A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by Ali Alfoneh and Ahmad Majidyar. To receive this daily newsletter, please subscribe online.

(E) = Article in English    

Politics

  • Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei, director of Ahmadinejad's office, addresses the people from Mazandaran at a meeting in Tehran: 
    • On his decision to run for the president, Mashaei said: "No one can stop me!"
    • "Offense is the best defense... We are intending to constantly be on the attack and we will not be gentlemanly towards anyone."
    • "The gentlemen have no documentation whatsoever when it comes to a fantastical movement called 'the current of deviation.' Just as Ahmadinejad has declared it, I too have prepared myself for martyrdom."
    • "We have been active for the past seven years. We will not so easily hand over the eleventh cabinet to [Mohammad-Baqer] Qalibaf."
    • "We have things [prepared files on] all those people who have attacked the cabinet during the past seven years."
    • "Every once in a while I cry because of the innocence of Ahmadinejad. The pressure is very hard. Had it not been for the support of the president I would most certainly have resigned."

Diplomacy

  • Iranian Deputy foreign minister condemns Israel's "cowardly attacks" on Gaza.
  • [E] Iran called on the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) to return to talks instead of paving the wrong path of pressures and sanctions against the Iranian nation.

Military and Security

Economy

  • The parliament passes a bill prohibiting the amount of the cash handout in 2013. 
  • Parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani addresses war veterans:
    • "One of the problems in our country is inflation and [un]employment. As long as liquidity is not directed towards production... inflation and unemployment will not be solved. For this to happen, one must ease the economic conditions and investment [opportunities]. Should this happen, our nation could most certainly leave the problems [caused by the] sanctions behind and reach development and progress."
  • Parliamentarian Halimeh Ali warns against drought, unemployment, poverty and insecurity in Sistan va Baluchestan province.

Trade

Religion, Society and Culture

  • Policy analyst Sadeq Zibakalam and Hojjat al-Eslam Hossein Khosrowpanah discuss the role of religion in society: Video

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