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

• Javan Online warns against Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani’s "suspicious travels".
  • According to Tehran-e Emrooz, there is renewed interest in Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani because of rumors about his return to Iran in the near future.
  • Lawmaker Sattar Hedayatkhah demands parliamentary investigation into Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani's "liaisons with foreigners."
• Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei, Ahmadinejad’s chief of staff, addressing Iran the Bejeweled Realm seminar:
  • "Studying the Iranian history is tantamount to studying religion."
  • "Bowing to the flag of Iran is the same as bowing to the Great God."
• Forty five members of the Assembly of Iranian Expats, a project directed by Mashaei are expelled.

Diplomacy

• An Egyptian columnist accuses the Islamic Republic of providing $70 million in aid to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
• Academics Sadegh Zibakalam and Hojjat al-Eslam Ahmad Rahdar discuss relations between Iran and the United States at Isfahan Technological University.
• Kayhan defends Hezbollah General Secretary Nasrallah's remarks that Supreme Leader Khamenei, as a seyyed (descendant from the Prophet Muhammad), is Arab and not Persian.
• Jomhouri-ye Eslami's editorial writes that President Obama's visit to India is meant to "escape from his domestic fiasco."
• [E] Secretary of the Sureme National Security Council Saeed Jalili said Tuesday nations of the region should not pay the costs of US mistakes.
• [E] Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili said Tuesday that the Islamic Republic of Iran advocates new Iraqi government to be formed based on national resolve.

Military and Security

• Radio Farda provides background information on Ebrahim Jabbari, newly appointed Vali-ye Amr Revolutionary Guards unit chief.
• Abbas Gol-Mohammadi, Basij Public Relations deputy, announces that "Basij of the Media" will soon be formed.
• Javan Online warns against "new schemes of the westerners" in "creating molecular cells" to teach "the seditionists" new methods of "regime toppling."

Nuclear Issue

• Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast says exchange of nuclear fuel is an issue "separate from the 5+1 Group's negotiations with Tehran."
• Mohammad Karami-Rad, parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy committee member, says exchange of the nuclear fuel plan "is not entirely canceled."
• [E] Iran has called on the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany to manifest sincerity and good will in any upcoming multifaceted talks with Tehran.

Economy

• Mahmoud Bahmani, Central Bank director, says the bank will inject more than $1 billion into the economy next week in order to stabilize the Iranian currency.
• Deputy Energy Minister Mohammad Behzad says 90 percent of Iranians will see an increase in their electricity bill.
• According to Hamshahri, oil refineries will soon be privatized.           

Trade

• Said-Mohammad Jahromi, Saderat Bank executive director, says the bank's foreign trade increased by $3 billion last year, reaching a total of $7 billion. Jahromi, however, notes that "had it not been because of the sanctions we could triple or quadruple our trade with Germany or France."
• Deputy Oil Minister Mohsen Khojasteh-Mehr says the Islamic Republic will continue development of Azadegan oil field, which Iran shares with Iraq. According to Khojasteh-Mehr, the project will be financed by domestic and Chinese sources.
• "An Iranian company" purchases South Korean DAEWOO Electronics.
• Peyman Nouri, Iran Privatization Organization director, defends the track record of privatization process in Iran. On two occasions, he says, shares of privatized companies have been sold to foreign companies; for example, Turkish companies buying Razi Petrochemicals shares.

Photo of the Day

• Old photo: Traditional Iranian tea house offers free tea and water pipe on the victory of Muhammad Ali Clay over Joe Frazier.