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 receive this daily newsletter, please subscribe online.
 
(E) = Article in English

Military and Security

• Parliamentarian Ali Mottahari threatens to disclose the names of Revolutionary Guards commanders who intervene in political processes inside Iran.
  • Parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani does not refute Mottahari's statements about Revolutionary Guards intervention in politics, but urges parliamentarians to behave respectfully.
  • Parliamentarian Elias Naderan slams Mottahari and threatens to take legal action against him.
  • Parliamentarian Hojjat al-Eslam Mohammad-Hassan Aboutorabifard: "If people had God on their mind, they would not say such things..." 
• Alef News runs a story about the futility of military service in Iran.

Nuclear Issue

• Said Jalili, Supreme National Security Council secretary: "We feel that the Westerners too have discovered that the time for the strategy of force is over. There are no more things that they could have done against the Iranian nation which they have not done... Since these negotiations are based on cooperation, the seven countries will discuss issues ranging from regional, international and nuclear affairs, and we hope this is the beginning of a new round..." Jalili also expressed hope that the Baghdad negotiations would lead to the 5+1 Group "abandoning some of their futile strategies."
• Fars News publishes a backgrounder on Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman. 
• [E] Fars News: Iran offered a comprehensive package of step-by-step proposals to the six world powers during the current negotiations in Baghdad.
• [E] The European Union's Court of Justice annulled the EU Council's decision on boycotting a key Iranian oil firm. 
• [E] The United States is ready to ease restrictions on airplane-parts exports to Iran and offer nuclear aid to Tehran, American officials said after UN nuclear watchdog agency chief Yukiya Amano voiced pleasure in his recent meetings and agreements with Iran. 
• [E] Deputy heads of the Iranian team of negotiators Ali Baqeri met with Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu following the first round of talks between Tehran and the six world powers in Baghdad on Wednesday. 
• [E] The negotiating teams of Iran and the six world powers put off a second round of talks until tomorrow. 
• [E] Iran's top negotiator Saeed Jalili and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who leads the delegations of the six world powers in talks with Iran, are due to attend a bilateral meeting tonight.

Photos of the Day

• Said Jalili visiting shrines in Kazemein prior to Baghdad talks.
• Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his mother.