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

• Iraq's chief of the General Staff meets IRGC Commander Mohammad-Ali Jafari.
• While the Revolutionary Guards earlier dismissed Mossad involvement in Saturday's blast, Tehran mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf writes that "the enemies knew Hassan [Tehrani Moqaddam] better than the friends. Such people are irreplaceable."
• Mashregh News releases an old speech of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from six months after he became Supreme Leader:
  • "We have said this many times and God-willing we will carefully realize the statement in actions, programs and the statues, that the main mission of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps is armed defense of the revolution and the regime of the Islamic Republic. This is the main mission of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, just like the main mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army is to guard the boundaries of the country. Of course, when a severe invasion against the borders takes place - for example like the eight years long war - the Revolutionary Guards will use all its arms and equipments to enact its mission to defend the revolution and the regime..."
  • "The mission of the Qods Force is establishment of popular cells of Hezbollah all over the world…."
• Gholam-Reza Jalali, Civil Defense Organization commander, says Iran is "in the first phase of countering the Duqu virus."
• A bus transporting Iranian tourists traveling to Damascus, Syria, is attacked by unknown elements in the city of Van in Turkey.
• Borna News releases the names of some dignitaries who visited Mohsen Rezai to convey their condolences on the occasion of the passing of his son Ahmad: Ali Larijani, Esmail Ahmadi-Moqaddam, Ahmad Vahidi, Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, Qassem Suleimani, Ali Shirazi, and Ali Shamkhani.
• [E] Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces Major General Hassan Firouzabadi rejected western media reports on Israel or US involvement in November 12 blast at an Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) base near Tehran.
• [E] A senior official of the Iranian Army said that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei's recent warning about Iran's tough response to any enemy aggression pushed back enemy threats and forced the US and Israeli officials to retreat.

Economy                             

• Iran Statistics Agency says the average annual income in Iran is $4,400; Finance Minister Shams al-Din Hosseini earlier said it was $12,500.

Iran in the Afghan Media

• Afghan President Hamid Karzai at Wednesday’s Loya Jirga in Kabul:
• “Iran and America are adversaries, unfortunately. We regret that. But Afghanistan has kept its ties with America, which has troops in our territory. And we have clearly stated to America that Iran is our brother and neighbor with which we share a common religion and language. We will keep our policy towards Iran independent for the benefit of Afghanistan and our Iranian brothers and sisters. We will keep it at any cost, and have kept it so far. They [U.S. and Iran] both have demonstrated common sense. Iran has shown more prudence. They realized that we have certain needs and we have had understanding with each other.”

 Photo of the Day

• Qods Force Commander Qassem Suleimani and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.