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

• Akbar Ganji, political activist: "Ahmadinejad did not prevail in the election. Without counting the vote they announced him winner with 24 million votes... But there was and is still not even a single reason for Mousavi's victory. All the evidence points in the best case at electoral fraud, not Mousavi's victory."
• Hojjat al-Eslam Kazem Sedighi, temporary Tehran Friday prayer leader, likens the welcome Supreme Leader Khamenei received in Qom with the "historical welcome the blessed Imam [Khomeini] received upon his return from Paris."
• Supreme Leader Khamenei, addressing theological students in Qom, elaborates upon the relationship between the state and theological seminaries: "There are those who like to disconnect the theological seminaries from the regime in the name of 'independence' but it is clear that dependence is something else than support and cooperation. One can mutually cooperate and remain independent... The regime is obliged to help the theological seminaries without intervening in their affairs since there are issues in these complexes which can only be solved through help of tax payer money... The salary of the theological students must be financed through traditional and meaningful public funding."

Diplomacy

• Asr-e Iran analyst Ali Ghaderi,: "The past week saw Iran reap the success of its active diplomacy in Iraq. Nouri al-Maliki reached Tehran and held negotiations with senior officials of our country. Experts believe that... the political crisis in Iraq came to an end because of the Iranian initiative... This diplomacy succeeded as the last United States combat unit left Iraq... One must of course also not forget the active role of Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah. The Lebanese Hezbollah General Secretary managed to persuade Moqtada al-Sadr to accept Maliki as prime minster by sending his representative Mohammad Kowsarani to Qom. Maliki has of course promised Nasrallah that he will not extend presence of American and British troops in Iraq after the end of 2011. This is nothing but what Iran desires. Iran's second step was to persuade the Syrians. Assad was visibly against premiership of Maliki... But Ahmadinejad did his work. In the course of his visit to New York, Ahmadinejad met Assad at Damascus Airport and convinced him that Maliki is the best option possible and it is possible that he will correct his stance towards Syria in case he comes to power..."

Military and Security

• Asr-e Iran reports explosion at Khorramshahr Marine Industries.

Trade

• Mostafa Moslehzadeh, Iran’s Ambassador to Jordan, says Iran is ready to participate in a rail project already envisioned to connect Jordan, Iraq and Syria.
• Japan Airlines to sell used 747’s to Iran.

Media

• Al Arabiya reopens its office in Tehran.

Photos of the Day

• Supreme Leader Khamenei meets families of Iran-Iraq war martyrs.