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 Analysts Marie Donovan, Paul Bucala, and Caitlin Shayda Pendleton and contributors Ali Javaheri and Hirad Yaldaei. To receive this daily newsletter, please subscribe online.

(E) = Article in English

Excerpts of these translations may only be used with the expressed consent of the authors.

Key takeaway: IRGC Navy Commander Brigadier General Ali Fadavi denied reports that IRGC Navy vessels have “harassed” U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf.

Fadavi joined IRGC Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri, a deputy of the Armed Forces General Staff, in denying that IRGC Navy vessels have recently harassed U.S. vessels in the Persian Gulf. Iran has been the aggressor in all 31 “unsafe and unprofessional” encounters between Iran and the U.S. so far in 2016, according to U.S. Navy officials. Fadavi also claimed that the U.S. has been trying to establish a direct line of communication with the IRGC Navy for the past “three or four years” but added that Iranian officials have refused to “approve” the requests. Fadavi’s claim follows remarks on September 12 by U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson, whosuggested that Iran and the U.S. increase dialogue and agree on codes of conduct in response to the increasing number of unsafe encounters between Iran and the U.S. in the Persian Gulf.

AEI Must-Reads

• J. Matthew McInnis explains what Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s recent speech declaring Iran’s “inalienable right” to “offensive and defensive capabilities” could mean for Iran’s future military developments in his latest blog post, “Ayatollah Khamenei takes Iran on the offensive.”

Regional Developments & Diplomacy

• IRGC Navy Commander: Iran denied U.S. request for direct line of communication in the Persian Gulf. Brig. Gen. Ali Fadavi discussed Iran-U.S. interactions in the Persian Gulf in remarks on September 14. He claimed that the U.S. has been trying to establish a direct line of communication with the IRGC Navy for the past “three or four years” but added that Iranian officials have refused to “approve” the requests. He also asserted that “the Americans must respectfully end their presence in the Persian Gulf to avoid problems.” Fadavi deniedstatements from U.S. Navy and government officials that the IRGC Navy has harassed American vessels. Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS) Deputy IRGC Brig. Gen. Massoud Jazayeri denied the reports earlier this week as well. (Tasnim News Agency)
   
• Foreign Ministry: Iran has not and will not negotiate with U.S. about Syrian ceasefire. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi denied reports that Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry discussed the Syrian ceasefire recently brokered by the U.S. and Russia. Ghassemi stated, “The Islamic Republic of Iran and [the U.S.] have had and and will have no contact, consultation or dialogue on regional issues.” (Press TV) (E)
  • AFGS Deputy IRGC Brig. Gen. Massoud Jazayeri stated, “We emphasize that the side of America and terrorism cannot be trusted regarding the ceasefire in Syria.” (ISNA) 
     
• Deputy foreign minister discusses Syrian ceasefire with Russian counterpart in Moscow. Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Jaberi Ansari discussed the ceasefire and humanitarian aid situation in Syria during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Special Envoy for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov in Moscow on September 14. The two sides also reportedly discussed events in Yemen, Iraq, Bahrain, and Libya. In a separate meeting with Russia Institute for Strategic Studies Director Leonid Reshetnikov, Ansari stated, “The positive effects of the cooperation between Iran and Russia in the region are becoming more visible day by day. This cooperation is expanding and developing in various dimensions.” (Fars News Agency) (E) (Mehr News Agency)

Economy

• Shamkhani: The SNSC has made a decision on FATF regulations. Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Ali Shamkhani told reporters that the SNSC has made a decision on Iran’s compliance with the proposed Financial Action Task Force (FATF) regulations. He refused to provide further details on the SNSC’s decision, however, and noted that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not yet approved it. (Khabar Online)

Military & Security

• Petrochemical fire in Bushehr province. Iranian news agencies reported that a fire injured four workers in the southern port city of Assaluyeh, the latest in more than ten fires that have occurred in petrochemical facilities in Iran in recent months. In early August, Supreme Cyberspace Council Secretary Abolhassan Firouzabadi announced that cyber-security officials are investigating whether cyber attacks could have played a role in the fires. (EqtesadOnline)
   
• Judiciary to receive its own police force. Iranian news outlets reported the formation of “a police [force] specializing in judicial affairs.” The Judiciary Police will fall “under the jurisdiction of the Judiciary” and “will be independent” from the Law Enforcement Forces (LEF), the official name for Iran’s police force. The “cadre” of the Judiciary Police will be composed of commissioned and noncommissioned officers drawn from the “armed forces, the law enforcement forces, and other agents.” (Entekhab)
   
• Iran to manufacture turbojet engines in the next two years. Defense Minister IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan announced that Iran will “design and manufacture heavy turbojet and turbofan engines in the next two years,” presumably for military purposes. (Fars News Agency)(E) (Fars News Agency)