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

Diplomacy

• Kamran Najafzadeh, anchor of the Serfan Jahat-e Ettelae [Just for Information], ridicules Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi's statement that "The situation in Syria is calming." Najafzadeh said: "We understand that the Syria issue is a national security matter for us, but we understand that the situation in Syria is not calm. I beg you not to deliver unrealistic analysis!"
• [E] Tehran's provisional Friday Prayers Leader Ayatollah Mohammad Emami Kashani strongly condemned the ongoing massacre of the Muslim minority in Myanmar, and opined that the move is part of enemies' plot to confront Islam.

Economy

• Ali Larijani says the parliament has established a "headquarters" to address people’s economic problems. 

Trade

• According to Fars, South Korea will resume oil imports from Iran.
• [E] Iranian Minister of Energy Majid Namjou and his Syrian counterpart Imad Khamis inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the supply of power to Syria and Lebanon. 

Human Rights

• Authorities arrest Afshin Osanlou, brother of Mansour Osanlou, member of the bus drivers’ association who was arrested earlier.  

Religion, Society and Culture

• Hojjat al-Eslam Ali-Akbar Hosseini, former anchor of the Akhlaq dar Khanevadeh [Family Ethics], now runs the Ta Niyayesh [Until Prayer] program.

Nuclear Issue

• [E] A senior aide to the Iranian Supreme Leader called on the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) to recognize Iran's nuclear rights. 

Photos of the Day

• Mashregh News publishes a manipulated photo of the Assad family. Bashar al-Assad's sister is removed from the photo, and his mother is covered with hijab.