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

  • Parliamentary debate about next year's national budget

    • The government's proposal for next year's national budget passes the parliament.

    • Ahmad Tavakkoli: "The government's proposal was detrimental to the national economy because it causes inflation and stagnation… Rather than passing this budget,...especially, the reform of the subsidies system which is dangerous… the committee must convene to propose certain policy goals to the government..."

    • Hojjat al-Eslam Mesbahi Moghaddam: "Thirty two percent growth in public spending in next year's budget will prove expensive, especially given that the real growth in national income is 25 percent, calculated after eliminating inflation...Such growth raises public expectation, and increases budget deficit...Despite the fact that important public-owned enterprises have been, or are being, transferred to the private sector...there has been a 40 percent rise in their budget. It is not clear to us why this is the case...Implementation of the subsidy reform will prove inflationary..."

  • Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, Ahmadinejad's Chief of Staff, explains the president’s reactions to Supreme Leader Khamenei's opposition to his appointment as Vice President:

    • "On Monday, I found out that there was this issue. I asked what I should do, and Mr. Ahmadinejad said “I'll speak with the Lord [Khamenei] today.” He went and spoke with the Lord, and I must say that I [by then] was no longer interested in this responsibility…After the conversation, he returned and I asked what I was to do. I asked again, and he said, “You continue your work!” On Friday, the letter [of Khamenei protesting against Mashaei] became public. I have no idea what happened, and why it was disclosed. I don't know at all and I heard it on radio. And I wrote a letter to find out what this was all about. What is the purpose of insisting [upon being Vice President.]?..."

    • "I am among those principalists who use Ahmadinejad in order to reach out to guardianship. This is the difference [between us.] This is the difference between Mr. Zakani and myself. I consider Ahmadinejad the prime example of following the guardianship. I have the conviction that just knowing the goal is not enough, but we also need to pay attention to the means [to reach the goal], and Ahmadinejad is the symbol of a prominent means of following guardianship in a divine regime."

  • An unnamed "intelligence source" says former President Mohammad Khatmai has lost the right to leave the country.

Diplomacy

  • Iranian and U.S. representatives meet in Vienna to discuss fight against drugs.

  • Ahmadinejad scheduled to visit Kabul on Wednesday.

  • Iranian officials react to a recent remark by Gen. Petraeus calling the Islamic Republic a "thugocracy":

    • Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast:

      • "We feel that the American authorities are extremely angry and their undiplomatic and inhumane statements are made in anger and their behavior resembles that of thugs. We don't know the reason for their anger. Is it the Revolution Day rallies and popular support for our regime, or is it because of their defeat in soft warfare? Maybe it is because of the victory of the people in Iraqi elections?" Mehmanparast also said that Secretary Gates was wrong in saying Iran supported the Taliban.

    • Speaker of the Parliament Ali Larijani:

      • "It is quite understandable that your uneasiness is because of the regional nations’ hatred of the United States. [This unease] sometimes manifest itself in such insulting statements..."

      • "The Iraqi nation gave a thorough answer to you and you should be in a state of political shock, but your problems will not be solved by using foolish language and hatred towards you will increase with each passing day..."

      • "It is the U.S. government that is a government of thugs, which has killed 850,000 Iraqis during the years of occupation and which has martyred tens of thousands of Afghans..."

      • "You are suffering from homelessness and political isolation among the nations. And by making such screams you show your helplessness even more...Of course, these statements also showed the nature of the current U.S. administration, which in an opportunistic attempt is trying to change its image. It is also a lesson to simpletons who thought such slogans showed a change in the nature [of the United States]. Now, take a look at how they showed what they really are."

  • [E] Ahmadinejad is scheduled to visit Kabul on Wednesday to confer with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai on ways to expand mutual relations and the regional developments.

  • [E] Qatar’s Prime Minister Hamad bin Jasim bin Jabir al-Thani said his country would not allow any country to influence ties with Iran.

  • [E] Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mihman-Parast said Tuesday that head of US Central Command David Petraeus was using a “thugocratic” language

  • [E] Larijani said the real “thugocrat” government is the US administration itself which is involved in killing of thousands of Iraqi, Afghan and Palestinian people.


Military and Security

Nuclear Issue

Trade

  • Iran to build an electrical power plant in Ecuador.

Human Rights

Photo of the Day