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: Senior Iranian officials encouraged protests against the government of Bahrain and warned that its treatment of a leading Shia cleric could prompt an armed insurrection in the country.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry and several parliamentarians praised resistance against Bahrain’s government after it revoked the citizenship of Ayatollah Isa Qassim, Bahrain’s leading Shia cleric. The IRGC also released a statement warning the Bahraini government that its actions will “inflame the torch of an Islamic revolution of Bahrain and the formation of uprisings against the despotic regime governing the country.” Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani encouraged “the repressed people who have been deprived of their basic rights to revolt” and called for Bahrain’s rulers to “learn from the fate of the Shah of Iran,” who was deposed in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. This rhetoric comes as reports indicate that localized protests have already begun in Bahrain. The decision to strip Ayatollah Isa Qassim of his citizenship appears to be part of a larger crackdown by the government against the country’s Shia majority after the largest Shia political group in the country, al Wefaq, was suspended by a Bahraini court last week. In 2011 Bahrain’s Shia community staged large-scale protests that were suppressed by security forces. Bahraini security officials have repeatedly blamed Iran for having a hand in the uprising.

First Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri ordered the creation of a three-person committee to review the issue of senior Iranian government employees receiving “astronomical salaries” and other benefits far above the mandated cap. Attorney General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri commented on the scandal, stating, “There is the expectation that Rouhani, as he promised, will deal with these government employees... We expect that several individuals who have evidence against them will be removed from their positions.”

Transportation Minister Abbas Akhoundi? claimed that the announced deal signed between Boeing and Iran Air will have an estimated value of $25 billion. Boeing also released a statement declaring that “any and all contracts with Iran’s airlines will be contingent upon U.S. government approval.” The U.S. government must issue export licenses for Iran Air’s deals with Boeing and Airbus before they can be finalized. In 2011, the Treasury Department sanctioned Iran Air for transporting military-related equipment on behalf of the IRGC, including to Syria.

AEI Must-Reads

• Matthew McInnis analyzes President Hassan Rouhani’s ability to push through economic reforms in “Will Rouhani have a tough road to re-election?”

Regional Developments and Diplomacy

• Foreign Ministry condemns Bahrain. The Foreign Ministry released a statement on June 21 condemning the government of Bahrain for stripping the citizenship of Ayatollah Isa Qassim, Bahrain’s leading Shia cleric. The statement notes, “Such actions eliminate hope in reform through dialogue and peaceful means.” (Fars News Agency)
  • Several senior parliamentarians also issued statements critical of the Bahraini government. Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani encouraged “the repressed people who have been deprived of their basic rights to revolt” and stated, “Bahrain’s rulers should learn from the fate of the Shah of Iran and know that they are not one thousandth of the Shah of Iran and many others.” Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the chairman of Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, praised IRGC Quds Force Commander Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani’s June 20 statement that the people of Bahrain have “no choice but armed resistance” and called Soleimani’s statement a “manifestation of divine anger at a great crime.” Boroujerdi added that Bahrain’s citizens have fought “for many years for freedom and for the defense of their rights against the armed forces of Bahrain and the occupying forces of Saudi Arabia.” Gholamreza Kateb, a member of Parliament’s presiding board, addressed Parliament with a statement signed by 252 parliamentarians condemning the government of Bahrain for stripping Ayatollah Isa Qassim of his citizenship. (Fars News Agency) (Press TV) (E) (Tabnak) (Fars News Agency)
  • The IRGC also released a statement condemning Bahrain’s government. It read that the government’s actions against Qassim “will lead to a further inflaming of the torch of an Islamic revolution of Bahrain and the formation of uprisings against the despotic regime governing the country.” (Mashregh News)
     
• Boroujerdi: NSFP Commission’s focus will be tracking the implementation of the nuclear agreement.  Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the recently re-elected chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy (NSFP) Parliamentary Commission, emphasized that the commission’s priority in coming months will be “tracking the implementation of the JCPOA and giving special attention to the removal of sanctions after the JCPOA, per the specifications of the Supreme Leader.” The NSFP Commission has some legislative oversight over the JCPOA’s implementation per the resolution Parliament passed on the nuclear deal on October 13, 2015. (IRNA)

Domestic Politics

• New committee created to review exorbitant government salaries. First Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri ordered the creation of a three-person committee to review the issue of senior Iranian government officials receiving “astronomical salaries” as well as low-interest loans and bonuses far above the mandated cap for government employees. President Hassan Rouhani recently requested that Jahangiri investigate the issue. (ILNA)
  • Intelligence minister thanks news outlets for leaking salaries. Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) Head Hojjat ol Eslam Mahmoud Alavi praised the disclosure of the salaries by Iranian press. Alavi noted that the leaks created awareness about the issue and led to the the Rouhani administration ordering an investigation. (Mashregh News)
  • Attorney general: Rouhani will address the scandal seriously. Attorney General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri stated, “Unfortunately, this issue has been transformed into a partisan issue today. The Rouhani administration and the Judiciary must address this issue seriously. There is the expectation that Rouhani, as he promised, will deal with these government employees... We expect that several individuals who have evidence against them will be removed from their positions.” (ILNA)
     
• Conflicting reports emerge over Society of Qom Seminary Teachers’ letter to President Rouhani. Tasnim News Agency and Fars News Agency, two hardline news outlets, reported that the Society of Qom Seminary Teachers, an influential conservative clerical organization, sent a “confidential” letter to President Hassan Rouhani warning that his administration must “reform” some of its “approaches” so that they conform to the “framework of Islamic values.” An anonymous member of the Society claimed that this letter was personally delivered to Rouhani. Morteza Moghtadai, the Society’s deputy chairman, rejected these reports.  (Basij News) (Serat News)
   
• Khamenei: Poetry an effective tool in the soft war. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stressed the importance of poetry in promoting the country’s interests vis-a-vis its enemies. Khamenei called for poetry to be written about issues including America's "betrayal" in the nuclear agreement, Yemen, and Palestine. He added that Iranian media outlets must promote these poems on a large scale in order to gain popularity. (Leader.ir) (E)

Military and Security

• New details released on terrorist plot in Tehran. Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) Head Hojjat ol Eslam Mahmoud Alavi disclosed new details on the recent arrests of individuals linked to one of the “largest takfiri-Wahhabi terrorist plots” in Iran. Alavi stated that MOIS officers arrested 10 “takfiri-Wahhabi” terrorists between June 14 and June 20 in Tehran and three other unnamed provinces in central Iran and on the country’s borders. Alavi added that 100 kilograms of explosives were also discovered during the arrests. Alavi stated that that the terrorists intended to target crowded public areas with suicide attacks and vehicle-born improvised explosive devices. (Fars News Agency)

Economy

• Inflation rate drops to single digits “after 25 years.” Rouhani Administration Spokesman Mohammad Bagher Nobakht announced that Iran’s inflation rate fell from 10.2 percent to 9.5 percent during the month of Khordad (May 21-June 20). Nobakht praised the number as a “great accomplishment” for the Rouhani administration during his speech in Parliament on June 21.
  • Adel Azar, the head of the Statistical Center of Iran, predicted that inflation will continue to decrease during an interview with reporters. He stated, “After 25 years, the inflation rate has finally fallen to single digits… If the policies that the Rouhani administration has pursued with the direct supervision of President Hassan Rouhani continue, the inflation rate will continue to fall.” (Mehr News Agency) (IRNA) 
     
• Transportation Minister: Boeing deal estimated at $25 billion. Transportation Minister Abbas Akhoundi? stated that the deal signed between Boeing and Iran Air will be worth $25 billion. (Fars News Agency)
   
• French car manufacturer finalizes agreement with Iran Khodro. PSA Peugeot Citroen signed a joint venture agreement with Iran’s largest automobile manufacturer that will invest €400 million over the next five years in manufacturing and research and development. Iran Khodro already dominates Iran’s market and has set up production lines in Venezuela, Belarus, Senegal, and Azerbaijan. (Press TV) (E)