Iran News Round Up - June 11, 2015

A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by AEI Critical Threats Project Iran Analysts Mehrdad Moarefian, Marie Donovan, Paul Bucala, with contributors Ryan Melvin and Mondona Salahshoor.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.

Key takeaway: The office of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad protested the June 8 arrest of Ahmadinejad’s former Vice President Hamid Baghaei.

The office of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reacted strongly to former Ahmadinejad-era Vice President Hamid Baghaei’s arrest on June 8. The office’s statements indicated that Baghaei’s treatment was a “violation of legal rules and principles,” and described Baghaei as a “committed revolutionary, and completely clean-handed.” Baghaei’s arrest follows the January sentencing of Mohammad Reza Rahimi, a first Vice President under Ahmadinejad, to five years in prison on corruption charges as part of the Rouhani administration’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign.

The Second Congress on Sustainable Security began on June 10, with the title “Security School of thought of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Requirements, Dimensions, and Components).” Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces IRGC Major General Mostafa Izadi described the “security school of the Islamic Republic” as “based on spirituality” and an alternative to “Westerners’ schools of thought” such as liberalism. Imam Hossein University Commander Dr. Mohammad Reza Hosseini Ahangar said that the “security school of the Islamic Republic” is a theory which could help form “a new Islamic civilization” envisioned by the Supreme Leader.

AEI Resident Fellow J. Matthew McInnis analyzes the recent arrest of former vice president Hamid Baghaei, Supreme Leader Khamenei’s comments from the regime’s commemoration of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomenei’s death, and Iran’s economic and regional challenges in his most recent blog post, “Can arresting another former vice president help save Iran from itself?"

Official Statements

• Rezaei: ISIS threat could “last 5 to 10 years.” Mohsen Rezaei addressed the press concerning the threat of ISIS, and the ongoing crisis in Yemen. The Expediency Discernment Council (EDC) Secretary suggested that regional insecurity brought on by ISIS may “last 5 to 10 years.” Rezaei condemned the Saudi-led campaign on Yemen, stating: “Riyadh has failed in Yemen and earned nothing but hatred and pessimism… Riyadh has no way out but ending the war as soon as possible and resolve the issue diplomatically.” He stressed that negotiations must be handled internally by the Yemeni people and called for inclusive dialogue. (Tabnak) http://www(.)tabnak(.)ir/fa/news/508081/%D8%B1%D8%B6%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%86%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%B4-%DB%B5%D8%AA%D8%A7%DB%B1%DB%B0%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B7%D9%88%D9%84-%D9%85%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%DA%A9%D8%B4%D8%AF
   
• Second Congress on Sustainable Security begins. The title of the Congress, which kicked off on June 10, is “Security School of thought of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Requirements, Dimensions, and Components).” Attendees included Prosecutor General Ebrahim Raisi and Deputy Commander of the IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami. 
  • Commander of Imam Hossein University Dr. Mohammad Reza Hosseini Ahangar said that the Supreme Leader “has always considered… the establishment of an Islamic civilization.” Ahangar stated, “If…a new Islamic civilization is to be placed against Western civilization, we need many instructions and Makatebs [traditional educational institutions that teach Islamic subjects and other practical, theoretical, and philosophical subjects] from the Security School of thought of the Islamic Republic…” Ahangar highlighted that the Congress of Sustainable Security series was meant to be a “place of consultation and presentation of theories” on schools of thought for building an Islamic civilization.” (Sepah News) http://www(.)sepahnews(.)com/shownews.Aspx?ID=03b84144-39a0-4c1e-acf9-30c1aa4cd6fb
     
• Dehghan makes address at Second Congress on Sustainable Security. Defense Minister IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan stated: “The first discussion that arises in the formation of the Security School of thought of the Islamic Republic of Iran is this issue of which direction we must go in order to properly recognize security authority. In the event that we recognize the proper authority of security [based on Islamic principles], anything which threatens it [possibly referring to the regime of the Islamic Republic]…is naturally considered an enemy, threat, or rival. Therefore, we should take appropriate action against those threats.” Dehghan continued: “Anything which undermines the integrity of [the Islamic] community is a threat.” (Mehr News) http://www(.)mehrnews(.)com/news/2774966/%D9%87%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%84%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%AF%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%A8-%D9%88-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%81-%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA
   
• Izadi discusses “Security School of thought of the Islamic Republic.” At the Second Congress on Sustainable Security, IRGC Maj. Gen. Mostafa Izadi stated: “Westerners have presented negative, positive, realist, liberal… [and] feminist schools [of thought], but the security doctrine of the Islamic Republic, is based on spirituality, [and] it will define a new space.” The Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces stated, “Currently, we… the General Staff in the Armed Forces are structuring the country and the Armed Forces’ defensive security system…” (Sepah News) http://www(.)sepahnews(.)com/shownews.Aspx?ID=101f8337-754a-4df6-8ccd-c0b69724b9a6
   
• Ahmadinejad’s office issues statement on Baghaei’s arrest.  The office of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad described former Vice President Hamid Baghaei as being a “faithful, committed revolutionary, and completely-clean-handed.” The statement claimed that the treatment of Hamid Baghaei was in violation of “legal rules and principles” and blamed his arrest on “opportunists.” “It should not be necessary to emphasize,” the statement continued, “that the responsibility of ensuring Mr. Baghaei’s health and providing the appropriate opportunity to exercise all of his legal rights lies on the shoulders of the relevant officials.” The statement concluded by asserting that Ahmadinejad will continue to defend Baghaei “until the last defense” (Alef) http://alef(.)ir/vdcd5k0xnyt0596.2a2y(.)html?275679

 

Military and Security

• Dehghan: “A large regional conspiracy is being planned by America and Israel.” In a speech on June 11. Defense Minister IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan reaffirmed the readiness of the military to counter any threat. Hossein Dehghan noted that the military is now equipping itself with modern equipment and weapons “without dependence on foreign powers.” As a result, Dehghan contends that the military is able to serve as a stabilizing force at the regional level. (Tasnim News Agency) http://www(.)tasnimnews(.)com/Home/Single/766790

 

Economy

• Grand Ayatollah Amoli stresses importance of ‘resistance economy.’ At the Second Congress on Sustainable Security, Grand Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli stated that those who suggest that national security is sustainable without the ‘resistance economy’ are “absurd.” (Kayhan) http://kayhan(.)ir/

 

Nuclear Talks

• Trilateral nuclear talks held in Vienna. Deputy for Legal and International Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi and Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi met with their American and E.U's counterparts Tuesday in Vienna, Austria. (IRNA) (E) http://www(.)irna(.)ir/en/News/81642668/
   
• Iran careful to manage risk of eavesdropping as nuclear talks continue. A member of the nuclear negotiations team told IRNA that Iran is always cognizant of possible security risks and behaves accordingly. The negotiator’s comments follow Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky’s discovery of the malware, which it believes is government sourced. Swiss federal prosecutors have opened an investigation into the attack. (Reuters reports Swiss authorities have seized computer material from a house search in connection with the possible nuclear negotiations cyberattack.) (IRNA) E http://www(.)irna(.)ir/en/News/81642774/
   
• Najafi: “An Agreement by the end of June is achievable.” In a press conference in Vienna, Reza Najafi stated that a nuclear agreement would be possible if all partners uphold the agreed parameters. The Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) added that the agency’s monthly reports verify that Iran has complied with all its obligations under the P5+1 interim accord which were in November 2013.  Najafi claimed that the latest report verifies Iran’s, “full transparency.” Najafi dismissed accusations of the potential military dimension (PMD) of the nuclear program, stating that they are, “repetitive, unsupported, and manipulated.” He added that the resolution of the PMD issue is a necessary step to Iran implementing other agreed measures. (Press TV) (E) http://www(.)presstv(.)com/Detail/2015/06/11/415366/Iran-IAEA-Reza-Najafi-PMD-JCPOA

 

Regional Developments and Diplomacy

• Senior Iranian official visits Kabul to discuss Iranian-Afghan cooperation. Saeed Iravani met with Afghan foreign minister to discuss regional issues, joint efforts in fighting shared threats, and a plan to implement cooperation. The Deputy Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) added that Iran is “keen” on working with Afghanistan and that it has already taken steps towards a plan. (Tasnim News Agency) http://www(.)tasnimnews(.)com/english/Home/Single/766427