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, e-mail [email protected].

(E) = Article in English

Diplomacy

• (E) Iraq plans to host U.S.-Iran talks.
  • Sobh-e Sadegh urges the Iranian leadership to speak with a unified voice to the U.S. 
  • Kayhan editor Shariatmadari urges the "traitors" not to get "over excited" since "President Ahmadinejad's opening towards the U.S. only served the purpose of neutralizing the tricks of Obama" and that "the assembled public shouting 'Death to America' is proof of continuity" of the Islamic Republic's policies towards the United States, concludes Iran's problems with the U.S. "can’t be solved with negotiations." 
• Sobh-e Sadegh welcomes banning of the British Council. 
• Bahraini officials take offense of Nateq-Nouri's statements on Bahrain being an Iranian province and also being represented in the Iranian parliament.

Trade

• Chief Inspectorate head Pour-Mohammadi says there is no proof of Nestle being owned by "Zionists," sees no reason why the company's operations in Iran should be disturbed.
• French oil company Total has resumed its negotiations with Iran. 

•  (E) Iran wins $1.5 billion contract in Basra.

Economy

• National Budget passes parliamentary budget committee. 

• (E) Iran to privatize 80 percent of Bank Mellat.

Religion, Society, and Culture

• Presidential advisor Javad Shamghadari says Iranians living outside Iran are welcome to return to Iran but denies that Los Angeles-based singers and entertainers are present in Iran. 
• Notaries’ Association warns of proliferation of temporary marriages without presence of a certified Aghed [the person declaring a man and a woman husband and wife]. 
• Supreme General Prosecutor Dorri Najafabadi says activities of the Bahai’s in Iran are "illegal", adds: "Having a belief and ideals are free, but their [open] declaration in order to dilute thoughts of others, starting up movements, propagation, dissimulation and disturbing of the minds of others and the like are not legal...
  •  Najaf-Abadi also claimed the Bahai faith has had "a long history of relations with the Zionist regime" and that "their opposition to Islam and the Islamic regime is clear and their threat against national security is based upon reasons and has been documented." 

Media

• National Security Committee member of the Parliament Esmail Kowsari says he interviewed with BBC Persian - despite warnings of Intelligence Ministry against the broadcaster - because he wanted to defend Iran.
• Veteran journalist Ali-Akbar Abd al-Rashidi discusses history of Iranian television. 

Politics

• Shaffaf News releases the names of Khatami campaign aides: Reza Kianian is the graphic designer in charge of posters and printed materials, Manizheh Hekmat will prepare the campaign video, while Tajzadeh, Khoshrou, Tabesh, Khaniki, and Sadegh Kharrazi are writing the political program. The Khatami campaign is also engaged in building a media team to match Khatami's reformist rival Mehdi Karrubi's team which consists of Ghouchani and Atrianfar. 
• Combatant Clergy Central Committee member Hojjat al-Eslam Shajouni says the reformists are "monsters" and the Principalists "angels." 
  • Shajouni adds there was a lot of corruption during the Khatami presidency.
• Abdolvahed Mousavi Lari says former Prime Minister Mousavi will not run for president. 

Human Rights and Labor

• Imprisoned political dissident Abbas Palizdar poisoned, hospitalized at Martyr Rajai Hospital. 
• (E) Iran prosecutors: Bahais are Israeli agents

Nuclear Issue

• Hojjat al-Eslam Hassan Rowhani: "All important decisions taken with regard to the nuclear issue including suspension of enrichment were taken at meetings of heads of the regime and the proceedings of the meetings are preserved. Additionally, the decisions were not only oral but are preserved in writing...I have been a part of the nuclear issue which started twenty years ago and I have been through all the phases of the nuclear activities...The beginning of the activities was 21 years ago when Mr. Mir-Hossein Mousavi was Prime Minister and Ayatollah Khamenei was President. During the presidency of Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, the activities were expanded so we could develop such capabilities..." 
• (E) Foreign Minister says West wants to kick Russia out of involvement in Iran’s nuclear program.

Military and Security

• Former Revolutionary Guards Chief Mohsen Rezai says the Omid satellite is a product of the Guards' Artillery research program. 

• Revolutionary Guards Political Directorate Chief Yadollah Javani explains the new role of the Basij in countering "soft threats against the regime": "Goals of the 'Cultural NATO' can be described in the following issues:
  • 1. Intimidation of the Iranian nation in order to weaken the spirit of resistance
  • 2. Imposition of apathy and hopelessness
  • 3. Islamophobia, Iran-phobia and Shi'a-phobia
  • 4. Spread of libertarianism, immorality and materialism,
  • 5. Spread of secularism, democracy and values of Western liberal democracy
  • 6. Countering religious and sectarian culture
  • 7. Suppression of the culture of martyrdom seeking and self sacrifice
  • 8. Worsening of sectarian and ethnic conflicts
  • 9. Creating a crisis of trust between the people and the authorities...
  • See also "Three Decades with General Mobilization.”
• Air Defense Force Chief Mighani gives some general remarks with regard to creation of the new force. 

Photo of the Day

• Procession at Jamkaran mosque, near Qom.