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

Guardian Council spokesman defends election fairness; Mousavi condemns attempts to label him “foreign agent”; Keyhan calls Mousavi “traitor”; Ahmadinejad urges Obama to “change behavior”; senior cleric demands tough punishment for protestors; IRGC chief in Tehran accuses U.S., U.K., Israel of instigating unrest in Iran; Iranian diplomat accuses CIA of killing protestor Neda; reports say Mousavi supporters confess to being “foreign agents”; Indian companies to invest $5 billion in Iran’s oil industry  

• Ayatollah Abol-Ghasem Khazali, a member of the Assembly of Experts, praises the election and criticizes those questioning its fairness.
• Guardian Council Spokesman Abbas-Ali Kadkhodaei tells Press TV: "Investigations carried out during the past ten days show that there have been no major irregularities at the June 12, 2009 presidential election, apart from some minor irregularities happening in all presidential elections...None of the earlier presidential elections have been marred by major fraud, especially the latest election, which was well-planned and was among the healthiest elections..."
• The Guardian Council will form a committee by Saturday afternoon tasked with recounting votes. The committee will include representatives of the four candidates.
• In his eight public statement, Mousavi condemns the propaganda campaign and official accusations labeling him a foreign agent.
• Keyhan's analyst says Mousavi has been unmasked as a traitor.
• Former Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Velayati and Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli discuss the election. Video
• Labor and Social Affairs Minister Mohammad Jahromi says he will not be a cabinet minister in the tenth government.
• Ahmadinejad speaking at the Iranian Judiciary's seminar says establishment of justice in the world is preparing the ground for the emergence of the Imam of the Era. He adds that justice is not only a personal and societal responsibility, but also the main objective of all Iranians. 

Diplomacy

• The United States denies Vice President Parviz Davoudi visa to visit the United Nations.
• Ahmadinejad: "Bullying powers, including the United States, must correct their behavior, language and thoughts with regard to the Iranian nation...Today, those making accusations against the Iranian nation or other nations have been unmasked...We had no hopes from a couple of European countries, but we did not expect from Obama, who claims change, to meddle in the affairs of Iran and make inappropriate statements about the Iranian nation...Even if we had spent billions of tomans on propaganda and diplomatic efforts, we could not have convinced some that they are continuing the policies of previous American leaders...The Iranian nation is ready to help the bullying powers, including the United States, to change the intellectual foundations for preservation of justice...If you do not listen to my loving advice in order to correct your behavior towards world countries, including the Iranian nation, destiny of Mr. Bush - who was humiliated by God - is awaiting you...If you continue your interventions and your impolite behavior towards the Islamic Republic of Iran, the answer of the Iranian nation would be decisive and you would regret...The enemies thought they could weaken the strength of the Iranian nation, but it is clear to all that it was futile...The bullying powers don't know the Iranian nation. If they think that the Iranian government will be affected by their behavior and propaganda, they are utterly wrong. From now on, thanks to divine knowledge, we will deal with them from a stronger position, ensuring friendship and seeking justice...The Iranian nation and government are pursuing establishment of justice in all over the world...The Islamic Republic will forcefully take on the bullying powers and will take them to an international court..."
• Empress Farah Diba thanks German Chancellor Angela Merkel's condemnation of recent developments in Iran.
• According to Alef News, Iraqi sources have released 16,000 pages of documents allegedly showing European and American support for Saddam Hussein's regime.
• President of Yemen praises democratic elections in Iran.

Religion, society and culture

• Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, temporary Friday Prayer leader of Tehran, praises the presidential election, calls for strict legal action against the rioters, and accuses foreign powers of having planned the unrest. More details.
• Tabnak News reports secret meetings between grand ayatollahs and sources of emulation who have not yet congratulated Ahmadinejad.
• Yazd Friday Prayer leader Hojjat al-Eslam Sadoughi demands the Law Enforcement Forces and intelligence services identify, find and deliver the rioters to the Judiciary, which in turn should punish them in the most serious manner for their "acts of sabotage."
• Qom Friday Prayer leader Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli says, "Now that we have a strong regime along with a wise and intelligent leader, foreigners’ words don't carry the slightest weight in the country and they can't do anything."
• Kerman Friday Prayer leader Yahya Ja'fari says Mousavi is responsible for bloodshed in the aftermath of the presidential election.

Media

• Alef News Agency condemns Mousavi's allegations of fraud.

Military and security

• Ali Fazli, the Chief of Revolutionary Guards Seyyed a-Shohada Unit in Tehran, says the arrest of several foreign citizens during the unrests proves that foreign countries, such as the United States, Britain and Israel, have been directly involved in riots in Iran.
• Gholam-Hossein Elham, Justice Minister and Spokesman of the government, says he is not responsible for those arrested during the post election riots and the Judiciary should be asked about their whereabouts.
• Mohammad-Hassan Qadiri, the Islamic Republic's ambassador to Mexico, claims the CIA and the United States killed Neda Agha-Soltan at street demonstrations in Tehran.
• Abol-Fazl Fateh, Mousavi campaign's public relations manager, is denied the right to leave Iran to continue his Ph.D. studies in Britain.
• "Informed sources" refute rumors on death of Said Hajjarian, a reformist theoretician and the founder of the Intelligence Ministry who was recently imprisoned.
• Saniyeh News releases details about the police raid on the office of Kalameh Sabz newspaper in Tehran, which was accused of serving as a headquarters for character assassination and spreading of lies.
• Iran and Yemen to fight piracy.
• Several Iraqi web sites claim the Islamic Republic has transferred a considerable amount of money to Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qasem, Bahrain’s source of emulation to establish a theological seminary in that country to direct Iran's foreign policy tools.
• Amir-Hossein Mahdavi, a member of the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution’s Central Committee, confesses that his organization made false accusations against the election process to back up Mousavi's claims and was actively pursuing a strategy of manipulating the youth
• Javan releases confessions of members of the Mousavi campaign who say they are foreign agents.

Economy

• Parliamentarian Salman Zaker says the government's claims on reducing unemployment are unacceptable.

Trade

• Three Indian companies express readiness to invest $5 million in Farzad Gas Field.
• Danish Haldor Topsoe Company to build a methanol factory in Iran.

Photo of the day

• Ahmadinejad attends a Judiciary seminar.
• Baztab News shows parliamentarian Fatemeh Rahbar's pre-election prediction that Ahmadinejad would win 24 million votes.