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

• Kayhan editor Hossein Shariatmadari declares his readiness to provide documentation and evidence of treason by the "heads of the discord" as the Assembly of Experts commences its session.
• Hojjat al-Eslam Hassan Rowhani:
  • "The problem is that when the Supreme Leader shows the way so that if someone has committed a mistake can return to the bosom of the regime, there are some who don't allow it. We must understand that even one enemy is one too many and a thousand friends too few. Even if we have one opponent we must see to it that we remake him into a person who is with the regime...."
• Kargozaran technocratic faction announces that it is neither dissolved nor has it ceased its activities.
• Mostafa Mohammad Najjar formally announces establishment of Alburz province.
• Gholam-Ali Haddad Adel recites poem praising Supreme Leader Khamenei, recalls their friendship and describes the ascetic lifestyle of the Ayatollah.
• Ebrahim Maleki, a former student of the late Grand Ayatollah Montazeri, defrocked and fined by the Clergy Court.

Diplomacy

• Supreme Leader Khamenei accuses "Zionist rings within the United States government" of "masterminding" the conspiracy to burn the Quran.
• Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki reacts to Hillary Clinton's statements about the Islamic Republic becoming a military dictatorship: "Military dictatorship is the characteristic of the nature of the traditional thought in the United States which through military invasion of other countries and by violating their national sovereignty not only violates international law but every single day their hands are also tainted with the blood of innocent people of other countries and in order to achieve their evil goals they do not even stay short of ignoring international institutions and organizations."
• "Students" protesting against planned burning of the Quran demonstrate in front of the Swiss Embassy which represents United States' interests in Iran. The "students" burned the flag of the United States, marched on a coffin upon which it was written "liberal democracy" and chanted "God is great," "Death to America," "Death to Israel," "Death to Zionist," and the like.
• The Islamic Republic extends $100 million aid to flood victims in Pakistan.
• [E] Iran has freed Sara Shourd, one of the three U.S. nationals arrested by Iranian security forces in July 2009 after crossing Iran-Iraq borders.
• [E] Ahmadinejad underlined Iran's resolve to boost cooperation with Africa, and voiced Tehran's preparedness to host a summit of the African Union's heads of state.
• [E] Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian is scheduled to arrive in Tehran today to discuss bilateral ties and cooperation in meetings with senior Iranian officials.
• [E] Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Manama Hossein Amir Abdollahian announced his willingness to travel to Iran in a bid to further expand the bilateral relations between the two Muslim states.

Nuclear Issue

• Ali-Asghar Soltaniyeh, the Islamic Republic's ambassador to IAEA, in a letter to IAEA director general says Iran has had the necessary cooperation with the agency.
• [E] Chairman of Iran's Experts Assembly Hashemi Rafsanjani downplayed possible effects of international and unilateral sanctions against Iran, and said the country enjoys enough capabilities and potentials to survive boycotts and other types of pressures.

Economy

• The Central Bank reports increasing real estate prices and rent in Tehran.
• According to Newsweek,Iran comes 79th among 100 countries when it comes to quality of life.

Trade

• Ali Vakili, Pars Oil and Gas Company executive director, says $2 billion has been earmarked for development of South Pars oil and gas field.

Photos of the Day

• Crowning of the patriarch of the Assyrian church in Iran.