Iran News Round Up

A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by Ali Alfoneh, Ahmad Majidyar and Michael Rubin.  To subscribe to this daily newsletter, please visit this page, fill out the "New Subscribers" section, and check "Iran News Round Up" listed under "Projects." 

(E) = Article in English

Politics

• Jahan News releases a letter allegedly written by Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani outlining how to exploit the term “fraud” for political purposes.

Diplomacy

• Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei receives Switzerland’s Ambassador to Tehran: "Independent and positive positions of Switzerland are a good opportunity [for this country] to be the vanguard of Europe parting its ways from the United States and moving Europe towards taking independent positions..."
• Panjereh monthly discusses AEI's Critical Threats project.
• Turkey’s Prime Minister Erdogan participates at Ashura ceremonies.
• Ahmadinejad addresses students and members of the "Asian Gaza Caravan" at Tehran University:
  • "Solving the Palestine issue and disappearance of the Zionist regime from occupied territories are a humane and global responsibility."
  • Ahmadinejad was greeted with slogans such as "Death to Israel," "Death to America," and "Ascetic Ahmadinejad, Uprooter of Zionism."
• Hossein Nejabat, member of the Parliament’s Iran-Britain Friendship Committee, says Britain’s ambassador has "been the worst ever," and adds "there is no hope for relations between Iran and Britain."
• Sobh-e Sadegh, mouthpiece of the Revolutionary Guards, condemns "police brutality against students" in London.
  • So does Jomhouri-ye Eslami.
• News stories related to the dismissal of Mottaki:
  • Kayhan editor Hossein Shariatmadari criticizes Ahmadinejad for sacking Mottaki when the foreign minister was on a diplomatic mission abroad.
  • Tehran-e Emrooz expresses hope that following appointment of a new foreign minister, the Foreign Ministry will be allowed to take part in strategic decision making in Iran.
• News stories related to increased diplomatic activities of Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei, Ahmadinejad's chief of staff and Middle East adviser:  
  • Mashaei receives Kyrgyzstan’s ambassador to Tehran.
  • Mashaei receives Switzerland’s ambassador to Tehran.

Military and Security

• Hojjat al-Eslam Ebrahim Raisi accuses the United States and Britain of masterminding the Chabahar terror bombings.
  • According to the Intelligence Ministry, 8 individuals suspected of involvement in the Chabahar bombings, have been arrested.
• Revolution Square in Tehran reportedly in the tight grip of the security forces on the anniversary of the Ashura.
• Tabnak News reports explosion of two bombs at the Imam Hussein Mosque in Chabahar killing 30 and wounding 55 prayers.
  • According to Tabnak, four individuals carried out the terrorist attack. Two of them exploded their bomb belts. The third individual was "hit" by the security forces and the fourth was arrested.
  • Jundallah takes responsibility for the attack.
  • According to the Intelligence Ministry, one of the terrorists was arrested when he was trying to leave the country.
  • Nir Rosen of the Center for American Progress: "I don't rule out the United States support for Jundallah, but I am convinced that the Saudis support activities of this group in Iran... The Saudis have told me, as have others including the Israelis, that supporting the minorities could be a way of weakening Iran... It is very possible that Washington, too, supports this group, but most probably, the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia cooperate in this regard and engage with each other..."
  • Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani: "Terrorist acts of the United States and Israel will not remain unanswered."
  • Deputy Interior Minister Ali Abdollahi accuses "intelligence services in the region and the United States" of supporting "the terrorists."
  • Raja News says Western spy agencies perpetrate the terrorist attacks to increase their leverage in the nuclear negotiations. Link upon request.

Trade

• Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei receives the Switzerland’s Ambassador to Iran: "Without regard to some problems, the United States has had established good cooperation in [Iran's] energy and economic sectors and is attempting to strengthen them. For the time being, several large Swiss companies are engaged in Iran."

Economy

• Oil Minister Masoud Mir-Kazemi says the National Iranian Oil Company will begin privatizing its subsidiaries.

Photos of the Day

• Kindergarten Basij.