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 subscribe to this daily newsletter, please visit this page, fill out the "New Subscribers" section, and check "Iran News Round Up" listed under "Projects." 
 
(E) = Article in English

Politics

• News stories related to the election for the head of the Assembly of Experts:
  • Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani elected Assembly of Experts head with 63 votes.
  • Rafsanjani did not contest the election.
  • Rafsanjani addresses the Assembly of Experts:
    • "In the recent months there was mayhem in the press, especially concerning the election to the head of the Assembly of the Experts."
    • "One must not allow conflict to spread to the Assembly and I think evil machinations were organized for the election for the head of the Assembly."
    • "Two years ago I asked Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani to run for head, Mr. Tabasi constantly talked with him about accepting the responsibility which he declined."
    • "Back then I chose to remain to engage in non-partisan deeds in this sacred institution so that the Assembly is a source of hope and happiness for all."
    • "At the Assembly, there are more than 80 just and qualified Mojtahed who constitute a benign capital for our country. Eruption of or display of disunity in this assembly is very malign."
    • "In the recent months deeds were done which made me feel the danger. I asked Mr. Emami Kashani to talk with Mr. Mahdavi Kani and he communicated my suggestion to Mr. Mahdavi Kani and I said that I will support Mr. Mahdavi Kani and I intended to solve this problem through this in order to avoid disunity in the Assembly... Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani talked of his advanced age, but our viewpoint was that the Board will assist him management of the Assembly and it was also the case during Ayatollah Meshkini but no clear answer was received from Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani..."
    • "Now I announce that if Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani is ready to accept the responsibility of the Assembly I will most certain not run so that this sacred institution is not harmed. Whomever among the gentlemen should be ready we will accept it and cooperate."
    • "I have never been a candidate to any position - neither before nor after the revolution - and acceptance of responsibilities has only been due to force or responsibility."
    • "Friends considered my not entering the race as dangerous, but despite this I sought the council of the Supreme Leader of the Revolution and through the gentlemen Tabasi and Rowhani he sent message that my presence in this arena was necessary... I stressed that as long as 80 gentlemen [members of the Assembly] are in the arena of election there was no need for my presence, but because of the Leadership stressing this I accepted the preliminaries and announced candidacy. Of course, just like the ninth [presidential] election I also experienced ill behavior but it was more limited." 
    • "The people constitute an important pillar in the victory and the preservation of the revolution and we too must struggle to avoid conflict among this loyal public, must see to it that they remain cohesive and we must take the threat of disunity seriously... We must see to it that issues which should not be attributed to the Leadership are not attributed to him and the Leader of the Revolution himself is also aware of this and he constantly stresses upon this. We too must know that if the pillar is damaged, the tent will not remain standing..."
  • Ayandeh News' biography of Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani:
    • "During the revolution Mohammad-Reza Mahdavi Kani was among the most intellectual revolutionary clergymen to the degree that according to some accounts he was one of the supporters of Dr. Ali Shariati in the face of [Shariati's] critics. He drew a line between himself and the revolutionary forces known as 'followers of the Imam' in the issue of seizure of the Den of Espionage, he criticized the seizure and abstained from showing up at the place for prayer and considered the [seized embassy] territory 'usurped.'... At the first round of presidential elections... where Ayatollahs Beheshti, Hashemi [Rafsanjani] and Khamenei were considered the toughest opponents of Bani-Sadr... Mahdavi Kani... was one of Bani-Sadr's most important revolutionary clerical supporters... In his memoirs Mahdavi Kani writes: 'I did not oppose Bani-Sadr because the Imam [Khomeini] approved of him.'.. Some of his supporters campaigned on his behalf to replace Mir-Hossein Mousavi as prime minister, which was not accepted by then president [Ali Khamenei] and through interventions of Mohsen Rezai, then Revolutionary Guards chief, and his [Rezai's] demand for Mir-Hossein Mousavi continuing as Prime Minister for the sake of the expediency of the war, the attempt did not succeed... Mahdavi Kani was a serious supporter of Nateq Nouri at the seventh presidential election... In an interview with Abrar Mahdavi Kani just a day before the presidential election Kani said that my guess is that the Leader is in favor of Nateq Nouri... a statement which was later used as an instrument against the Leader..." 
  • According to Ayandeh News, cyber attacks against Ayandeh's server ended as soon as Rafsanjani announced he would not run for the head of the Assembly of Experts.
• According to Mahramaneh News, Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Bagher Qalibaf is organizing his supporters to run for parliament from Tehran Municipality's Center for Religious Activities. 

Diplomacy

• According to Asr-e Iran, a "high ranking delegation from Iran," possibly headed by Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei, has applied for visas to the United States.
• [E] Iran emphasizes that it would continue efforts to find about missing FBI agent Robert Levinson.
• [E] Ahmadinejad meets with Indian National Security Advisor, calls for further bilateral ties and increased regional leadership.
• [E] Iran voices opposition to possible foreign military intervention in Libya, says Foreign Ministry.

Military and Security

• Esmail Ghaani, Revolutionary Guards Qods Force deputy commander, says the popular movements in the Arab world are inspired by "Iran's Islamic revolution."
• Hojjat al-Eslam Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani addresses a seminar of the commanders of the Ali-Ibn-e Abi-Taleb Revolutionary Guards unit in Qom: "Those who laughed at the [idea] of exporting the revolution are now helpless and staring... Had it not been for the Arabic sermon of the Supreme Leader, according to many leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, their resolve for revolution would have been weak... The sermon of the Leader pumped blood in the veins of Egyptian revolutionaries and gave life to their revolution."

Nuclear Issue

• [E] Recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) supports Iran’s statement on the non-diversion of nuclear activity from peaceful purposes.

Iran in the Afghan Media

• Iran’s defense minister visited the Afghan capital Kabul and voiced objection to the possible establishment of permanent U.S. bases in the neighboring country.

Photos of the Day

• Assembly of Experts convenes.