Iran News Round Up

A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by AEI Critical Threats Project Iran Analyst Mehrdad Moarefian and Iran Intern Amir Toumaj, with contributors Chris Rawlins, Marie Donovan, and Dianna Timmerman. To receive this daily newsletter, please subscribe online.    

For in-depth analysis on the latest headlines please visit http://www.irantracker.org/analysis/iran-situation-report

Regional Developments and Diplomacy

• Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei met with Iraqi Vice President Nouri al Maliki and praised his contribution to Iraq’s stability:
  • “Your procedures in assisting the new government of Mr. Haidar al-Abadi and effort to create unity among the various Iraqi forces is very good and must continue.”
  • Al Maliki: “The Islamic Republic of Iran has given the greatest assistance to the government and people of Iraq in the fight against terrorists and foreign agents.” (Fars News Agency)
     
• According to Ahlul Bayt News Agency Iranian Hamid Reza Zamani was killed near Karbala, Iraq on October 25, reportedly fighting ISIL. Zamani was a Basij member from Hossein Abad, Kerman Province in Iran. (ABNA)
   

Official Statements

• Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani spoke at a ceremony commemorating Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Brig. Gen. Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, a leading figure Iran’s missile program, who was killed in an explosion in 2011:
  • “The goal of the IRGC is to safeguard the Islamic Revolution, and at every point there has been a problem they have been present… Despite the fact that the IRGC was a fledgling institution at the beginning of the imposed war [the Iran-Iraq War], it quickly grew, and like ‘martyr’ Tehrani Moghaddam it began its development in artillery and began to build rockets.”
  • “Iranian missile power is better, but we are not looking for adventure, and the missile power of Iran is a deterrent, and all our neighbors know it.”
  • “Some countries have used a revolving door policy… the Islamic Republic of Iran has always and will move in one direction.” (Mehr News)
     
• IRGC Navy Commander Brig. Gen. Ali Fadavi spoke on the third anniversary of the martyrdom of IRGC commander Brig. Gen. Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam and stated that the USwill not be able to stay in the Persian Gulf and that Iran is the most significant power in the region:
  • “Every capability of the armed forces has direct and indirect effects in confronting our enemies, and we should accept that America is a naval power and that the Persian Gulf is the focal point of the world and they have no choice but to continue to participate in the region.”
  • “But the Persian Gulf is for the countries of the region and Iran is the most powerful country in the region, and America is not capable of completing its objectives there and they will have no choice but to leave the Persian Gulf due to our missile capabilities.” (Sepah News)
     
• Basij Organization Commander IRGC Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naghdi spoke about Western media and human rights on the occasion of Basij Week and said:
  • “The media must portray the greatness of the Iranian nation and boost the noble revolutionary [values]…against an enemy that controls 95% of the media.”
  • “The Basij is blunt and we expect the media in the war against the [enemy’s] hostile media to expose the arrogant system.”
  • “Despite spending nearly $4 billion on the recent American elections there was minimal participation, the people’s lack of presence was censored and this is another sign of America’s decline. Human rights in America are a lie.” (ABNA)
     
• Head of the Parliament Planning and Budget Commission Gholam Reza Taj Gardoun announced that the 2015-2016 budget would be designed under the assumption of $80 – 85 per barrel global oil prices. (Fars News Agency)
   

Domestic Developments

• Supreme Leader Khamenei appointed Head of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Ezatollah Zarqami as a member of the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council and the Supreme Virtual Space Council. (Office for the Preservation and the Publication of the Works of Grand Ayatollah Khamenei)
   

Military and Security

• IRGC Air Force Commander Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Haji Zadeh spoke about the final testing of an Iranian model of the US-made RQ170 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and on ballistic missiles:
  • “In May of this year the Iranian aircraft RQ170 was unveiled before the Supreme Leader and as we promised in the second half of the year the model RQ170 flew and soon a video will be released of the flight.”
  • “If today our enemies say they are in negotiations over our ballistic missiles, this means they cannot stop our progress towards peace and security.” (Sepah News)
     

Nuclear Talks

• Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton, and Secretary of State John Kerry kicked off trilateral talks on Sunday and met again on Monday in Muscat, Oman to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. The three representatives discussed Iran’s uranium enrichment and timetables for the removal of sanctions. (IRNA)
   
• Head of the National Security and Foreign Policy (NSFP) Parliamentary Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi expressed his approval with Oman hosting the P5+1 nuclear negotiations and rejected the conversion of the Arak heavy water reactor to a light water reactor and the closing of the Fordow site:
  • “The Omanis, with attention to their special relations with the two sides, have continuously tried to create a role in bringing the two sides’ viewpoints closer together.”
  • “At a point in time the Americans were saying that the Arak heavy water reactor should be converted to light water, which the administration did not accept.  They were convinced that we should have it. Fordow is protected from the enemy’s attack from a passive defense aspect. On this basis, eliminating Fordow is completely irrational and must remain where it is.” (Mashregh News)  
     
• Deputy Energy Minister Houshang Fallahtian announced, “It is predicted that an approximately $20 billion electricity agreement will be signed with foreign companies following a comprehensive agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group.” He reported that “prominent European and non-European companies” have been in negotiations with the Energy Ministry “within the past few weeks.” (Alef)