Iran News Round Up

Expediency Discernment Council Secretary and former IRGC Commander Mohsen Rezaei criticized President Hassan Rouhani’s stance towards the U.S. under President Donald Trump’s administration. Rezaei indicated that Trump is very different than former President Barack Obama. Rezai stated that Rouhani’s policy under Obama will not work under the Trump administration, as such a policy could lead to “abuse by the U.S. and Israeli hawks.”  Rezaei warned that Trump is attempting to “escape from Mr. Obama’s obligations” by means of “new accusations.” Rezaei called on Rouhani to “signal to Trump” that Iran is not weak, and warned that if Rouhani does not “speak to Mr. Trump” in a different way, his “current behavior” may “appear as weakness” to the U.S., and the U.S. will think that “any kind of pressure on the Iranian government will be effective.” Rezaei called on the Rouhani administration to “abandon such peace-seeking rhetoric” and adopt a “robust movement towards resuscitating” Iran’s economy.

• Rezaei also claimed that Rouhani’s foreign policy has been “limited to” the nuclear deal, and accused Rouhani of allowing the nuclear deal to transform “from a tactical affair to a strategic issue.” Rezaei also stated that the Rouhani cabinet’s rhetoric has “contributed little to the relieving the public of economic difficulties,” and criticized existing sanctions and the decrease in the value of Iran’s currency. (Mehr News Agency) (E) (Mehr News Agency)

IRGC Navy Lt. Cmdr. Mehdi Hashemi discussed Western media reports that “multiple” IRGC fast-attack craft came within 600 yards of the USNS Invincible and three Royal Navy vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and forced them to change direction. Hashemi called the Western media’s account of the story “false,” and claimed that the Invincible and the accompanying ships “pivoted from” the international maritime transit route and “towards” the IRGC vessels. Hashemi stated that “such actions can have irremediable consequences.” He also stated that the “presence of American and English ships in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz is associated with fear and terror and jeopardizes the security of this strategic region, which provides much of the world’s energy.” (Press TV) (E) (Ghatreh)

Six soldiers killed in Syria were buried in Qom province on March 8. Iranian news outlets did not specify the names or military affiliations of the soldiers, but flags at the funeral ceremonies suggest that some were members of the Afghan Shia militia Fatimiyoun Brigade and Pakistani Shia militia Zeinabiyoun Brigade.(Defa Press)