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

• Spokesman of the Catholic Bishop of Melbourne denies gay rights activist the right to attend Mohammad Khatami's speech at the Center for Inter Faith Dialogue. 
• Former Revolutionary Guards Chief Mohsen Rezai analyzes Obama's statements:
  • "[During the Khatami presidency,] with the greatest haste...an open letter was sent from a number of parliamentarians to the Supreme Leader in which they demanded establishment of relations between Iran and America and that the Supreme Leader should drink from the chalice of poison like Imam [Khomeini].
  • That letter was not only based upon a weak political analysis of domestic and international relations during the Bush Era and lacked a correct prediction with regard to Bush's destiny…, but it also lacked a correct analysis of the issue of drinking from the chalice of poison during the Sacred Defense and is a sign of misunderstanding the results of the Eight years’ defense effort of the Iranian nation.
  • The authors of the letter also did not understand that a few days after the deed of the Imam, certain developments in the war made the poison of the chalice from which the Imam drank turn into sweetness and was neutralized in body and soul of the Imam. Iran achieved a clear victory in the war and ended it proudly.
  • Iran's foreign policy during the Clinton-era was acceptable and ended in America confessing past mistakes, but with the coming of adventurous government of Bush, it could have resulted in a great price for Iran by the way of Iran unilaterally giving points to the U.S.
  • Under any circumstances, had the Supreme Leader listened to the advice of the authors at a time when the government of Mr. Bush made a dashing figure in international politics the following would have resulted for the Iranian nation:
    •  1. Iran would for ever have been barred from production of nuclear energy.
    • 2. The U.S. would have continued to impose its will upon Iran.
    • 3. Iran's accept would have been a great victory for Mr. Bush and even worse it could have been international recognition of adventurous policies [of Bush].
    • 4. The U.S. would have completed its regional hegemony.
    • 5. No promise was given to Iran and there would have been no benefit for Iran... 
  • After the reform era and emergence of Ahmadineajd from eight years of sloganeering about political development and civil society, a different form of hasty policy was made...
  • But the Supreme Leader controlled the adventurous policies of Mr. Ahmadinejad and made them more rational. Therefore, during the administration of Mr. Bush, Iran neither capitulated to the U.S. nor did Iran engage in war against the U.S.
  • But today international circumstances have changed. Mr. Obama has extended his hand towards the Iranian nation. What does this hand contain? With what intent has it been extended and more importantly, to what extent is this able to lead to agreements with Iran…?
  • Answers of the Supreme Leader to Mr. Obama's extended hand were very wise. There are few points in his speech... He has not given a negative answer to Mr. Obama. But there is also no urgency in his response and he has formulated questions to which Mr. Obama's political machinery must respond. Both wisdom and long term thinking is seen in the Supreme Leader's response in which he demands of Mr. Obama to give a practical answer."
• (E) Obama vows persistence.
• Speaker of the parliament Ali Larijani visits Najaf and is expected to meet Grand Ayatollah Sistani.
  • (E) Larijani meets Sistani.

• Tabnak reports widespread arrests of Shi'a in Saudi Arabia. 
• Homemade alcoholic beverages kills ten, poison 27 in Rasht. 

• 45 die in traffic accidents during Rahian-e Nour [Followers of Light] tours to Iran/Iraq war sites. 

• Ornithological Garden in Kish.