Iran News Round Up

Basij Organization Head IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Gheibparvar called for a “new definition” of the Basij Organization and “change [in] some of the Basij’s policies” during a speech to Basij and IRGC members on March 8. Gheibparvar stated that in the “new definition” of the Basij, Iran’s citizens “have been named the Public Basij.” He continued, “anyone who cares for the Revolution is a Basij member, even if there is no official record” as such. He indicated that this new definition would assist in the maximum attraction of the people to the Islamic Revolution and its ideas.

• Gheibparvar also outlined several other “new approaches” for the Basij, such as “avoiding writing reports that are inconsistent with Basij thinking.” Gheibparvar stressed that he is “opposed to useless reporting.” He also stated that “cyberspace will certainly be strengthened with new policies, and we will regard the Basijis’ systematic activities with a fresh look.” Gheibparvar also stated that “the Basij must hear the people’s cry on economic issues.” (IRNA)

IRGC Quds Force Commander Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani discussed the Resistance Economy doctrine and Iran’s administrative structure during a rare public speech at the Resistance Economy Headquarters for Kerman province.

• Soleimani praised the Resistance Economy doctrine as a “major, wonderful, and influential strategy” for Iran. Soleimani indicated that the government’s success in the economic realm should be measured according to its implementation of the Resistance Economy doctrine, because the Supreme Leader established the doctrine as a guide for Iran. Soleimani stated, “If the government carries out the Resistance Economy successfully, then the government is successful. If it does not carry out the Resistance Economy successfully, then it is not successful.”
• Soleimani stated that Iran has “structural problems as a whole,” and called for the reform of the “current system of administrative structure” in Iran. He stated that if system is not reformed, “these measures [namely, the proper implementation of the Resistance Economy doctrine] cannot leave their mark at the macro level.” Soleimani continued, “This does not mean that the country has to become federal or semi-federal..., but this can be done regarding delegation of power to the provinces.”
• Soleimani stated that regional states’ economies have shown that “people-based” economies allow the country to resist external or foreign “pressures, while “government-based” economies do not. (Mehr News Agency)

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reacted negatively to a recent State Department human rights report criticizing Iran’s electoral process. Khamenei responded with his own criticism of U.S. elections, saying: “The Americans, who cooperate with the most evil and inhumane regimes in the region and dealt with a huge scandal in their own recent election, are now targeting and criticising Iran’s elections.” President Hassan Rouhani had also made similar comments, highlighting that “even the current U.S. president was suspicious of the healthiness of the elections.”

• Khamenei also argued that Iran’s “growing influence in Western Asia” had “enraged Americans” and caused their policy-makers to actively “look for ways to counter Iran’s influential role.” In response, Khamenei said Iran should have an “aggressive status against the West in all fields, including human rights, terrorism and war crimes.” (Fars News Agency) (E) (Khamenei.ir)

Guardian Council Spokesman Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei stated that the Guardian Council has rejected several sections of the 6th Five-Year Development Plan, a document intended to guide government policy and to frame the annual budgetary process over the next five years. The rejected sections include legislation regarding government administrators’ salaries, a controversial topic during Rouhani’s presidency. Iran was forced last year to extend the 5th Five-Year Development Plan until the end of the current Iranian year (March 20, 2017) due to repeated delays. (Ghatreh)