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, please visit this page, fill out the "New Subscribers" section, and check "Iran News Round Up" listed under "Projects." 

(E) = Article in English

Politics

• Ahmadinejad defends the right of women to be spectators at football matches.

Diplomacy

• Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki addresses the 20th International Persian Gulf Conference:
  • "Iran will not allow any power to engage in adventurism in the Persian Gulf.... Everyone believes that their malignant presence in the region brings nothing else to the region but insecurity, instability, conflict and exorbitant military costs for the Muslim nations of the region."
• Housing Minister Ali Nikzad says Iran will build "2 million housing units in Algeria."
• Gambia severs diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic following disclosures about Gambia being the destination of Iran's arms exports intercepted in Nigeria.
• [E] Ahmadinejad strongly criticizes the world powers for mismanaging the world affairs, and said that their wrongdoings have created numerous problems and crises for the world nations.
• [E] Ahmadinejad accuses the US and Western countries of looting other nations' wealth to compensate for their own financial shortfalls.

Military and Security

• Tehran-e Emrooz praises the role of Ayatollah Khamenei in "the liberation of Susangerd" during the war with Iraq.
• Basij Chief Mohammad-Reza Naghdi, says the Basij will organize "40,000 educational groups to teach the cadres."
• News stories related to the Basij Week:
  • Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqir Qalibaf praises the Basij on the occasion of the Basij Week: "If the Basij member is not in the arena, the independence, freedom and republicanism of the regime is in danger."
• Judiciary Spokesman Hojjat al-Eslam Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ezhehi: "the Judiciary will most certainly deal with the heads of sedition."
• [E] Iran's Army starts several staged exercises in the Northeastern province of North Khorassan on Tuesday.

Nuclear Issue

• Ahmadinejad, in Baku, Azerbaijan, comments on the 5+1 Group's decision not to accept Turkey as the venue for negotiations with Iran: "Soon we will reach the point where they will repent their bullying..."

Economy

• Economist Bizhan Safavi says it is "dangerous" to make the Central Bank independent from the presidency.
• Iran Chamber of Commerce head Mohammad Nahavandian:
  • "No security measures are needed for reform of the subsidies system... There is no need of exacting punishments... There are of course no economic measures which are universally endorsed... We will most certainly prevail but in order to execute the plan we need a calm atmosphere... We suggested that reform of the energy subsidies should be postponed to the second phase of the reform."
• According to Mehr News Agency, 80% of employers in the construction sector are foreign nationals.

Trade

• According to Iran, the Islamic Republic's trade with "the world of Islam" will reach "$50 billion."

Religion, Society and Culture

• Tehran shuts down because of pollution.

Photos of the Day

• Jalili receives China's deputy foreign minister.