Iran News Round Up
The Iran News Round Up ran from February 2009-September 2018. Visit the Iran File for the latest analysis.
Key takeaway: The Judiciary’s open case against former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may complicate his presidential run.
Judiciary Spokesman Mohseni Ejei announced that the Judiciary has open cases on Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his former deputy Hamid Baghaei who was arrested on corruption charges in 2015. The Guardian Council may be able to disqualify Ahmadinejad on the grounds of the numerous instances of corruption throughout his administration.
Former members of Ahmadinejad’s cabinet criticized Ahmadinejad’s decision to run for re-election. Former Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hossein Safar Herendi alluded to the 2009 Green Movement as evidence that Ahmadinejad would do “irreparable damage” in the 2017 elections. Likewise, Former Ministry of Information and Security (MOIS) Head Haidar Moslehi warned that the enemies of Iran would attempt to use populist agendas to attain political power. Other political and military officials criticized Ahmadinejad for following a “deviant current” in order to weaken the clergy.
This Iran News Round Up predominantly covers events from April 18. The Iran News Round Up will resume on April 21.
Artesh unveils new equipment ahead of Artesh Day.
The Artesh unveiled the “Heydar 5” and the “Heydar 6” armored personnel carriers and a new sniper rifle ahead of Artesh Day. Artesh Navy Commander RADM Habibollah Sayyari also stated that the Artesh Navy will unveil a new Kaman/Sina-class missile boat named Separ and a submarine named Fateh soon. The Separ will be part of the Artesh Navy’s fleet in the Caspian Sea. (Fars News Agency) (E) (ISNA)
- Artesh Ground Forces Commander Brig. Gen. Kiomars Heydari stated that the Artesh wants to convert the “structure” of the Artesh Ground Forces into a “dynamic, offensive force.” (Fars News Agency)
IRGC releases statement commemorating Artesh Day.
The IRGC praised the commemoration of Artesh Day, which falls on April 18, as an “opportunity to recall the strategic unity and synergy and excellent authority of the Artesh and the IRGC for sustaining the country’s security and the fortitude of the country’s defense network.” The statement claimed that Iran’s enemies' efforts “to drive a wedge between the armed forces and the fortress of this country’s defense - especially the Artesh and the IRGC” have been in vain. The statement referred to the IRGC and the Artesh as “the two powerful arms of the Supreme Leader and the Iranian nation.” (Fars News Agency)
LEF to deploy 20,000 members for election security.
Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) Special Units Commander Hossein Karami stated that the LEF is deploying 20,000 “special unit” members across the country to ensure security on May 19, the day of the presidential elections. (Press TV) (E) (IRNA)
Artesh Navy dispatches 46th fleet to the Gulf of Aden.
The “intelligence and operational” 46th Fleet departed Iran for the Gulf of Aden. The Artesh Navy maintains a regular rotation of Artesh Navy fleets in and around the Gulf of Aden. (Tasnim News Agency)
Citations & Links
1.
Fars News Agency
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960128001255
2.
ISNA
http://www.isna.ir/news/96012711617/%D8%AC%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF%D8%AA%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%88%DB%8C-%D8%B2%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%B4-%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D8%AF
3.
Fars News Agency
http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13960127001426
Citations & Links
1.
Fars News Agency
http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13960128000341
Citations & Links
1.
Press TV
http://presstv.com/Detail/2017/04/18/518479/Iran-special-police-forces-Hossein-Karami-Election-Day-security-measures
2.
IRNA
http://www.irna.ir/fa/News/82495974/
Citations & Links
1.
Tasnim News Agency
https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1396/01/28/1381708/%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%88%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%B4-%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%88%DA%AF%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%AE%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%AC-%D8%B9%D8%AF%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%B2%D8%A7%D9%85-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF
Ahmadinejad administration officials express opposition to his presidential run.
Two senior members of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s administration expressed their opposition to Ahmadinejad’s candidacy in the presidential elections. Former Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hossein Safar Herendi referenced the 2009 Green Movement, which protested the results of Ahmadinejad’s re-election as president. Herendi stated that the events of the 2009 Green Movement are such that Ahmadinejad’s entry into the 2017 presidential elections will cause “irreparable damage.” Herendi also stated that the Guardian Council’s “possible disqualification” of Ahmadinejad would mean the end of Ahmadinejad’s career. Former Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) Head Haidar Moslehi warned that Iran’s enemies are trying to exploit the political ambitions of middle and lower classes to get to power. Many senior political and military figures referred to Ahmadinejad as part of a “deviant current” after his falling out with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at the end of Ahmadinejad’s presidency. Baghaei later condemned Moslehi’s comments as “treacherous.” (BBC Persian) (Radio Farda) (Saham News Blog)
Judiciary says it has open cases on Ahmadinejad and his deputy Baghaei.
Judiciary Spokesman Mohseni Ejei said the Judiciary has cases open against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as well his former deputy Hamid Baghaei. Baghaei was arrested in 2015 and imprisoned for over six months, most likely on corruption charges. Domestic and international critics alike have highlighted the extensive corruption and bribery during the Ahmadinejad administration. (Jonoub News Agency) (BBC Persian)
Citations & Links
1.
BBC Persian
http://www.bbc.com/persian/iran-39619743
2.
Radio Farda
http://www.radiofarda.com/a/f8-moslehi-warns-about-post-elections-protests/28434632.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
3.
Saham News Blog
http://sahamnewz.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_941.html
Citations & Links
1.
Jonoub News Agency
http://www.jonoubnews.ir/fa/news/209555/%D9%BE%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D9%88-%D8%A7%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%D9%86%DA%98%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D9%85%D9%81%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D9%85%DA%86%E2%80%8C%DA%AF%DB%8C%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%86%D9%85%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%DA%A9%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%85-%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C-%D9%85%DA%86-%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%E2%80%8C%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B2%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AA%E2%80%8C%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B9-%D9%85%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%DA%A9%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%85
2.
BBC Persian
http://www.bbc.com/persian/iran-39614544
Raisi vows strong economic management.
Presidential candidate Hojjat ol Eslam Ebrahim Raisi met with entrepreneurs and other “representatives of the private sector” to express his dissatisfaction with Iran’s current economic condition. Raisi stressed the need for “strong economic management” that would be able to resist sanctions and allow for more economic independence. He also claimed that the Rouhani administration had only used “30 percent of the capacity of the country’s experts,” and that the levels of economic growth, production, and job creation are currently “unacceptable.” (Press TV) (E) (Tasnim News Agency)
Citations & Links
1.
Press TV
http://presstv.com/Detail/2017/04/18/518534/Iran-Hojjatoleslam-Seyyed-Ebrahim-Raeisi-election-economy
2.
Tasnim News Agency
https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1396/01/29/1383272/%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%B1%D8%A6%DB%8C%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%AC%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88-%D8%AC%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%B1%DA%AF%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B4%D8%AF
IRGC Quds Force adviser begins term as Iranian ambassador to Iraq.
Iranian news agencies circulated reports that IRGC Brig. Gen. Iraj Masjedi started in his position as Iran’s ambassador to Iraq on April 18. Masjedi previously served as a senior advisor to IRGC Quds Forces Commander Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani. (Donya-e Eqtesad)
Azerbaijani defense minister visits Tehran, meets with Larijani and Dehghan.
Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Zakir Hasanov met with Defense Minister IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan to discuss closer military cooperation between the two countries. Dehghan called for a peaceful resolution, void of “outsider influence,” to the Nagorno-Karabakh border dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He noted that the region is already plagued with insecurity due to takfiri groups and additional conflicts would only increase instability. Hasanov expressed his willingness to cooperate with Iran and ensure that Iran’s and Azerbaijan's shared borders remain secure. (ISNA)
- Hasanov also met with Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani. Larijani stressed that the security of the Caspian Sea must be maintained only by littoral nations for economic purposes. Larijani and Hasanov also stressed the importance of Islamic countries standing up to terrorism. (ISNA)
Citations & Links
1.
Donya-e Eqtesad
http://donya-e-eqtesad.com/news/1097580
Citations & Links
1.
ISNA
http://www.isna.ir/news/96012711454/%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88-%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%A2%D8%B0%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%B1-%DA%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%B4-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B7-%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D8%A3%DA%A9%DB%8C%D8%AF
2.
ISNA
http://www.isna.ir/news/96012812601/%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D8%AF%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AE%D8%B2%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B7-%DA%A9%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%AD%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%AF
Fatimiyoun Brigade member killed in Syria.
Mojtaba Rezaei was killed in an unidentified area in Syria and will be buried April 18. (Tasnim News Agency)
Friday prayer leader killed in Syria.
Amol Friday Prayer Leader Hojjat al Eslam Jalil Mortazavi was reportedly a veteran of the Iran-Iraq War. (ABNA)
Citations & Links
1.
Tasnim News Agency
https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1396/01/29/1383209/%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D9%BE%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%B7%D9%87%D8%B1-%D8%B4%D9%87%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%B9%DA%A9%D8%B3
Citations & Links
1.
ABNA
http://fa.abna24.com/news/%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%87%D8%A7/%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%B9%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D8%A7%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D9%87-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%85-%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D8%B9%DA%A9%D8%B3_718662.html
