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.
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(E) = Article in English

Politics

• Ali Larijani is elected Speaker of the parliament with 177 out of 270 votes. Gholam-Ali Haddad Adel, whose challenge against Larijani was supported by 89 parliamentarians, loses.
• Temporary Tehran Friday prayer leader Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, addressing the pilgrims to the Imam Reza mausoleum in Mashhad, attacks Ahmadinejad:
  
  • �"Saying that the Shahnameh [the Book of Kings, Iran's national epic by the poet Ferdowsi, which Ahmadinejad has referred to as an interpretation of the Quran] is an interpretation of the Quran shows lack of familiarity with both the Quran and the Shahnameh... For the past thirty three years, religion has administered this country. Those who have access to the tribune should take care when making statements... Strengthening the veins and roots of nationalism are among Obama's priorities... By establishing an international Nowrouz foundation Obama is trying to replace the religious beliefs of the people with nationalism..."

Military and Security

• Hojjat al-Eslam Abdollah Haji-Sadeqi, deputy representative of the Supreme Leader to the Revolutionary Guards, discusses the characteristics of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei:
  
  • "In his 23 years long tenure as Leader, he has dealt forcefully and with decisiveness, with logic and reason, whenever he was defending the regime and Islam, but whenever he himself was the issue, he has dealt magnanimously with the people and never with vindictiveness towards those who showed him enmity..."

Economy

• The Central Bank releases a price chart showing significant rise in price of foodstuff.

Trade

• Deputy Oil Minister Alireza Zaghimi says the Islamic Republic will file complains against 20 European oil companies which have not lived up to their contractual obligations to Iran.

Religion, Society and Culture

• Shia News condemns an open letter submitted to Molavi Eshaq Madani, presidential adviser in Sunni Affairs, in which Sunni theologians at the Dar al-Oloum seminary in Zahedan complain about under-representation in parliament.�

Photos of the Day

• Said Jalili, Supreme National Security Council secretary, and his son at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad. Link upon request.
• Commanders Qassem Suleimani and Mohammad-Baqer Qalifaf commemorate the 23th anniversary of the passing of Grand Ayatollah Khomeini.
• Gholam-Ali Haddad Adel dressed in deshdasheh.

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