Iran News Round Up – March 2, 2017

An Interior Ministry official stated that 88 candidates have registered thus far to run in the May 2017 parliamentary elections for four districts, including two in East Azerbaijan Province. The Guardian Council annulled the results of four electoral districts following the spring 2016 parliamentary elections. (Fars News Agency)

Ali Najafi, economic advisor to President Hassan Rouhani, stressed that Rouhani “has not yet spoken publicly” on whether he will run in the May 2017 presidential elections. Najafi’s comments follow Vice President for Parliamentary Affairs Hossein Ali Amiri’s February 26 statement that Rouhani has decided to run.

• Najafi also stated that the “current strategy” of Rouhani’s “likely rivals” is to “destroy” the Rouhani government, and claimed that those rivals “have not uttered one sentence about” what policies they would pursue. The Guardian Council must approve candidates for the presidential elections before formal campaigning can begin. The Guardian Council typically does not approve candidates until close to the elections. The formal presidential campaign season in Iran is thus very short. (Mehr News Agency) (E) (ISNA)
  
  

IRGC Commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari stated that the IRGC had entered the agricultural sector “recently” as part of its larger effort to implement the Supreme Leader’s “Resistance Economy” doctrine, which is designed to make the Iranian economy resistant to external shocks, including sanctions and global financial crises. (Tasnim News Agency) (E) (YJC)

Deputy Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) Commander Brig. Gen. Eskandar Momeni stated that the Cyber Police forces have been established “in all provinces and cities” with populations of over 200,000 people, and will be established “in cities of over 100,000 people in the next year.” The Cyber Police unit was formed in 2011. (ISNA)

Artesh Ideological-Political Directorate Head Hojjat ol Eslam Mohammad Ali al Hashem appointed new heads of the ideological-political directorates of the Artesh Ground Forces, Artesh Navy, and Khatam ol Anbia Air Defense Base. The ideological-political directorate of each branch is headed by a cleric and is responsible for ensuring the branch’s religious and ideological loyalty to the regime. The Artesh Ground Forces in particular has undergone significant personnel changes over the last year. The promotion of several senior Artesh Ground Forces officials reflects the Artesh Ground Forces’ growing importance in Iranian military operations, especially abroad. (Fars News Agency)

 Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi dismissed United Arab Emirates’ Foreign Minister Anwar Mohammad Gargash’s statement at the 34th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council that Iran’s provision of “increasingly sophisticated weapons, including ballistic missiles and armed drones,” is prolonging the crisis in Yemen and “creating conditions that allow Al Qaeda” and ISIS “more space to operate.” Ghassemi called Gargash’s statement “unfounded” and said that “the UAE and other members of the warmongering coalition are directly responsible for the crimes committed in Yemen and the rise of terrorism there and in the entire region.” (Press TV) (E) (Mehr News Agency)

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned that if “Saudi Arabia does not wish to move in the direction of detente, the efforts of the Islamic Republic in this regard will not be successful.” Zarif claimed that Iran has exercised restraint in response to Saudi Arabia’s “increasing of tensions.” Zarif stated that Iran’s restrain in this regard is “based upon a strategic approach to regional conditions” and upon “self-confidence.” Zarif’s comments echo other senior Iranian officials’ continued push-back against Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al Jubeir’s recent allegations that Iran is promoting regional insecurity. Zarif’s comments also follow al Jubeir’s recent high-profile visit to Baghdad. Al Jubeir expressed Saudi Arabia’s desire to restore diplomatic relations with Iraq during his visit. (Etemad)

President Hassan Rouhani met with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit in Islamabad on March 1. Rouhani stated, “Iran has insisted on maintaining regional countries’ territorial integrity. Any violation of territorial integrity in the region, especially in Syria and Iraq, is in opposition to this.” Erdogan stated that Iran and Turkey “are in the same direction in the fight against terrorism along with addressing pressing issues of the Middle East.”  (Mehr News Agency) (E) (Fars News Agency)