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
Military and Security
- News stories concerning assassination of Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan:
- According to Daneshjou, Ahmadi-Roshan was assassinated because he was "an expert in how to bypass Western sanctions against Iran." The news agency adds Ahmadi-Roshan used "various middlemen" in order to procure "sensitive equipment" banned under sanctions.
- Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei issues an official statement about the assassination:
- "This cowardly assassination, the perpetrators of which will never dare to admit or accept responsibility for it, like other acts of the international state terrorism, has been planned by the services of the CIA and the Mossad and shows that the global arrogance led by the United States and Zionism is facing a dead end in facing the decisive, pious and progressive Iranian nation...This hideous and atrocious act of theirs too will be defeated and they will not achieve their evil goals... We will, of course, never ignore punishing the perpetrators of this crime and the behind the scenes masters of it."
- Parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani:
- "Assassinations perpetrated by Israel underscores the late Imam Khomeini's statement that 'as long as this cancerous tumor is in the region, the region will not experience calm.'… Israel is mentally deranged if it thinks it can stop Iran's nuclear activities by assassinating four individuals... We will make our nuclear progress visible so others can see that such deeds can't stop our nuclear technology..."
- Ayatollah Emami Kashani, temporary Tehran Friday prayer leader: "The enemies of this scientist are the enemies of science, independence, and progress of the Iranian nation... The regime must take care and preserve these scientists; it must plan to counter the schemes of the enemies and must know them... International gatherings support these assassinations, but one must awaken the world in the face of such disasters so they understand why the enemies of Iran are against us... Some people and youth must wake up in the face of such events; they must not move or chant slogans against this regime. Martyrdom perpetrated by the foreigners must awaken those who are misled..."
- The Basij in an official statement threatens: "The enemies should know that they are digging their graves with such deeds. They should await the decisive answer of the Hezbollah community of believers, and they should know that these assassinations and the blood [shed] will lead to their total disappearance from the planet earth."
- An unnamed security official tells Iran-e Hastehi [Nuclear Iran] that Iran is about to enter "the retaliation phase."
- Ahmadi-Roshan will be buried today, Friday.
- Fars News: “Iran buried a university professor and scientist who was assassinated by the US and Israeli terror squads on Wednesday.”
- [E] Russia fears Israel will push the United States into a military conflict with Iran which could retaliate by blocking oil shipments from the Persian Gulf, a confidant of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said.
- Hamid-Reza Moqaddam, Revolutionary Guards Cultural Directorate commander, says some Iranian authorities have become "tired and are intimidated" by the current conditions in which the Islamic Republic finds itself.
Diplomacy
- Ahmadinejad's visit to Latin America:
- Ahmadinejad visits Cuban dictator Fidel Castro in Havana.
- The president of Ecuador welcomes Ahmadinejad.
- [E] Ahmadinejad on Friday wrapped up a four-nation tour of Latin America and returned to Iran.
- The Interior Ministry denies "student associations" the right to demonstrate in front of the British, German and French embassies in Tehran.
- Hamas Politburo Chief Khaled Mashaal and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh plan to pay a visit to Tehran by the end of January, Hamas officials said.
Nuclear Issue
- [E] Russia's deputy foreign minister Gannady Gatilov on Friday strongly opposed the US-led efforts to impose a fresh round of sanctions against Tehran, and said new sanctions against Iran will be perceived by the world community as an attempt at changing the regime in the Islamic Republic.
- [E] Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said Tehran is positive towards holding nuclear negotiations with the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members - the US, Britain, Russia, China and France - plus Germany) in Turkey.
- [E] Diplomatic sources announced on Friday that a high-level International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) delegation will visit Iran late this month to try to clear up West's alleged concerns about Iran's peaceful nuclear activities.
Photos of the Day
- Families of Ahmadi-Roshan and Qashqaei mourn the passing of their relatives.