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 and Marie Donovan. 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

Official Statements

• Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy Commander Brig. Gen. Ali Fadavi touted Iran’s naval presence in the Persian Gulf and said:
  • “Protecting the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and for the America naval forces to exit [this area] is among the objectives [pursued by] the IRGC Navy.”
  • “We are simulating this [mission] on a replica aircraft carrier because destroying and drowning American warships have been and will remain on our program.”
  • “We unveiled ‘Hout’ [super cavitation] torpedo, which is a missile exclusively-manufactured by Russians, during Great Prophet I Exercise [in 2006]. This missile can travel underwater at the speed of 100 meters per second.” (Fars News Agency)
     
• Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed a group of activists and Basijis and spoke about the importance of Ashura, which commemorates the Battle of Karbala in which the grandson of the Prophet, Husayn ibn Ali, was killed:
  • “The Islamic ummah and the Islamic community should never steer far away from the event of Ashura as a lesson, as an example, as a guiding flag. Surely, Islam lives on in Ashura and Imam Husayn ibn Ali.” (IRNA)
     
• Expediency Discernment Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei spoke about the Islamic Revolution’s relationship to the legacy of Imam Husayn ibn Ali:
  • “The Islamic Revolution is stable following in the footsteps of the school of Imam Husayn ibn Ali.”
  • “Inspired by the movement of Ashura and the uprising of Imam Husayn and his companions, the Iranian people reached the victory of the Islamic Revolution and…the eight-year Sacred Defense [Iran-Iraq War].”
  • “No international terrorist group or international power can create the disaster of the [same] depth of Ashura, and the movement of Imam Husayn cannot be extinguished anywhere in the world.” (ISNA) 

Regional Developments and Diplomacy

• Iran’s Ambassador to Baghdad Hassan Danaeifar met with Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeid to discuss enhanced bilateral ties. The defense minister hailed Iran for its support and underscored the importance of continued Tehran-Baghdad collaboration against terrorism. (IRNA)
   
• Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham censured a terrorist attack on Shi’a Ashura mourners in al- Ahsa, Saudi Arabia that left five dead and 30 wounded. Afkham said:
  • “Muslim and non-Muslim states have always respected the traditional Ashura ceremonies and provided security for the mourners.” (Mehr News ) 
     
• A Saudi criminal court has reportedly sentenced three Shi’as to five to ten years in prison for participating in protests in Eastern Saudi Arabia for greater recognition and rights. (ISNA) 
   
• Deputy Commander of the Shi’a militia group Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) Hojjat al-Eslam Seyyed Mohammad Tabatabai spoke during an Ashura commemoration event:
  • “The flag of the holy shrine of Imam Husayn has been used by the group [AAH] as spiritual encouragement alongside their warriors and fighters during clearing operations in different cities and regions in Iraq against the terrorists.” (ABNA)
     
• Lebanese Hezbollah (LH) Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah spoke about the political situation in Lebanon and claimed that the conflict in the region is not between Shi’a and Sunni. He also stated that LH will work to avoid a political vacuum and wanted elections to take place quickly so that the new presidency could take control. (Defa Press)
   
• Senior official from Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) spoke about Israel’s goal to divide Jerusalem and about other countries’ silence towards Israel’s actions:
  • “If the world’s leaders do not respond on all political, social, and cultural levels towards the Zionist regime, then the Israeli policy of making Jerusalem a divided and Jewish city will finally come to pass.”
  • “Yes, Israel was defeated in the war against Gaza, but the silence of the Arab states was seen from Tel Aviv, and this is why the construction of Solomon’s temple continues underneath the Al-Aqsa mosque.” (Tasnim News Agency) 
     

Military and Security

• The Artesh Navy’s 32^nd Fleet departed Bandar Abbas, Iran on Tuesday on a deployment, which will go through the Strait of Hormuz to Bandar Jask, the Sea of Oman, Makran region, north of the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Bab al-Mandab. (IRNA)
   

Domestic Politics

• Iranians held street rallies throughout the country on the anniversary of the November 4, 1979 US embassy hostage crisis in Tehran. (Press TV)
   

Nuclear Talks

• Basij Organization Commander IRGC Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naghdi spoke concerning the nuclear negotiations:
  • “What is certain is that the path of the negotiations will not be a path to a compromise and if we engage in negotiations, it is to make an ultimatum, and to make truths clear.” (Fars News Agency)
     
• Nuclear Parliamentary Commission Chairman MP Ibrahim Karkhanei announced he created a plan delineating Iran’s nuclear red lines:
  • “…we have developed a plan, to which the nuclear negotiating team is bound, on all of Iran’s red lines, including enrichment, the continuation of activities at Fordow, Arak’s heavy water, and the carrying out of inspections, which upholds in the dignity and authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
  • “Western societies and the P5+1 group should know that the Iranian Parliament will not remain silent, and does not allow the interests of the country to be compromised; if the negotiating team comes short, we will immediately put the plan on the parliament’s agenda.”  (Tasnim News Agency)
     
• Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Ali Shamkhani discussed Iranian requirements for reaching a comprehensive nuclear deal:
  • “With sufficient authority the Iran nuclear negotiations team will use all possible initiatives while protecting the nuclear rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
  • “Canceling all sanctions is necessary for reaching a comprehensive agreement.” (ABNA)