A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by the AEI Critical Threats Project's Iran research team. 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
Nuclear Issue
- Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi said thatIran expects the European Union and the US “to avoid making statements that damage the process of [nuclear] negotiations and agreements.”
- Foreign Ministry Political and International Director Hamid Baedinejad announced that Iran and the P5+1 will hold technical expert-level meetings tomorrow ahead of the April 7 nuclear negotiations.
Diplomacy
- President Hassan Rouhani called Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to congratulate him for his party’s local election victory. Rouhani said the vote was a “Victory for democracy in a prominent Islamic country.”
- Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian met with United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Mohammad Qarqash. The officials discussed regional threats and Syria, while also calling for the strengthening of bilateral ties between the two countries:
- “The Islamic Republic of Iran sees negotiation with its neighboring countries as an effective way to fight against terrorism, extremism and sectarian strife in the Middle East…The ongoing conflict in Syria could only be resolved if the flow of foreign-sponsored militants and weapons into Syria stops.”
- Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian also traveled to Kuwait to meet with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Sabah.
- Advisor to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz announced that Sharif will visit Tehran sometime in May or June of this year.
- Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said in response to Yemeni President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s statement urging Iran to stop meddling in Yemen: “Every so often, the unfounded and baseless statements with such (anti-Iran) contents are made, while such claims are very clearly incorrect.”
- National Security and Foreign Policy Parliamentary Commission Member Mohammad HassanAsfari declared that “Jaish al-Adl and their state sponsors know that any action taken against our guards will result in an overwhelming response.”
Economy
- Iran and Russia agreed to a $20 billion oil-for-goods deal, according to unidentified sources cited by Tasnim News Agency.
- First Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri announced that Iran’s private sector will play a significant role in boosting the country’s economy Jahangiri said “The president and other cabinet members have come to the understanding that there is no way to address the [economic] problems, but to rely on the private sector.”
- Deputy Foreign Minister for Asian and Oceania Affairs Ibrahim Rahim Pour announced Iran’s willingness to establish a permanent exhibition of advanced technologies in Turkmenistan’s capital during a meeting with Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rasit Meredov in Ashgabat.
Photo of the Day
- Photos of Iran’s Nature day, known as Sizdah-bedar.