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

Military and Security

  • Islamic Republic Navy deputy Gholam-Reza Khadem Bigham discusses Iran's ability to close the Strait of Hormuz on the Arabic language Al-Alam TV:
    • "In the case of a regional war, Iran's reaction is unpredictable and this issue is still unclear to extra-regional powers and the United States... Iran's ability to close the Strait of Hormuz is an issue which will be clarified by time, but what is clear is that the Islamic Republic of Iran has the ability to defend its interests in the region under any circumstances."
    • Asked if the Islamic Republic has a plan ready to close the Strait of Hormuz, Bigham said: "How could the Islamic Republic of Iran be without plans?"
  • Mohammad Shariati Dehqan, former cultural attaché at Iran’s Embassy in Damascus admits that the central government in Syria no longer controls major cities such as Aleppo, but dismisses speculations about collapse of Damascus and emergence of an Alawite state within Syria.
  • According to Amir Mousavi, former adviser to the defense minister, the Iranian citizens abducted in Syria were pilgrims, contradicting foreign minister Salehi's statements that some of them were retired members of the Islamic Republic Armed Forces.

Economy

  • Abrar-e Eqtesadi reports a slight decline in U.S. dollar exchange rate in the Iranian market.

Trade

Religion, Society and Culture

Diplomacy

  • [E] Delegates of over 27 world countries as well as envoys of several international bodies participating in the International Conference on Syria in the Iranian capital issued a final statement at the end of their meeting Thursday evening. 
  •  [E] The Iranian foreign ministry announced that it will send a delegation to Libya to pursue the fate of the 7 Iranian Red Crescent workers who were abducted in the Eastern city of Benghazi last week.

Photos of the Day