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

• According to Jahan News, Assembly of Experts members Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, Ayatollah Mohsen Mojtahed Shabestari, Ayatollah Ahmad Alam al-Hoda, Ayatollah Abd al-Nabi Namazi and Ayatollah Asadollah Imani met Ahmadinejad last week. Issues discussed with Ahmadinejad included Rafsanjani's speech warning against sanctions, and criticism of Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei, Ahmadinejad's chief of staff.
• Saham News and JARAS release names of leading individuals attacking Mehdi Karrubi's home.
• 170 parliamentarians issue a warning to Ahmadinejad following his statements about the position of the executive branch being superior to the legislative branch.
• Former Revolutionary Guards' Minister Mohsen Rafiqdoust attacks the Mousavi war cabinet's priorities, says several of the cabinet ministers did not believe in the war.
• Former Revolutionary Guards Chief Mohsen Rezai says he offered his resignation towards the end of the war in protest against Mir-Hossein Mousavi's war time priorities.
• Former Revolutionary Guards Chief Rahim Safavi urges historians to "abide with the truth" when writing the history of the Iran/Iraq war.
• Kayhan quotes Foundation for the Defense of Democracies scholar Michael Ledeen's statements about having had contacts with "the office of Mir-Hossein Mousavi" during Mousavi's premiership.

Diplomacy

• Sobh-e Sadegh presents an analysis of "the anti-Shi'a" leanings of the Hudson Institute.

Military and Security

• JARAS reports increasing powers of the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence Organization.
• Ahmadreza Pourdastan, Army Ground Forces chief: "Following survey of various issues concerning recent wars in the region, the current structure of the Ground Forces does not fit future wars. One can't enter battle with such heavy armies. Units with greater flexibility would have greater operational flexibility. The structural changes of the Ground Forces were based upon these characteristics..."
• Members of the Basij of the Engineers in Yazd express their "bewilderment" as a document titled "Testament of Cyrus" was distributed among them during a ceremony commemorating the war with Iraq. 
• Mohammad-Hossein Saffar Harandi appointed Revolutionary Guards cultural, social and strategic deputy.
• Deputy Basij leader Ali Fazli says the Basij has "forced the superpowers of the world to their knees."

Nuclear Issue

• Ali-Akbar Salehi, Iran Nuclear Energy Organization director general, says nuclear fuel will be transferred to Bushehr nuclear power plant in a few days.

Economy

• Cooperatives Minister Mohammad Abbasi says 9% of Iran's economy is in the hand of the cooperatives.
• Dollar exchange rate = 11,300 rials, a record high.
• Video of Tehran steel market on strike against the Value Added Tax.
  • The Central Bank increases sale of gold and foreign currency to stabilize the market.

Trade

• Ahmadinejad: "The sanctions and threats of the enemies against our country are not from a position of power, but from a position of weakness. This move is a death spasm."
• Tea producers protest against tea systematically smuggled into the Iranian market.

Photos of the Day

• Islamic Republic of Iran seaplanes.