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 and Judiciary Head Sadegh Amoli Larijani clashed over the Judiciary’s impact on attracting foreign investment to Iran.
President Rouhani argued that the Judiciary is impeding foreign investment in Iran by creating a negative security environment for investors. Larijani denied Rouhani’s allegations and defended the Judiciary. He stated that the Judiciary “not only does not prevent healthy investment… but also facilitates healthy investment by dealing decisively with corruption.” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and others have pushed back on President Rouhani’s emphasis on attracting foreign investment in Iran. Rouhani and Larijani have clashed over a number of issues during Rouhani’s presidency, especially over freedom of expression and the press. Rouhani has been under particular pressure to defend his economic record leading up to the May presidential elections, however, following intense criticism from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other officials.
This Iran News Round Up predominantly covers events from March 29.
Rouhani and Judiciary Head Larijani clash over Judiciary’s impact on investment.
- Judiciary Head Ayatollah Sadegh Amoli Larijani reacted to criticism from President Hassan Rouhani regarding the Judiciary’s arrest of an unidentified investor. Rouhani also called on the Judiciary to improve its efforts to attract investors to Iran. Judiciary Head Ayatollah Sadegh Amoli Larijani responded that “there is no place in the Judiciary for the detention of someone on a whim.” Larijani said it is “totally false” to claim that the Judiciary would detain an investor in order to impede investment in Iran. Larijani also stated, “The Judiciary not only does not prevent healthy investment… but also facilitates healthy investment by dealing decisively with corruption.” (BBC Persian) (Radio Farda) (Mizan Online)
Rouhani: Iran-Russia relationship “has been completely transformed.”
President Hassan Rouhani addressed Iran-Russia relations upon his return from his visit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Rouhani stated that the varied contents of the recently released Iran-Russia joint statement “show how much relations between Tehran and Moscow have improved… I would say, overall, that Iran-Russia relations on both bilateral and regional terms have been completely transformed.”
- Rouhani stated that “Iran and Russia have had… constructive cooperation in the fight against terrorism, efforts to establish peace and stability in the region and the resolution of issues of Syria and Iraq.” Rouhani also stressed that Iran has “trilateral cooperation with Russia and Turkey on the issue of resolving the Syrian issue and achieving stability of the region.” (Fars News Agency)
Ghassemi: Iran could be the EU’s most reliable partner in the Middle East.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi argued that Iran could be the EU’s most reliable partner in the Middle East as Iran has proven it has “economic and cultural capabilities, and can be trusted for its steadfastness and stabilizing” role. He added that because Iran has made great efforts in fighting terrorism and sources of instability, it could help resolve many of the problems the EU currently faces. (Press TV)
Cultural minister meets with Algerian counterpart.
Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Reza Salehi Amiri met with Algerian Religious Affairs Minister Mohammad Aissa in Algiers on March 29. Salehi Amiri stated that Algeria, like Iran, is “taking the right stance against terrorism.” Salehi Amiri also stated that “Iran’s problems with Saudi Arabia must not harm relations between Tehran and Algiers.” (Fars News Agency) (E) (Boultan News)
Citations & Links
1.
Mizan Online
http://www.mizanonline.ir/fa/news/293321/دستگاه-قضایی-جای-برخوردهای-از-سر-هوس-نیست-کمااینکه-جای-خواهش-از-متهمان-هم-نیست-قوه-قضائیه-در-راستای-تامین-امنیت-سرمایه-گذاری-سالم-با-موانع-تولید-و-اشتغال-برخورد-می%E2%80%8Cکند
Citations & Links
1.
Fars News Agency
http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13960109000105
Citations & Links
1.
Press TV
http://presstv.com/Detail/2017/03/29/516026/Iran-EU-Europe-Bahram-Qassemi-JCPOA
Citations & Links
1.
Fars News Agency
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960109000624
2.
Boultan News
http://boultan.ir/news/442163/صالحی-امیری-ایران-و-الجزایر-در-خاورمیانه-و-شمال-آفریقا-می-توانند-گام-های-مشترکی-بردارند
Jafari calls on Rouhani administration to provide water for Khuzestan.
IRGC Commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari called on the government to provide water to Khuzestan to combat the recent buildup of dust in the region. Jafari said that the IRGC and Basij can assist in these services due to construction experience and provide relief to the people of Khuzestan. (Mehr News Agency) (ISNA)
Citations & Links
1.
Mehr News Agency
http://www.mehrnews.com/news/3940668/دولت-باید-آب-نهال-کاری-در-خوزستان-را-تامین-کند
2.
ISNA
http://www.isna.ir/news/96010902343/هیات-دولت-وظایف-دستگاه-های-مختلف-را-برای-رفع-مشکلات-استان-خوزستان
Armed Forces General Staff: Iran’s military capabilities have cause the enemy to panic.
The Armed Forces General Staff released a statement praising Iran’s development in the military arena ahead of the anniversary of the 1979 referendum establishing Iran as an Islamic republic. The statement highlighted Iran’s major regional role and claimed the country’s “military and defensive sphere has led to panicking on the enemy’s front.” (Tasnim News Agency)
Citations & Links
1.
Tasnim News Agency
https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1396/01/09/1365995/حوزه-نظامی-و-دفاعی-جمهوری-اسلامی-جبهه-دشمن-را-دچار-وحشت-راهبردی-کرده-است
