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

Politics

• Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani: "The priority of the five-year plan must be employment and a dignified life for the people. I believe that one can't administer the country with the methods of the [Imam Khomeini] Relief Committee. This should not make us think we have achieved justice [through distribution of alms.]" 
• Mehr News' analyst examines whether Ahmadinejad should lead efforts to create employment in Iran.
• Interior Minister Mohammad Najjar says relocation of the capital outside Tehran is under serious consideration. 
• Basirat News releases a panegyric poem by Supreme Leader Khamenei praising the late Grand Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini.

Diplomacy

• Supreme Leader speaks at the Imam Hossein University of the Revolutionary Guards on the occasion of liberation of Khorramshahr:
  • "Beit al-Moghaddas Operation and liberation of Khorramshahr dealt a sharp blow not only to the body of the army of Ba'ath, but also to the body of world imperialism, which was behind Saddam's war machine..."
  • "Iran’s enemies try to distort reality. They themselves cause  insecurity and crime in most parts of the world, especially in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and occupied Palestine...The enemies of the Iranian nation will most certainly be defeated today in the same fashion they were defeated in 1982..."
  • "The message of the Islamic regime is the very same values of humanity and salvation of nations from the claws of imperialist powers. Today, the nations of the world are thirsting for such a message..."
  • Also, the enemy’s present-day calculations are proven wrong because of resistance and the spiritual power of the Iranian nation. The nation’s devout and hardworking youth inspire other nations..."
• Parliamentarian Ali Mottahari says the Islamic Republic is also responsible to Chechen and Chinese Muslims. 

Military and Security

• A younger Khamenei visits a war front during the first year of Iran/Iraq war: Video.
• Shi'a News releases a document which allegedly proves contacts between a Saudi prince and Al-Qaeda.
• Jundallah’s No.2 leader Abd al-Hamid Rigi is executed. 

Nuclear Issue

• Iran officially informs IAEA on its nuclear swap agreement with Turkey and Brazil.

Trade

• South Pars Gas and Oil Field is in need of investments.
• Abrar-e Eghtesadi writes that gasoline distribution in the market may become more limited during the summer. 
• [E] OPEC ministers are “not yet” concerned that oil prices are below $70 a barrel. “There is no need for the group to hold an emergency meeting,” Kuwait’s oil minister said.
• [E] An Iranian diplomat says that Tehran welcomes India's participation in the multi-billion-dollar pipeline project designed to export Iran's gas to Pakistan and India.
• [E] Iranian companies displayed their capabilities in the water and electricity sectors at the First International Exhibition of Technical and Engineering Services, held in Iraq's capital city of Baghdad earlier this month.
• [E] The latest statistical figures showed that despite the United States' growing pressure on European firms to cut trade with Tehran, EU countries have remained among the first ten large trade partners of the Islamic Republic.
• [E] Iran exported USD1.6bln worth of petrochemical products to China during the last Iranian year (March 21, 2009-March 20, 2010).
• [E] Iran Parliament approved government cooperation with foreign countries to establish a development bank.

Religion, Society and Culture

• Mashhad's public prosecutor threatens Iranian women with fines up to 10.3 million rials for inappropriate dress code.
• [E] An earthquake measuring 3 on the Richter scale jolted the town of Khanj in Fars province, Southern Iran, on Tuesday.

Media

• Sadegh Zibakalam, academic: "The problem with the Persian language satellite broadcast televisions begins where we call them the foreign media. This expression is the result of a certain historical, political and ideological viewpoint derived from a stupid conspiracy theory. We must instead ask ourselves if the BBC and Voice of America desire to express the events and news or want to make events and news."

Human Rights

• [E] Iranian movie director Jafar Panahi was released Tuesday on 200 million dollars bail.

Photos of the Day

• Supreme Leader at Imam Hossein University of the Revolutionary Guards.
  • More, here.