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

Hamas official confirms Iran’s economic aid to organization; Supreme Leader’s representative says U.S. attempting to destabilize Islamic Republic; Foreign Ministry says Iran awaits West’s response on nuclear swap; Bushehr nuclear plant expected to come into operation within months; BBC Persian goes round-the-clock; Euronews to begin broadcasts in Persian

Politics

• Gholamali Neyestani, head of the Commemoration Council of the Revolution Day Rallies, says Ahmadinejad will be the main speaker this year.

  • Rumors that Ahmadinejad will not deliver any speech at Revolution Day rallies.

• Parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani, addressing the administrative council of Markazi province: "One must follow the path which was announced by the Leader, the country must not be administered by extremism or conspiracy theories. The country must be administered by realism and within the framework of the constitution and not with the ideas of some extremists who pursue certain goals...I know that he [Supreme Leader] is not the least happy with breach of the rights of the people in his name..."

• Criticizing the "elites," Ayatollah Nouri Hamadani says had the elites not been silent the "discord" would have died out during its very first days.

• Parliamentarian Rouhollah Hosseinian hopes that Rafsanjani remains "the Rafsanjani of the revolutionary era" and does not act as the "head of mourning ceremony of the discord."

• Tabnak publishes the first part of a series about U.S.-based opposition figure Mohsen Sazegara.

• Seven months after the presidential election Iran Post has still not released the usual election commemorative stamp.

   

Diplomacy

• Alef News Agency accuses Israeli rescue teams in Haiti of organ theft (a theme promoted earlier by BBC Persian in other contexts).

• [E] The first cargo of Iran's humanitarian aid reaches the quake-hit people in Tajikistan.

• [E] Iran and Kyrgyzstan discussed ways to expand the two countries' cultural ties.

•  [E] Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani is scheduled to pay visits to Kuwait, Kenya and Uganda next week.

   

Military and Security

• A member of the Political Bureau of Hamas says his organization receives economic aid from Iran, but says Hamas has not promised Iran anything in return.

• A group called Gordan-e Esteshhadiyoun-e Shahab-e Sagheb [Shahab-e Sagheb Suicide Brigades] in Qom warn the authorities that should the "discord" not be suppressed in a week they will take action against it.

• [E] Supreme Leader's Advisor for Military Affairs Major General Seyed Yahya Rahim Safavi:  "Americans do not want to see a secure, stable, mighty and advanced Islamic Republic of Iran standing in the region as the number one economic and political power with cultural and political clout."

• [E] The Iranian military has announced plans to dispatch a fifth fleet of warships to the Gulf of Aden to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia.

Nuclear Issue

• Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mehmanparast says Iran is awaiting answer from the West with regard to the plan for exchange of enriched uranium with nuclear fuel.

  • [E] Iran's Foreign Ministry says Tehran has not made any new proposal regarding the fuel swap, describing reports to the contrary as "Western media hype." Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said: "Our views are the same as what was previously announced and basically there has been no new development regarding the issue." He added: "Iran is ready to exchange fuel in stages. Should both sides accept the basis of the proposal, discussions may be held over the approach."

• Salehi, Iran Nuclear Energy Organization director, says Bushehr nuclear plant will be operational in less than six months.

Economy

• Esfandiyar Rahim Mashaei, Ahmadinejad's Chief of Staff, says the cash hand out will be first distributed to the lower income groups.

Religion, Society and Culture

• Following the rumor that the picture of the Imam of the Era was depicted on a wall in Karaj, people flock to the wall for worship. The masses were dispersed by the Law Enforcement Forces.

Media

• BBC Persian becomes a 24 hours service.

• Euronews to start broadcasts in Persian.

• Rafsanjani addresses some members of the Central Committee of the Islamic Association of University Professors: "In order to administer the affairs [of the state] we need the trust of the people. This is also what Islam demands and we must all follow this path... [televised] panel debates and arguments in the media rather than street clashes could help us reach this path..."

  • Former Foreign Minister and current adviser to the Supreme Leader Ali Akbar Velayati and Mohsen Rezai, former Revolutionary Guards Chief and presidential candidate to participate at a debate on this week's Rou Be Farda [Facing Tomorrow] television program.

  • Theme of the debate is "foreign interventions” [in the post-election discord]

  • Political activist Emad Afrouch says "one must first invite the people from the circle around Mr. [Mir-Hossein] Mousavi who are the real circle of protest [to participate in televised debates.] In my opinion, should Mr. Mousavi be invited, as far as I know him, he would not make rash statements and will not stress discord. He knows well that he must stress national reconciliation. He will make his own statements and at the same time he will help national unity. I demand national unity, even in case all individuals are done away with since the nation and nationality is something beyond individuals and in order to achieve this unity I'll do anything since for me the foundation of the Islamic Republic is more important to me than political factions."

Photos of the Day

• Khamenei’s first appearance leading Tehran Friday prayers.

• Smart card of theological students all over Iran.

• Logo of Tehran-e Emrouz attacked by extremists who believe the logo depicts a female dancer.