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

Military and Security

  • Representative of the Supreme Leader to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force Hojjat al-Eslam Ali Shirazi said, “We announce to the Americans that we will steadfastly defend our positions, whether negotiations take place or not.” Shirazi emphasized “special attention” to the Supreme Leader’s cultural “concerns” and added:
    • “An administration must implement Islamic law and remain committed to it.”
    • “Preserving Islam is at the center of all affairs. This being said, are all of the country’s officials today concerned about Islam and religion in society?
    • “Do those who undermine qisas [the eye for an eye principle] and those who announce  recognition of Israel pursue the motivation of the Imam [Khomeini]? Why have some, especially revolutionary and passionate youth, remained silent and do not stand against them?”
    • “We must know that our duty is defending religion. Other than this our philosophical existence becomes nothing.”  
  • Basij Organization Deputy Commander IRGC Brig. Gen. Ali Fazli stated, “Interactions have taken place with the administration and Parliament on securing the necessary credit. If it is not possible to fulfill the budget needed by the Basij and armed forces, we will get along with optimizing our expenditures.” 
  • Artesh Khatam ol-Anbia Air Base Commander Brig. Gen. Farzad Esmaili announced that the base has produced twenty-four large projects in the past twelve months he then declared two new upcoming projects, “poosh” [Sheath] and “halghe-ye bidar” [Vigilant Ring]:
    • “poosh”: “This is motion missile launcher or medium-range missile launcher. This launcher will not be identified by anti-missile systems. They can fire simultaneously in a very short timeframe and also change location.”
    • “halghe-ye bidar”: “This project in reality is IFF, or an identification system, that can execute duties in passive or active form. This vigilant system contains two parts that have been designed and produced by the air base youth.”  
  • Editorial on IRGC weekly sobh-e sadegh criticized recent statements made by Head of the Expediency Discernment Council Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. In separate interviews with reformist newspapers, Rafsanjani reportedly advised university students to take Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolence strategy until “no one dares oppress the people” and also accused the Guardian Council of being influenced by “security forces.” The editorial reads in part: “Mr. Hashemi must know that he is part of the system…Mr. Hashemi! The people are still upset about your bad positions regarding the [2009] sedition and hope for your return…We want the Hashemi of the Imam [Khomeini] era who is a loyal friend of the Supreme Leader, not the Hashemi  who satisfies the enemy with his change!” 

Politics

  • At the last administration meeting of the Iranian calendar year, President Rouhani stated that the most important work of his administration has been “creating peace and calm in society,” which can be “the primary foundation for our society’s movement today and tomorrow.” Rouhani added that a final nuclear agreement “will benefit all,” including “the region, West, East and Iran.” 
  • MP Hojjat al-Eslam Mahmoud Nabavian criticized the Islamic Guidance and Culture Ministry, “Because [its] policies are moving towards secularism and the expansion of liberal values.” He added, “I point out the Qanoon newspaper that repudiated a verse of the Qur’an, calling it gender discrimination and considering that verse proof of this matter. In the Aseman newspaper, we also saw them undermining the divine law of qisas. Imam [Khomeini] called these individuals apostates.” 

Diplomacy

Economy

  • Energy Exchange Managing Director Ali Hosseini announced measures to commence offering “3,000 barrels” of crude oil per day in the exchange on April 7, 2014, so “real buyers and consumers can purchase them.” He added, “The Oil Minister has placed the establishment of crude oil tonnage facilities in the Isfahan and Bandar-e Abbas refineries on its agenda, in order to expand the crude oil offering market in the Energy Exchange.” 

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