A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by Ali Alfoneh, Katherine Faley, Ahmad Majidyar and Michael Rubin.  To subscribe to this daily newsletter, e-mail [email protected].

 (E) = Article in English

 

Mousavi supports plan another rally; Ahmadinejad rally reported to attract a million demonstrators; injuries and deaths occur at pro-Mousavi rally in Tehran; candidate representatives meet with Khamenei; Rezai calls for the Law Enforcement Forces to restrain themselves when dealing with protestors and for protestors to avoid violence; the Tehran Governor General’s Political deputy says seven individuals killed yesterday had attempted to take over a military base; leaflets at pro-government rally warn of a “velvet revolution”; Ahmadinejad travels to Russia and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting; Iran’s economy is suffering as a result of the post-election unrest; and students arrested in Shiraz are released from prison.  

 

Politics

  • (E) Mousavi supporters plan yet another rally in Tehran in rejection of the election results.
  • (E) There are unconfirmed reports that Mohsen Rezai has evidence of election fraud.
  • (E) Iran’s Intelligence Ministry investigated social unrest and reported its findings to the Majlis.
  • (E) French President Sarkozy commented on Iran’s elections, stating “the extent of the fraud is proportional to the violent reaction… It is a tragedy, but it is not negative to have a real-opinion movement that tries to break its chains.”
  • (E) Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht showed his concern over Iranian authorities’ brutality against protestors by summoning several European envoys and Iran’s ambassador.
  • (E) Ali Akbar Mohtashamipour announced Mousavi’s proposal for a separate “truth-finding commission,” stating, “because of the acts that have taken place, the people do not trust the Guardian Council and therefore you cannot supervise (dealing with our complaints). For this reason, we have called for the establishment of a 'truth-finding commission' made up of those who are trusted by the public.”
  • (E) Representatives of the presidential candidates met with Supreme Leader Khamenei, and he stated that “the friendly atmosphere that existed prior to the elections should not turn into an atmosphere of confrontation and enmity after the elections, since both groups of the voters believe in the Islamic system.”
  • (E) Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi commented on the ongoing protests, stating that “in extensive divisions there is no winner and all country’s people and the system will suffer.”
  • (E) On Tuesday, several people were killed and injured in a pro-Mousavi rally in Tehran.
  • (E) The Guardian Council will recount votes disputed by Mousavi and Rezai.
  • (E) Reformist politicians Behzad Nabavi and Saeed Hajjarian were arrested for inciting post-election violence.
  • (E) The Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission will join the Interior and Intelligence Ministries “to investigate the unrest in Tehran over the election results.”
  • (E) Ahmadinejad supporters met in Vali-ye Asr Square in support of the election results.
  • (E) Iran responded to the EU’s “offensive and interventionist” election remarks by summoning Czech Charge d'Affair Josef Havlas.
  • (E) PressTV released a detailed list of votes cast abroad.
  • The Office of Preservation of Works Of the Supreme Leader provides some trivial information about meeting of the four presidential candidates with Supreme Leader Khamenei the other day; portrays as a friendly meeting. 
    • For video of the meeting see here. 
  • Fars News Agency claims yesterday's pro-government demonstration in Tehran's Vali-ye Asr Square drew as many as a million demonstrators. 
  • Ahmadinejad says the June 12th presidential election was a referendum that showed the Iranian nation’s approval of the ninth government's managerial style. 
  • Speaker of the Parliament Ali Larijani: "These days we are witnessing events and unrest in the country towards which we need to feel responsible...June 12th maximal popular participation was an evolutionary movement of the Islamic revolution towards the fourth decade of the revolution which is progress and justice...this even provided the true and valuable potential for the country and one must cherish it...I urge all the gentlemen (the candidates) to pursue the legal path...On the other hand some unseasoned dealings and incorrect behaviors at the [ed. Tehran] university campus along with Sobhan residential complex and the residential complex of the parliamentarians and some other areas has led to the concern of the dear students and residents of this area...What is the meaning of attacking the students at the campus area at midnight, or attack the Sobhan residential complex at 2.30 am and disturb rest of the residents?" 
  • Rezai: "The great Iranian nation! Bitter events of the past two days shows that a great struggle is taking place in our society. I am not happy that my predictions are coming true. From some time ago I sensed that new divisions and unrest is taking place. In a letter to Mr. Asgar-Owladi and at the debate with Mr. Mir-Hossein Mousavi I pointed at this. The Law Enforcement Forces facing the people or the people countering the Law Enforcement Forces - who are their children - is a part of this discord. Therefore I find it necessary to make the following points: 1. I beg all the brothers from the Law Enforcement Forces and the Security to deal in a friendly and loving manner with peaceful and calm presence of the people. As long a no one has used violence harsh methods should be avoided. Preserving calm and tolerance under such circumstances is very necessary. 2. I beg the dear people to express their protest peacefully and according to the law and do not let the infiltrators in their midst to engage  [ed. physically] or insult the Law Enforcement Forces. Under such circumstances the possibility of abuse of infiltrators is possible. You should preserve your discipline yourself. 3. Some of the authorities of the country should abstain from making provocative words and sentences in their statements and not provoke popular anger. Humble behavior is the solution to pass through the atmosphere of discord in society today. 4. I beg the honorable members of the Guardian Council to attend to the complaints of the presidential candidates. People want to know what the destiny of their vote is. Finally I express my deep unhappiness and deep concern about the recent events and demand that from the authorities to attend to the events urgently. Preservation of unity and solidarity among the people and the authorities is one of the most important of the affairs and everyone must struggle in that direction. Now, we have the best people of the world, such events must not take place and we should preserve calm and dignity by helping them." 
  • Rezai, in an open letter to Interior Minister Mahsouli, demands to know why his staff has not yet been presented with detailed information on the vote from each constituency. 
  • Alef News publishes a certain Shahab Esfandiari's "deconstruction" of presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi's letter of complaint to the Guardian Council; claims his criticism of the election is invalid. 
  • Interior Minister Sadegh Mahsouli says he has not authorized any of the demonstrations since the election. 
  • Mousavi declares readiness to appear on television. 
  • Jam-e Jam urges Mousavi and Karrubi to abstain from deeds which please "Britain." 
  • Parliamentarian Rouhollah Hosseinian, in an interview with Fars News Agency, claims Rafsanjani's letter of complaint against Ahmadinejad to the Supreme Leader unleashed the unrest and proves the unrest was preplanned. 
  • Asr-e Iran reports physical fights between two parliamentarians in the parliament. 
  • Some associated of Abbas Palizdar, who, invited by the Student Basij toured universities all over Iran and "disclosed" alleged economic corruption of the senior clergy in Iran, are given prison sentences. 

    Military and Security

  • Safar-Ali Baratlou, Tehran General Governor's Political Deputy, says the seven individuals killed yesterday had attempted to take over a military base, disarm the personnel, and instigate unrest. 
  • The Revolutionary Guards warns "those individuals in the cyberspace who propagate unrest, threaten the people and distribute rumors" of "legal steps taken by the Revolutionary Guards Center of Cyber Crime which could prove very heavy from them" and asks them to "delete such materials" from their websites: "The brave people of Iran, unfortunately a movement deviant from principles and values of the revolution which has been ever present behind all the unrest in the country during the past couple of years has - according to documents found - before the revolution decided to unleash crisis and unrest in the country. The unrest - which has cost life and honor of the people - is the result of the planning and a pre-planned scenario of those individuals. The issue of elections and the level of votes and winner of the election is only an excuse in order to unleash insecurity and unrest. In this context, the Center for Investigation of Organized Crime has, through precise analysis of the cyberspace of the country, found numerous cases of deviant news sites which disturb the public mind, propagate unrest and street revolts and, through lies and allegation,s and by organizing revolt, is continuing its illegal deeds in destruction of public order and security. This organized center is supported financially and technically by Canadian and American and media financed by American and English intelligence services (Radio Zamaneh, Radio Farda, BBC Persian and the like) and attacks the unity of the Iranian nation..." 
  • Former Vice President Mohammad-Ali Abtahi under arrest. 
  • The Law Enforcement Forces intervene against a number of motorcyclists armed with clubs who tried to attack the demonstrators at Vanak Square.   
  • Ansar News accuses the United States and Britain of masterminding the unrest in Iran. 
  • Ansar News warns of imminence of a velvet revolution in Iran. 
  • According to Asr-Iran, leaflets distributed at the pro-government rally in Tehran yesterday warned the public against a velvet revolution. 
  • According to Fars News Agency Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani, daughter of the former president, accuses former President Mohammad Khatami and his reform movement's attacks against his father in early 2000 as the point from which "dictatorship" took shape in Iran. 

    Diplomacy

  • (E) Ahmadinejad met with Russian President Medvedev at the SCO summit and spoke of Iran and Russia’s leadership, stating, “Economic and political situations have prepared Iran and Russia to affect world developments.”
  • (E) President Ahmadinejad joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting where he will give an address.
    • (E) Ahmadinejad called for a new world order with different leadership, stating that “Washington's many political and economic woes show that its judgment can no longer be trusted.”
  • (E) Iranian Ambassador to France Mehdi Miraboutalebi commented on the Iranian elections, stating that “the organization of elections is part of the sovereignty and jurisdiction of any country… Any form of irresponsible statements or interference by French authorities is an insult to the voting rights of the Iranian people and is strongly condemned.”
  • (E) Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hasan Qashqavi responded to Netanyahu’s speech on Middle East peace, stating that “the root of the crisis in the Middle East is the [Israeli] occupation and as long as it continues, there can be no solution to the conflict” and that “the Islamic Republic of Iran has insisted that the only solution to the conflict is to hold a referendum in which all the original people of Palestine -- be they Muslims, Christians or Jews -- take part and that the refugees return to their land so that they can decide about their future.”

  Economy

  • (E) Iran’s economy is suffering as a result of post-election protests and political instability.
  • (E) Iranian expatriates to invest in building steel and cement factories in the city of Chahbahar.
  • (E) Iran elected as chair of OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID).

  Nuclear Issue

  • (E) Mohamed ElBaradei said Obama’s overtures to Tehran “[give] reasons for hope that a genuine dialogue will lead to a comprehensive settlement of many security, political and economic issues spanning more than 50 years.”

  Religion, culture, and society

Human Rights