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

Politics

• Presidential crisis:
  • An unnamed "source in the armed forces " commenting on "statements of the head of the deviant current” [Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei] in an interview with Fars News: "These people and groups should know that they do not have any place in management of the country. The nation has repelled them forever and it is clear that the forces of the revolution vigilantly monitor their movements and know where they live."
    • Haft-e Sobh, close to Ahmadinejad, says: "The founder of the Islamic Republic [Khomeini] in his testament not only prohibited the military from intervening in politics, but he also stressed that such forces should not even get close to such problems and they should keep their distance from political games... Imam Khomeini has overtly considered the Basij as a part of the body of the armed forces and has prohibited it from intervening in politics... Any military person who intervenes in the partisan electoral atmosphere will be held responsible for his actions..." 
  • Serat News, close to Kayhan editor Hossein Shariatmadari, warns against "attempt of the current of deviation to control the [Iran] Red Crescent" and creation of a scout organization "rivaling the Basij."
    • According to Borna News, Tehran Municipality has intensified its cooperation with the Revolutionary Guards.
  • Ayandeh and Ammariyon websites accuse Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei of having had a "secret visit to [Saudi] Arabia," thereby "betraying the Islamic movements of the region, a dagger in the back of all Muslims from the hands of the deviant current."

Military and Security

• Javan publishes an interview with an unnamed Basij leader from Tehran who talks about the  post-2009 election performance of the Basij:
  • "We had not been trained in urban warfare, but were introduced to riot control... Performance of the boys of the Basij in this field is quite telling. They did everything in their power. In the beginning, the number of the protesters was not small... In reality, the work of the Basij began prior to the election... at a time news reached us that 10 ladies had removed their hijab and it had come to skirmishes. A month prior to the election the Basij was in the arena, but from the night of the election it entered the field more forcefully... Equipment of the Basij was not zero, but if the boys of the Basij had access to the equipment which the Law Enforcement Forces and the anti-riot force had access to, have no doubt that this issue would not have continued for so long... The rioters were well organized. They were not empty handed... They had firearms... There were those who said that the more the problems continue the more it would harm the morale of the boys of the Basij, but the opposite happened... A lady who had attacked a Basij member with a brick in her hand shouted 'Ya-Hossein.’ It was clear that this lady had been misled and was influenced by the psychological atmosphere against the Basij... The condition of those days was very bad. Just like during the first days of the revolution. Anyone who was bearded faced the worst behavior... Their psychological warfare was very strong... A lady whose religious dress was deficient had a Quran in her hand... Most of their leaders were women... They knew our boys would not beat them... Most wounded [Basij personnel] were not accepted at the hospitals... This revolt is not yet over. It is like fire beneath the ashes. Even if Mr. Ahmadinejad's tenure is over the sedition will continue since their real goal was not Mr. Ahmadinejad. They are opposed to the regime..."
• Sobh-e Sadeq warns against "suitcase internet," and urges the decision-makers to mobilize hackers to counter the new threat.

Human Rights

• Emad al-Din Baqi, civil rights activist, freed from Evin prison.

Religion, Society and Culture

• Shi'a News warns against "spread of Bahaism in Hormozgan."
• Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi commenting on recent cases of rape in Iran, says the crimes are due to "deficient hijab."
• The Revolutionary Guards arrests 7 exorcists in Hamadan.

Photo of the Day

• Basij Chief Mohammad-Reza Naqdi commemorates the "victims of terror."