IRGC 3rd Seyyed ol Shohada Special Operations Division foiled a “terror attack” in Safar, Khuzestan Province, on July 20. The IRGC reportedly killed four and injured three from an unidentified “terrorist” group.  IRGC Maj. Yassin Ghanbari, a member of the division, was killed during the clash. He was buried in Urmia, West Azerbaijan Province, on July 22. The 3rd Seyyed ol Shohada Special Operations Division is based in West Azerbaijan Province. (Fars News Agency) (Tasnim News Agency)