Iran News Round Up

A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outles, compiled by Ali Alfoneh, Ahmad Majidyar and Michael Rubin.  To subscribe to this daily newsletter, e-mail [email protected].

(E) = Article in English

Ayatollah Yazdi blasts reformist leaders, urges opposition to remain loyal to regime; row over torn Khomeini photos continues in Tehran; Hamas political chief meets Iranian leaders in Tehran; Mottaki hails Hamas resistance, pledges continued support; Bushehr nuclear plant ‘passes main tests’; Iranian firm wins multi-million-dollar optical fiber bid in Afghanistan

Politics

• Ayatollah Yazdi, addressing managers of the Owqaf and Islamic Charity Organization gathered at the Theological Seminary of Qom, attacks reformist leaders: "I am uneasy about someone dressed in clerical garb who has become a joke in society, someone who is also called the Sheikh of Reform [Sheikh-e Eslahat]...No one knows what would have happened to him in his latest trip to Qom had he not been guarded...Everyone knows the intellectual past of Mousavi. What does he have to be proud of?...Dismount the horse of Satan, and don't act against God and Islam...Mr. Hashemi [Rafsanjani], who are you to establish a supervisory committee for the vote?...Mr. Hashemi, leave the political games and get closer to the Supreme Leader. Most certainly he will welcome this, too..."

• Rafsanjani's office in an open letter to Hojjat al-Eslam Hamid Rowhani answers allegations of "having urged the youth to become members of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization."

• Mohsen Rezai warns that discord has "reached the border of danger" and urges Karrubi and Mousavi to express their loyalty to the Supreme Leader.

• Parliamentarian Hojjat al-Eslam Rasaei warns against "infiltration of undesirable elements into the household of the Imam [Khomeni]." In a vague reference to Hojjat al-Eslam Hassan Khomeini, grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Rasaei said: "The Supreme Leader of the Revolution, with his Imam-like guidance, embraced this member of the household of the Imam as his own child and advised him. Therefore, we hope that he departs from the movement applauded by the internal and external enemies of the Imam."

• Hojjat al-Eslam Hassan Khomeini's office in Qom refutes Raja News' claim that he has fled Iran.

• Discussions about moving the Iranian capital to Shahroud or Semnan.

• Students at Tehran University convene to commemorate Student Day, condemn "abuse and insult against the photo of the Imam [Khomeini]..." as an excuse to suppress the student movement.

• Karrubi and Mousavi in a joint petition demand the right to demonstrate in public to express sorrow over the insult of Khomeini’s photo.

Diplomacy

• [E] Meeting with Hamas politburo Chief Khalid Mashaal in Tehran, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani criticized the U.S. administration's approach towards Palestinian issue, and said Washington failed to provide Palestinians with basic rights. Larijani noted that Iran always supported Palestinians' goals since Islamic Revolution and it regards the approach as one of its great honors. More, here.

  • [E] Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki also held a meeting with Mashaal. "The defaming of Israel in Gaza issue is entirely indebted to the brave resistance of the Palestinian nation, led by the Hamas movement," Mottaki told Mashaal on Monday. "We congratulate the anniversary of establishment of Hamas and the Iranian people, too, joyfully participate at celebration of resistance anniversary along with the people of Gaza and Hamas," he added. Khalid Mashaal, too, pointing to the need for maintaining permanent consultations with the Iranian officials, said, "Consulting the Iranian brethren has always been fruitful."

• [E] Ahmadinejad in a meeting with Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov underlined Tehran's resolve to boost relations with Baku in all fields.

Military and Security

• Hojjat al-Eslam Zolnour, Deputy Representative of the Supreme Leader to the Revolutionary Guards, says the Center for Preservation of the Works of Imam Khomeini has been transformed to the "center of the Monafeghin[reference to the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization]."

• Asr-e Iran quoting United States Treasury reports that the United States will be ready with new sanctions against the Revolutionary Guards' economic enterprises.

• Higher Education Minister Daneshjou threatens to deal decisively with "a minority at Tehran University" which "insults" the memory of Grand Ayatollah Khomeini.

• Fars News depicts the Freedom House as "a branch of the CIA." 

Nuclear Issue

• Mehmanparast refutes London Times' claim that the Islamic Republic is "testing a final nuclear bomb component."

• [E] Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi agreed with resignation of the organization's deputy director.

• [E] Iran announced that the Bushehr nuclear plant had successfully passed the main tests, and expressed the hope that the plant would launch operation within the next few months. Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Chief Ali Akbar Salehi rejected any obstruction by Russia on launching of Bushehr plant, and said, "Everything is being done well, now 2500 Russian experts are working inside the power plant and Iranians will receive good news about the facility soon." 

Trade

• Copenhagen Metro asks visiting Tehran Mayor Qalibaf for exchange of know-how.

• The German government confiscates Siemens shipments to Iran. 

Media

• Alef News "unmasks the BBC" as an agent of the British Foreign Office.

• Iran in the Afghan Media

• Iranian firm, Shahid Ghandi Communication Cable Co., has won a multi-million-dollar bid to construct optical fiber in four eastern Afghan provinces of Khost, Logar, Paktia and Paktika. 

• The United Nations agency for refugees (UNHCR) says repatriation of Afghans from neighboring countries Iran and Pakistan has slowed down significantly. Only 5,500 Afghans have voluntarily returned from Iran in 2009.

• A commentary in Kabulpress examines Iran’s treatment of Afghan refugees since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, highlighting restrictions placed on Afghan students. 

Photo of the Day

• Iranian and Syrian defense ministers sign defense cooperation protocol.