Iran News Round Up

A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by AEI Critical Threats Project Iran Analysts Marie Donovan, Paul Bucala, and Caitlin Shayda Pendleton with contributors Ken Hawrey and Shayan Enferadi. 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: Iranian officials criticized UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s report calling Iran’s ballistic missile tests “inconsistent with the constructive spirit” of the nuclear deal.

An anonymous Foreign Ministry official called on Ban Ki-moon to instead release a “realistic and fair report” on America’s “shortcomings” in fulfilling its obligations under the nuclear deal. Expediency Discernment Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei called Iran’s tests “defensive” and said that the “missiles and bombs of the Zionist regime and Saudi Arabia” are “inconsistent” with regional peace and security.

First Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri presented a report to President Hassan Rouhani on steps taken to address Iran’s ongoing salary scandal, in which leaks revealed that certain senior officials have been receiving exorbitant salaries and benefits. Jahangiri created a committee at Rouhani’s request to investigate the controversy, which has sparked public outrage and criticism of the Rouhani administration. Jahangiri blamed supervisory mechanisms in the political system for not being sufficiently attentive to public salaries and asserted that officials implicated in the scandal should be ousted and their salaries “refunded” to the government.

AEI Must-Reads

• Marie Donovan discusses how the Supreme Leader’s appointment of IRGC Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri as head of the Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS) may signal Khamenei’s intention to give the AFGS a more significant role in coordinating the armed forces’ increasing joint activities abroad in “Supreme Leader signals possible enhanced role for Armed Forces General Staff.”

Domestic Politics

• Vice president releases report on salary scandal. First Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri presented a report to President Hassan Rouhani on actions taken to address Iran’s ongoing salary scandal. Jahangiri stated that action has been taken to oust top officials implicated in the scandal and recommended that their “excessive” benefits be “refunded” to the government. The committee Jahangiri created to investigate the scandal also accused several ministries -- Health, Industry and Mining, Economy and Finance, and Oil -- of paying excessive salaries to officials in them.
  • Jahangiri also asserted that the mechanisms permitting the exorbitant salaries have been “annulled” and that the unconventional salaries were not the norm among government employees. He emphasized that the problem is not limited to the executive branch, however, and recommended reports on salaries in the Judiciary and other institutions. Jahangiri criticized supervisory mechanisms in the political system for not being sufficiently attentive and stressed that the investigation into the controversy will continue. In separate remarks on July 7, Jahangiri announced that the Rouhani administration will introduce a plan next week to address problems in Iran’s banking system. (IRNA) (IRNA) (E) (Mehr News Agency)
     
• Senior cleric: The people want concrete government action on salary controversy. Interim Tehran Friday Prayer Leader Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Movahedi Kermani reacted to the recent salary scandal in Iran. He said that the theft of public funds “is not a small problem. This looting may lead to the collapse of government.” He stressed that “the phenomenon of illegal reception [of funds] thus promotes aristocracy, luxury, and extravagance in the community. Illicit withdrawal of funds is a betrayal of the ideas of the revolution.” Movahedi Kermani added, “I say to the [government] officials… The people are waiting for you. Yes, orders have been given, but they are waiting for action.” (IRNA)

Regional Developments and Diplomacy

• Foreign Ministry reacts to UN report. An unnamed Foreign Ministry official criticized UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s report calling Iran’s ballistic missile tests “inconsistent with the constructive spirit” of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The official criticized the secretary general for giving into “political pressures” and urged him to instead release a “realistic and fair report” on Washington’s “shortcomings” in fulfilling its JCPOA obligations. Ban called upon Iran to refrain from such missile tests and said that it is up to the UN Security Council to decide if Iran is in violation of any UNSC resolutions. (Press TV) (E) (Fars News Agency)
  • Expediency Discernment Council Secretary and former IRGC Commander Mohsen Rezaei also commented on the UN report, stating, “The defensive Iranian missile tests are not inconsistent with the security and peace of the region. The missiles and bombs of the Zionist regime and Saudi Arabia are.” (Tabnak) 
     
• Foreign Ministry criticizes U.S. legislation on Boeing deal. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi condemned the legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives intended to block the sale of Boeing aircraft to Iran Air. Ghassemi stated, “The U.S. government is committed [under the nuclear deal] to resolve whatever conflicts with the nuclear deal.” He added, “We put great importance on the commitments of the opposing side… We consider the U.S. government responsible for implementing its commitments.” (Fars News Agency)  

Casualties in Iraq and Syria

• Three Afghans buried in Tehran province. Iranian news outlets reported that three Afghans killed in Syria were buried in Varamin, Tehran province. They were likely members of the Afghan Shia militia Fatimiyoun Brigade. (IRNA)