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

 Politics

• A parliamentary vote of no confidence for Shams al-Din Hosseini, minister of economy and finance, motivated by the $3 billion embezzlement, fails.
  • Parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani defends Hosseini despite his previous criticism of the minister.
• Ali Mottahari, who resigned from the parliament following a dispute over the parliament not being allowed to question Ahmadinejad, declares his resignation void.
• Mohsen Rezaei, former Revolutionary Guards commander, comments on the Supreme Leader's statements concerning establishment of a parliamentary system: "Change and developments in the administrative system of the country could help vivacity and dynamism."

Diplomacy

• [E] Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said the US is using the so-called war on terrorism as an excuse to guarantee its long-term presence in the war-torn country.
• [E] Supreme Leader Khamenei stressed that the US and Zionists have always failed in their plots against the Islamic Revolution, thanks to the efforts made by the Iranian nation and its youths, and said the US can never defeat Iran.
• [E] Khamenei says Iran will release a hundred corroborative documents substantiating Washington's role in supporting and sponsoring terrorist activities in Iran and the region.

Military and Security

• Ramezan Sharif, IRGC public relations commander: "They [the United States] faced insurmountable problems following the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan and they did not achieve their goals. Their unlimited support to authoritarian rulers of the Middle East has also created trouble for them... Rather than investigating [the reason behind their failure]..., they are trying to find someone to blame for their defeats... Today, the Americans are trying to relate their problems to the Islamic Republic of Iran and particularly to the Qods Force of the Revolutionary Guards. This is why they make strange claims concerning the Qods Force... We consider assassinations of Sayyad Shirazi and Shoushtari as the deeds of the Americans and we believe new assassinations from their side are not unlikely. But such behavior only increases the popularity of the Guards, and makes the commanders of the Guards believe more firmly in pursuing the logic of the revolution."
• Sadollah Zarei, Middle East expert, says the United States' Army's exit from Iraq is the beginning of the United States' withdrawal from "the world of Islam."
• Hamid-Reza Moqadam-Far, Revolutionary Guards cultural commander says "satellite [broadcasts] constitute the first line of threats against the Islamic Republic," and proposes a unit to combat foreign Persian language broadcasts into Iran.

Nuclear Issue

• A senior scientist from Armenia's Nuclear Energy Organization says his colleagues are seeking work in Iran.

Religion, Society and Culture

• Zahra Sajadi, Women's Affairs Center deputy: "Women bicycling in the city is opposed to the foundations and values of Islam and the tight and immodest dress of the female bicyclists propagates bad hijab and poor dressing in society."

Photo of the Day

• Ahmadinejad defends his finance minister in the face of a parliamentary vote of no confidence.