Iran News Round Up
The Iran News Round Up ran from February 2009-September 2018. Visit the Iran File for the latest analysis.
Key takeaway: The IRGC pushed back on President Hassan Rouhani’s criticism of its role in Iran’s economy.
In a speech late last week, President Rouhani criticized the fact that the IRGC-controlled foundations, among other institutions, have benefitted significantly from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s implementation of a large-scale effort to privatize Iran’s economy in 2006. Rouhani had stated, “Part of the economy that was in the hands of the “unarmed” government was given to “armed government.” This is not… privatization.” Jafari responded, “A government that does not have guns is humiliated by its enemies and eventually surrenders…” Jafari defended the IRGC’s involvement in Iran’s economy as part of the IRGC’s larger mission to protect the Islamic Revolution and its achievements. Rouhani and the IRGC have clashed over the extent of the IRGC’s political and economic influence throughout Rouhani’s presidency.
This Iran News Round Up predominantly covers events from June 24-27. The Iran News Round Up will resume on June 30.
Jafari responds to Rouhani’s criticism of IRGC role in the economy.
IRGC Commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari reacted to President Hassan Rouhani’s criticism of IRGC-controlled foundations’ involvement in the Iranian government’s large-scale effort to privatize its holdings. Jafari stated, “A government that does not have guns is humiliated by its enemies and eventually surrenders.” Jafari also defended the IRGC’s involvement in Iran’s economy as part of the IRGC’s larger mission to protect the Islamic Revolution and its achievements, stating, “We believe that attempts to reduce… the [Iranian] economy’s dependence” on foreign countries “is a one of the main examples of [the IRGC’s mission of] this protection.” Jafari continued, “The IRGC does not have profitable economic activities; our activities in the [economic] field are… construction and the neutralization of the enemy’s strategies designed to put economic pressure” on Iran. (Tasnim News Agency) (E) (ISNA)
Citations & Links
1.
Tasnim News Agency
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2017/06/27/1446295/irgc-reaffirms-commitment-to-safeguarding-iran
2.
ISNA
http://www.isna.ir/news/96040602348/%D9%81%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AD%D9%81%D8%B8-%D9%88%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%AA-%D8%B3%DA%A9%D9%88%D8%AA-%D9%85%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%85
Rouhani: Qatar sanctions unacceptable to us.
President Hassan Rouhani called Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani on June 25. Rouhani addressed Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries’ diplomatic rift with Qatar and stated, “The siege of Qatar is unacceptable… If there is a conflict between regional countries, pressure, threats, or sanctions are not the right way to resolve differences.” Rouhani emphasized the need for private sector co-operation and the importance of the advancement of relations between Iran and Qatar. (Reuters) (E) (Fars News Agency)
Khamenei: Fighting Israel is “obligatory” for all Muslim states.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated, “Today, the fight against the Zionist regime is obligatory and necessary for Muslims. Why do some evade this duty?” during a meeting with senior Iranian officials and ambassadors of Muslim countries. Khamenei described the division and discord between Muslim states as “harmful to Islam and the entire Islamic ummah [community].” (Press TV) (E) (Fars News Agency)
Zarif warns against arms race in the Middle East.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif criticized regional countries that think “security is purchasable,” a likely reference to the latest Saudi Arabia-U.S. arms deal, during a speech to the European Council on Foreign Relations on June 26. Zarif commended Europe for its role in shaping the negotiations leading up to the nuclear deal, Zarif advised European nations to play a greater role in the setting up of talks in the Persian Gulf. (Press TV) (E) (Mehr News Agency)
Zarif: Travel ban will not keep U.S. safer.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif responded via Twitter to the partial reinstatement of Trump travel ban, calling it a “bigoted ban on Muslims” that may serve to strengthen extremists’ positions. (Twitter)
Citations & Links
1.
Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gulf-qatar-iran-idUSKBN19G0X2
2.
Fars News Agency
http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13960404001692
Citations & Links
1.
Press TV
http://217.218.67.231/Detail/2017/06/26/526548/Iran-Leader-Israel
2.
Fars News Agency
http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13960405000479
Citations & Links
1.
Press TV
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2017/06/26/526589/Iran-Germany-Berlin-Qatar-Saudi-Arabia-Persian-Gulf-Mohammad-Javad-Zarif-European-Council-Foreign-Relations-Arms-race
2.
Mehr News Agency
http://www.mehrnews.com/news/4015293/%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AE%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B7%D9%82%D9%87-%D8%AA%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1-%D9%85%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D9%86%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D8%AE%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%AF%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA
Citations & Links
1.
AP News
https://apnews.com/9c78ee01f1ab45ffba852974fb229487
2.
Twitter
https://twitter.com/JZarif/status/879685932001226752
IRGC General: Russia may have informed U.S. of IRGC missile strikes.
IRGC Air Force Commander Brig. Gen. Ali Hajizadeh indicated that Russia may have informed the U.S. of the IRGC’s missile strikes in Syria’s Deir Ez Zour Governorate on June 18. (Tasnim News Agency) (E)
Intelligence Ministry uncovers “very large” arms cache of a “terrorist group.”
Intelligence Minister Hojjat ol Eslam Mahmoud Alavi said Intelligence Ministry operatives confiscated a “very large” cache of arms and ammunition belonging to a terrorist group on June 25. The location of the arms cache and the affiliation of the group are unclear. Alavi claimed that Iran’s crackdown on terrorism following the Tehran attacks have decreased terrorist groups’ capabilities to a “minimal level.” (Press TV) (E) (Fars News Agency) (BBC Persian)
Over 50 terrorists arrested in Kermanshah Province.
Kermanshah Province Prosecutor Nemat Sadeqi said that security forces have arrested at least 50 people with suspected links to terrorist groups since the twin ISIS attacks in Tehran on June 7. Sadeqi claimed that a considerable number of suicide belts, electronic detonators, and weapons have been seized from the detainees. (Tasnim News Agency)
Citations & Links
1.
Tasnim News Agency
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2017/06/25/1446154/russia-may-have-informed-us-of-irgc-missile-raid-general
Citations & Links
1.
Press TV
http://217.218.67.231/Detail/2017/06/26/526573/Iran-Intelligence-Minister-Mahmoud-Alavi-terrorist-team-arms-cache
2.
Fars News Agency
http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13960405000581
3.
BBC Persian
http://www.bbc.com/persian/iran-40414336
Citations & Links
1.
Tasnim News Agency
https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1396/04/04/1446557/%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D8%B2-50-%D9%86%D9%81%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B9%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B5%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D9%88-%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%DA%AF%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%86%D8%AF
Six Afghan Shia militia fighters killed in Syria.
Mehdi Hosseini, Yahya Azimi, Sindar Hosseini, Seyyed Abdolhossein Hosseini, Alireza Rezaei, and Mohammad Sharif Sarouri were killed in Syria. The dates of their deaths are unknown. They will be buried in the city of Qom, Qom Province, on June 28. (AhlulBayt News Agency) (Defa Press)
- Afghan national Eid Mohammad Rezaei was killed in Syria. He was from Bushehr province, and will be buried in Ganaveh, Bushehr province, on June 28. (Mehr News Agency)
Citations & Links
1.
AhlulBayt News Agency
http://fa.abna24.com/news/%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%87%D8%A7/%D9%BE%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%B1-%DA%86%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%B4%D9%87%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B9-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%85-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%82%D9%85-%D8%AA%D8%B4%DB%8C%DB%8C%D8%B9-%D9%85%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%AF_721877.html
2.
Defa Press
http://www.defapress.ir/fa/news/245352/%D8%AA%D8%B4%DB%8C%DB%8C%D8%B9-%D9%BE%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%B7%D9%87%D8%B1-%E2%80%8C%DB%B6-%D8%B4%D9%87%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B9-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%85-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%82%D9%85
3.
Mehr News Agency
http://www.mehrnews.com/news/4014485/%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%B4%D9%87%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B9-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%B1%DA%AF%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%AF
Chinese imports from Iran at $7bn since start of 2017.
Chinese customs sources claimed that Chinese imports from Iran have increased by 41 percent in the first five months of this year as compared to the same period in 2016. (Tasnim News Agency)
Citations & Links
1.
Tasnim News Agency
https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1396/04/06/1447632/%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AA-8-%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%DA%86%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AF%D8%B1-5-%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%87
