A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by AEI Critical Threats Project Iran Analyst Will Fulton and Iran Intern Amir Toumaj, with contributors John Lesnewich and Mehrdad Moarefian. To receive this daily newsletter, please subscribe online.

(E) = Article in English

Excerpts of these translations may only be used with the expressed consent of the authors.

Politics

  • Interim Tehran Friday Prayer Leader Ayatollah Kazem Sedighi discussed nuclear negotiations and urged the West to take advantage of the opportunity:
    • “Whether or not the West accepts Iran’s situation from its position, we believe that, as we have one axis and one leader, our power would be less if we were divided, had a monarchy government or a pure republic. However, we are the Islamic Republic. Our Islamism circles around the axis of the velayat and our Republicanism is with the massive presence of the people.”
    • “At that time [2003 enrichment suspension] this matter was a tactic and a test. When we understood that they have other goals, this matter caused our next steps and jumps.”
    • “Negotiation parties are projecting just as always, and they recently announced that the Iranian side prevented the conclusion of the nuclear negotiations. It is plain from their lies that they have acted against their previous statements and the groundwork of forbearance still exists. We expect the Westerners to use this opportunity.”
  • National Strategic and Foreign Policy [NSFP] Parliamentary Commission Member Avaz Heidarpour gave a hopeful prediction for the upcoming round of negotiations and called on Iran not to judge France based on Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius’ statements:
    • “The negotiations based on a defined framework progressed well. I think the failure that occurred will not happen in the next round, and the negotiations process will advance well … and have a successful outcome.”
    • “In my opinion, the French government is completely opposed to Laurent Fabius’ speech. He is an MP of a socialist party, and that is why his speech cannot be taken as the stance of the whole French nation and government…. It has become apparent that he [spoke] as a Zionist spokesman, while the French government does not accept his positions.”
    • “We must not base our relations with the French nation and government on the opinion of its foreign minister.”
  • Qom Friday Prayer Leader Ayatollah Hashem Hosseini Bushehri discussed nuclear negotiations and lessons of Ashura for confronting current superpowers:
  • Mashhad Friday Prayer Leader Ayatollah Ahmad Alamolhoda praised the negotiations team and criticized the United States:
    • Thanks be to God, in the trend of negotiations our diplomats did not surrender and maintained the system’s dignity.”
    • “Per the commands of the Supreme Leader, the country’s officials must utilize all diplomatic capacities to reduce sanctions. Iranian policy makers have fortunately been successful in this field. The US Secretary of State claims that Iran was not willing to sign an agreement in the Geneva negotiations, but this means that Iran will not sell its dignity to the foreigner.”
    • “Our duty is not to sell our right to America’s greed or surrender against them. Just as we took this revolution to victory by adhering to the conduct of [third Shi’a] Imam Hossein, persevered against the enemy’s advanced equipment during the Eight Years of Sacred Defense [Iran-Iraq War], and took them to the ground, we must now annihilate them today.”
    • “Arrogance [the West] is on the verge of destruction and this is because we will never give in to abjection.”
  • Former President Hojjat al-Eslam Mohammad Khatami gave his hopes for the negotiations: “God-willing, these negotiations will end benefiting Iran and the people.” 
  • Vice President Mohammad Ali Najafi’s mother passed away, and the mourning ceremony was attended by a number of important officials, including: First Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri, IAEO Head Ali Akbar Salehi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif, Mayor of Tehran Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Minister of Defense Hossein Dehghan, Former Preisdent Mohammad Khatami, Nuclear Negotiator Majid Takht Ravanchi, Head of the Central Bank Valiollah Seif, Oil Minister Bijan Zangeh, and a number of other ministers, politicians, and advisors. 

Diplomacy

Military and Security

Nuclear Issue

Economy

Photo of the Day

  • Fifth night of Muharram mourning ceremony in Tehran, attended by Supreme Leader Khamenei, President Rouhani, and other senior officials.