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 Mehrdad Moarefian, Marie Donovan, 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: Major General Hassan Firouzabadi stated that Iran would never accept “any protocol or agreement” that allows access to Iran’s military sites.

The Armed Forces General Staff Headquarters Chief Major General Hassan Firouzabadi stressed that other countries cannot dictate Iran’s security requirements by demanding access or inspections at military facilities. Firouzabadi urged that “everyone must be watchful of this red line.” Firouzabadi’s comments echo statements made by other prominent military officials who strongly oppose inspection of military bases.

In response to a Wall Street Journal report, the Iranian Ambassador to Afghanistan denied that Iran was arming and funding elements of the Taliban.

The Guardian Council Secretary Ahmad Jannati claimed that the United States and its allies are trying to slow the nuclear negotiations in order to “frustrate us so that we are forced to give up.”

AEI Resident Fellow J. Matthew McInnis discusses Iran’s efforts to establish a new framework for its national security strategy, and the regime’s attempts to finesse the issue of IAEA inspections of Iran’s military sites in his most recent blog post, "Did Iran's leaders just admit they are intellectually bankrupt?"

Nuclear Talks

• Nuclear talks continue. Deputy Foreign Ministers Abbas Araghchi and Majid Takht Ravanchi met with U.S. Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman and E.U. Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs Helga Schmid in order to finalize the text of a comprehensive nuclear deal.  (Tabnak) http://www.tabnak.ir/fa/news/510056/5%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA-%D9%85%D8%B0%D8%A7%DA%A9%D8%B1%D9%87-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%BE%D8%A7-%D9%88-%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%85

   

• Firouzabadi: “Access to military sights in any way is forbidden.” Maj. Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi stated that foreign countries’ interests cannot determine Iran’s national security. The Armed Forces General Staff Headquarters Chief stressed that Iran would not agree to any “protocol or agreement” which allows access to military sites. He urged that “everyone must be watchful of this red line [access to military sites].” (YJC)http://www.yjc.ir/fa/news/5236643/%D9%87%D8%B1%DA%AF%D9%88%D9%86%D9%87-%...
   
• Ryabkov: Ministerial meeting of P5+1 members and Iran likely on June 25. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters that the nuclear negotiating team members from the P5+1 and Iran will likely meet on June 25 to discuss Tehran’s nuclear program. (Tasnim News Agency) (E) http://www.tasnimnews.com/english/Home/Single/775112      
   
• Jokar: Outside interviews with nuclear scientists will never be permitted. Parliamentarian Mohammad Saleh Jokar stated that the West’s demand for IAEA interview access to Iranian nuclear scientists will never be met. The National Security and Foreign Policy Parliamentary Commission member also cited Tehran’s past rejection of two U.S. bids to include interviews in a possible final nuclear deal. (Tasnim News Agency) (E)http://www.tasnimnews.com/english/Home/Single/774796

Official Statements

• Bahrami: “Iran and Taliban don’t have any relations…” In an interview with Afghan news outlet Tolonews, Iranian Ambassador to Kabul Mohammad Reza Bahrami denied allegations that Iran has any relationship to the Taliban, and indicated that “any ties with these groups [such as Taliban] will harm Iran, the region, and outside the region.” (Fars News Agency) (E)http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940328000595
   
• Jannati criticizes West’s behavior in the nuclear negotiations.  Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati stated, “We are suspicious... of the other side [in the nuclear talks]….” The Guardian Council Secretary added that the West “wants to frustrate us so that we are forced to give up.” (YJC)http://www.yjc.ir/fa/news/5236412/%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AE%DB%8C-%D8%AE%DB%8C%...
   
• Tehran condemns terrorist attacks in Yemen. Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Sana’a, Yemen, by stating "The oppressed people of Yemen are confronting and fighting terrorists...led by Saudi Arabia." She called on the international community to continue to provide humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people. (IRNA) (E) http://www.irna.ir/en/News/81651850/

Military and Security

• Iranian Navy foils attempted pirate attack on cargo ship. On Thursday morning, five pirate speedboats approached a cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden. Nearby Artesh Navy vessels quickly responded to the cargo ship’s distress call and thwarted the hijacking. Six pirate speedboats returned three hours later, but "they fled the scene after facing the Iranian Navy's 34th fleet of warships' swift reaction." (Fars News Agency) (E) http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940328000696 

Regional Developments and Diplomacy

• Rouhani calls Qatari Emir to promote regional cooperation. President Hassan Rouhani stressed the need for regional cooperation during a telephone conversation with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Rouhani also promoted joint Tehran-Doha collaboration in resolving regional crises. (President.ir) http://president.ir/fa/87717
   
• Senior Iranian cleric visits Japan. Secretary General of the Ahl al Bayt World Assembly Hojjat al Eslam Mohammad Hassan Akhtari visited the Al Mustafa University in Japan. (ABNA)http://fa.abna24.com/service/ab/archive/2015/06/17/689373/story.html