Iran News Round Up

Politics

• Supreme Leader Khamenei addresses Islamic Republic’s authorities: "The capacities of the country in the economic field are very high, and in the scientific field the capacity is staggering... Also in the field of technology, the capacities of the country are great and unimaginable and the ground is prepared for great deeds... If we do not struggle to use such capacities, we have not done our duties, which would be injustice to all... The meaning of unity of the authorities does not mean ignoring differences of opinion and inclinations since conflicts of taste and [differences of opinion in] scientific issues leads to progress, but such conflicts should not stop progress of the country or the individuals parting ways..."
• Rafsanjani addresses some Friday prayer leaders, members of Assembly of Experts and the Expediency Council along with former and current members of the parliament: "In the new year, we are in need of creating an atmosphere of trust in the political atmosphere of the country... Surgical operation of the subsidies in the economy of the country is a necessity, but it should be conducted in such a way that it does not raise popular dissatisfaction..."
• As the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting is preparing transmission of confessions of Mohammad Davari, imprisoned associate of Mehdi Karrubi who will say that Karrubi's claims of rape of political prisoners in Iran was false, Karrubi warns of the pressures Davari has been subjected to while in prison.
• Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Bagher Qalibaf inaugurating the Al-Qadir Bridge in Tehran says "the people are not interested in knowing who is right. Wise people don't want to fight. They go and take jobs needed to be done...You should not say we are Muslims and Shi'a, so we can just walk around and God takes care of affairs. On the contrary, because we live in an Islamic regime, we must show greater activity and greater sincerity..."
• Unidentified individuals attack the tomb of Ayatollah Khatami, father of former president Mohammad Khatami.
• Tehran Governor Morteza Tamadon criticizes Tehran municipality's removal of the pillars built for Tehran monorail project started during the mayoralty of Ahmadinejad but abandoned for lack of finances.

Diplomacy

• [E] Tehran has widened its presence in Latin America to reduce the influence of the US in the region, Iranian Ambassador to Brazil Mohsen Shaterzadeh Yazdi said on Tuesday, describing South America as a battlefield of Iran-US confrontation.
• [E] The West's plot to spread Iranophobia in the region failed to yield results due to Iran's policy of expanding and strengthening ties with the neighboring states, an Iranian top legislator said.
• [E] Ahmadinejad says the Zionists were only after tarnishing security in the region, and making aggressive moves.

Military and Security

• Aboutaleb Shaffeghat, former commander of the Revolutionary Guards and current Bushehr Governor: "Tens of development projects in various fields ranging from dams and port facilities to technological parks worth 12.6 trillion rials has been awarded to the Khatam al-Anbia [Construction Base of the Revolutionary Guards] without bidding..."
• [E] A senior official of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has warned that any potential attack on Iran by the West will be reciprocated by a crushing response.
• [E] Iran's anti-narcotic police squads have seized around 1,000 tons of various types of narcotics derived from opium during the last Iranian year (ended on March 20), a senior Iranian police commander announced on Tuesday.
• [E] A senior Iranian anti-narcotics official lauded the close cooperation between Iran and Turkey in fighting drug-trafficking, and said the two countries' police forces disbanded 15 drug cartels through joint cooperation last year.

Human Rights

• JARAS announces the burial grounds of 50 "martyrs of the Green Movement."

Economy

• Ahmadinejad boasts of real estate prices.
• Ahmadinejad's open letter to Ali Larijani, Speaker of the Parliament: "One must create confidence that any fluctuation - natural during conduct of such projects [reform of the subsidies system] - does not lead to new problems in its execution and the country does not experience challenges...".
  • Answering Ahmadinejad's letter, Larijani says the parliament is ready to cooperate with the government in order to realize the reform of the subsidies system, but also mentions some criticism of the plan.
  • Ahmadinejad threatens parliament that he will hold a referendum over the economic reform plan if the parliament fails to approve it.
• Sobh-e Sadegh praises projects done by the Revolutionary Guards' contracting arm Khatam al-Anbia and its affiliate SEPASAD company.
• [E] Larijani underlined that the parliament will take proper measures to prevent easy imports of foreign goods into Iran.

Nuclear Issue

• [E] Sanctions and pressures against Iran over its peaceful nuclear program have no effect on the country's will to attain its goals of progress and development, a senior Iranian legislator said on Tuesday.
• [E] Iran is prepared to hold negotiations with the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) over a package of proposals presented by Tehran to the Group over a year ago, a spokesman announced on Tuesday.
• [E] US casts doubt on Iran interest in denuclearization
• [E] Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has dismissed as "illogical" any fresh sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear work.
• [E] Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast said Iran is serious in pursuing its legal and civilian nuclear program, while it is also determined to materialize global disarmament.
• [E] Iran's another nuclear achievement will be unveiled during the country's National Nuclear Day ceremony to be held on April 9, a senior official said Sunday.
• [E] Head of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Ala’eddin Boroujerdi said Sunday that adopting another sanction against Iran would cause no major change in the country.

Religion, Culture and Society

• [E] Ahmadinejad warned about the threat of a devastating quake in Tehran, urging the people who reside in the Iranian capital to move to the other parts of the country.

Photo of the Day

• Feizollah Arabsorkhi released from prison.