Iran News Round Up
The Iran News Round Up ran from February 2009-September 2018. Visit the Iran File for the latest analysis.
Key takeaway: President Hassan Rouhani met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan amidst increasing rhetorical tension between their countries.
Rouhani and Erdogan met on the sidelines of a summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Islamabad on March 1. Rouhani highlighted Iran’s disapproval of Turkish military intervention in Syria and stated that “any violation of territorial integrity… especially in Syria and Iraq, is in opposition” to the Islamic Republic’s regional policies. Rouhani and Erdogan’s meeting comes amidst increased rhetorical tension between their two countries. Erdogan and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu accused Iran of seeking “to turn Syria and Iraq… Shiite” in late February. Iranian officials criticized the statements and the Foreign Ministry summoned Turkish Ambassador to Iran Hakan Tekin in response. Iran has worked to bring Turkey into diplomatic initiatives to end the Syrian Civil War which exclude the U.S., but Turkish support for Syrian opposition groups remains one of the main sticking points for Iran-Turkey relations.
This Iran News Round Up predominantly covers events from March 1.
Rouhani and Erdogan meet on sidelines of ECO summit.
President Hassan Rouhani met with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit in Islamabad on March 1. Rouhani stated, “Iran has insisted on maintaining regional countries’ territorial integrity. Any violation of territorial integrity in the region, especially in Syria and Iraq, is in opposition to this.” Erdogan stated that Iran and Turkey “are in the same direction in the fight against terrorism along with addressing pressing issues of the Middle East.” (Mehr News Agency) (E) (Fars News Agency)
Zarif: Saudi Arabia must be willing to move towards detente.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned that if “Saudi Arabia does not wish to move in the direction of detente, the efforts of the Islamic Republic in this regard will not be successful.” Zarif claimed that Iran has exercised restraint in response to Saudi Arabia’s “increasing of tensions.” Zarif stated that Iran’s restrain in this regard is “based upon a strategic approach to regional conditions” and upon “self-confidence.” Zarif’s comments echo other senior Iranian officials’ continued push-back against Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al Jubeir’s recent allegations that Iran is promoting regional insecurity. Zarif’s comments also follow al Jubeir’s recent high-profile visit to Baghdad. Al Jubeir expressed Saudi Arabia’s desire to restore diplomatic relations with Iraq during his visit. (Etemad)
Foreign Ministry denies UAE allegations that Iran has prolonged Yemen conflict.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi dismissed United Arab Emirates’ Foreign Minister Anwar Mohammad Gargash’s statement at the 34th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council that Iran’s provision of “increasingly sophisticated weapons, including ballistic missiles and armed drones,” is prolonging the crisis in Yemen and “creating conditions that allow Al Qaeda” and ISIS “more space to operate.” Ghassemi called Gargash’s statement “unfounded” and said that “the UAE and other members of the warmongering coalition are directly responsible for the crimes committed in Yemen and the rise of terrorism there and in the entire region.” (Press TV) (E) (Mehr News Agency)
Citations & Links
1.
Mehr News Agency
http://en.mehrnews.com/news/123940/Rouhani-Erdo%C4%9Fan-talk-bilateral-ties-in-ECO-summit
2.
Fars News Agency
http://www.farsnews.com/13951211001227
Citations & Links
1.
Etemad
http://www.etemadnewspaper.ir/Modules/News/PrintVer.aspx?News_Id=69654&V_News_Id=&Src=Main
Citations & Links
1.
Mehr News Agency
http://www.mehrnews.com/news/3921098/%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%88-%D8%B3%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%B6%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%81-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A6%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%AC%D9%86%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AA-%DA%AF%D8%B1%D9%81%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%DB%8C%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%87%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%AF
Artesh appoints heads of branches’ ideological-political directorates.
Artesh Ideological-Political Directorate Head Hojjat ol Eslam Mohammad Ali al Hashem appointed new heads of the ideological-political directorates of the Artesh Ground Forces, Artesh Navy, and Khatam ol Anbia Air Defense Base. The ideological-political directorate of each branch is headed by a cleric and is responsible for ensuring the branch’s religious and ideological loyalty to the regime. The Artesh Ground Forces in particular has undergone significant personnel changes over the last year. The promotion of several senior Artesh Ground Forces officials reflects the Artesh Ground Forces’ growing importance in Iranian military operations, especially abroad. (Fars News Agency)
Cyber Police to expand rapidly in the next year.
Deputy Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) Commander Brig. Gen. Eskandar Momeni stated that the Cyber Police forces have been established “in all provinces and cities” with populations of over 200,000 people, and will be established “in cities of over 100,000 people in the next year.” The Cyber Police unit was formed in 2011. (ISNA)
Citations & Links
1.
Fars News Agency
http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13951211001024
Citations & Links
1.
ISNA
http://www.isna.ir/news/95121107569/%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C-%D9%BE%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%B3-%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%A7-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%DB%8C-100-%D9%87%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%86%D9%81%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A2%DB%8C%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87
Jafari highlights IRGC’s “recent” foray into agricultural sector.
IRGC Commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari stated that the IRGC had entered the agricultural sector “recently” as part of its larger effort to implement the Supreme Leader’s “Resistance Economy” doctrine, which is designed to make the Iranian economy resistant to external shocks, including sanctions and global financial crises. (Tasnim News Agency) (E) (YJC)
Citations & Links
1.
Tasnim News Agency
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2017/03/01/1343248/commander-highlights-irgc-s-role-in-iran-s-agricultural-development
2.
YJC
http://www.yjc.ir/fa/news/5998952/%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B9%D9%87-%D8%B3%D9%BE%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D9%85%DA%A9-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%85%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%B5%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%B2%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA
Rouhani advisor: Rouhani hasn’t spoken publicly regarding another presidential run.
Ali Najafi, economic advisor to President Hassan Rouhani, stressed that Rouhani “has not yet spoken publicly” on whether he will run in the May 2017 presidential elections. Najafi’s comments follow Vice President for Parliamentary Affairs Hossein Ali Amiri’s February 26 statement that Rouhani has decided to run.
- Najafi also stated that the “current strategy” of Rouhani’s “likely rivals” is to “destroy” the Rouhani government, and claimed that those rivals “have not uttered one sentence about” what policies they would pursue. The Guardian Council must approve candidates for the presidential elections before formal campaigning can begin. The Guardian Council typically does not approve candidates until close to the elections. The formal presidential campaign season in Iran is thus very short. (Mehr News Agency) (E) (ISNA)
Nearly 90 candidates already registered for parliamentary midterm elections.
An Interior Ministry official stated that 88 candidates have registered thus far to run in the May 2017 parliamentary elections for four districts, including two in East Azerbaijan Province. The Guardian Council annulled the results of four electoral districts following the spring 2016 parliamentary elections. (Fars News Agency)
Citations & Links
1.
Mehr News Agency
http://en.mehrnews.com/news/123852/Rouhani-to-run-for-2017-Presidential-Election
2.
ISNA
http://www.isna.ir/news/95121107254/%D8%B1%DB%8C%DB%8C%D8%B3-%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D8%B5%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%85-%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B9%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%86%DA%AF%D8%B1%D9%81%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA
Citations & Links
1.
Fars News Agency
http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13951211001471
