Iran News Round Up

A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by the AEI Critical Threats Project's Iran research team. 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

• Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed participants of the Holy Quran International Competition and said:
  • "The enemies’ policy is starting internal vicarious wars and brother killing in Islamic societies. Some in the Islamic Ummah are not aware of these ominous policies and are ready to turn to Satan, even cooperate with the Zionist regime in order to confront their Muslim brothers."

• President Hassan Rouhani addressed a gathering in Tehran commemorating the anniversary of Ayatollah Khomeini’s death. Rouhani  underlined the importance of continuing  the path of resistance, while imploring the Muslim world to unite and said:
  • “The great Imam said ‘If a Shi’a fights or confronts a Sunni that individual is neither a Shi’a, nor a Sunni.”
  • “Today is the day when we should hold hands under the banner of unity.” 
  • President Rouhani’s Chief of Staff Mohammad Nahavandian met with head of Egypt’s interests section in Iran Khalid al-Said Ibrahim Amari to stress the importance of increasing bilateral ties between Iran and Egypt. During the Meeting Amari extended an official invitation to Rouhani for Abdel Fattah al Sisi’s inauguration ceremony in Cairo.

• National Security and Foreign Policy Parliamentary Commission Chairman and MP Alaeddin Boroujerdi met with Syria’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Jihad al-Laham in Demascus to monitor the presidential elections. Boroujerdi said:
  • “With this election, the Americans will no longer claim that they want to help the Syrian nation against the government of this country.”
  • Boroujerdi met with head of the Iraqi parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee Haman al-Hamoudi in Tehran. Both sides called for enhancement of parliamentary ties.

• Arab and African Affairs Deputy to the Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian arrived in Turkey to discuss tighter Tehran-Ankara cooperation during the Syrian elections. 

• International and Legal Affairs Deputy to the Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the nuclear talks “a battle of wills and determination.” He also underlined the West’s position shift regarding Iran’s right to enrichment and said:
  • “It was the other side who was forced to cross its redline and accept Iran’s inalienable right of enrichment based on the NPT.”
  • Foreign Ministry Political and International Affairs Director Hamid Baidinejad announced that expert-level talks between Iran and the P5+1 will begin tomorrow in Vienna. Negotiations will be held simultaneously with the quarterly meeting of the IAEA’s Board of Governors. 
  • Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi announced that the Bushehr nuclear power plant has resumed operation after going through “routine” maintenance.

• Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani addressed MPs  and commanders  reaffirming  his support for nuclear negotiations, but urged prudence and said:
  • “We welcome talks and have never abandoned them despite the West’s efforts to undermine the negotiations.”
  • “The West should know that there is logic in the talks and Iran acts in accordance with international law; they cannot make new rules for Iran.”

• Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held a joint press conference with Luxemburg’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Jean Asselborn in Tehran. The two discussed Syrian elections and human rights; Zarif said international law should be objective and not “selectively” applied.
  • Ali Larijani also met with Asselborn to discuss ongoing developments in the Middle East and said European countries should “adopt an independent and constructive approach” to the region.