A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by Ali Alfoneh, Ahmad Majidyar and Michael Rubin.  To receive this daily newsletter, please subscribe online.
 
(E) = Article in English
 

 

Politics

  • Presidential crisis:
    • Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, temporary Tehran Friday prayer leader:
      • "The entire legitimacy of the regime is connected to the Guardianship of the Jurist. The three powers of the state only gain legitimacy through the signature of the leader. Therefore, obeying the Guardian Jurist is doubtlessly a religious and legal necessity." 
      • "During the so called reform-era, the enemies tried to leave the impression that there is a dual authority in the country. These tricks are lies. Today, those who were rejected by the people have tried to restate this lie in the foreign media and claim there is a dual authority in the country... I must tell them from this platform that there is a unity of command in this country and that constitutionally, the Guardianship of the Jurist rules."
    • Receiving a number of Principalist supporters, Ahmadinejad says there is a "conspiracy" against him.
    • Ahmadinejad refuses to comment to the Islamic Republic of Iran Voice and Vision unless the program is transmitted live. The Islamic Republic of Iran Voice and Vision on the other hand demands that Ahmadinejad clarify his position before he is allowed to appear on television.
    • Parviz Sarvari, parliamentarian and former Revolutionary Guards commander, to Ya Lasarat al-Hossein: "Ahmadinejad and his team are trying to defeat the Guardian Jurist." 
    • Aeen News (close to Ahmadinejad): "Don't torment Ahmadinejad. We swear to God that we will enter the arena!"
    • Ammariyon News urges Ahmadinejad to resign.
    • Ahmadinejad boycotts meeting of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution.
    • [E] Tehran's provisional Friday Prayers Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ahmad Khatami warned that enemies have hatched plots to portray Iran as an unstable country by spreading false reports about Iran's internal developments.

Diplomacy

  • Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamadani: "In order to preserve its regional hegemony, the United States has installed the Khalifa clan in Bahrain, Saud clan in Arabia, Nahyan clan in the Emirates and Sabah clan in Kuwait... For the time being these stooges are destabilized and Saudi Arabia should know that it will share the destiny of Bahrain." 
  • [E] Pakistani Minister of Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan, in a meeting with Iranian Envoy to Islamabad, called for further cooperation between the two neighboring countries in the field of media.

Economy

Iran in the Afghan Media

  • [E] The US has slapped sanctions against Iranian narcotics trafficker Bahram Ali Shayesteh for his alleged involvement in millions of dollars of transactions with Afghan drug dealers.   

Photos of the Day