Iran News Round Up - March 15, 2017

• Afghan Shia militia Fatimiyoun Brigade member Javad Hosseini was killed in Syria. He will be buried in Alborz province on March 17. (Tasnim News Agency)
• Pakistani Shia militia Zainabiyoun Brigade fighter Seyyed Shamim Hossein was buried in Qom province. The location of his death is unknown. (Tasnim News Agency) (ABNA)

Iran’s Ahdaf Investment Company and South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering Company signed a deal for a petrochemical project reportedly worth $3.2 billion. The deal will cover the construction of the second phase of the Kangan Petro Refining Company. (Tasnim News Agency) (E)

Deputy Foreign Minister Morteza Sarmadi said Iran is “serious” about improving bilateral relations with Oman. The Artesh Navy 45th Fleet also visited the Omani port of Salalah on March 13 on its way to the Gulf of Aden. (Fars News Agency) (E) (Fars News Agency) (E)

Pakistani warships arrived in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas on March 12. Pakistani and Iranian naval commanders reaffirmed Tehran and Islamabad’s security cooperation and strengthening of naval relations. Iranian naval ships had visited the Pakistani port city of Karachi in September 2016. (Tasnim News Agency) (E)

Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) Head Hojjat ol Eslam Mahmoud Alavi stated that a MOIS “technical” team “installed the most powerful” equipment “in Syria” and have “precisely monitored terrorists’ bases.” Alavi did not provide further details regarding the equipment. Alavi also stated, “Today, we are exporting the commodity of security… the kind that [MOIS agents] are creating a technical epic in Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq.” (Mehr News Agency) (E) (Ana)

Ali Larijani discussed the Popular Front for the Islamic Revolution Forces during a press conference on March 12. Larijani indicated that he did not approve of comments the Front made regarding Parliament, but stated that he has “no comment about the nature” of the Front’s work and noted that “there is no problem that people are coming together on the eve of the elections and are active in the elections.” Larijani noted that the Popular Front has not invited him to a meeting, and that he is not taking meetings regarding the elections. He stated, “As head of the legislature, I am not interested in entering into elections issues.” (Fars News Agency)

Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Movahedi Kermani, the secretary-general of the influential conservative Society of Combatant Clergy, praised the unity and the character of the Popular Front of the Islamic Revolution Forces. He stated, “What I’ve seen and recognized from this Front is that they are worthy people who have banded together… they have the pain of revolution and of religion, and hopefully God will assist them.” (Fars News Agency) 

Prominent hardliner Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi stated that he does “not accept any coalition” and “will not promise to support” any particular candidate in the May presidential elections during a meeting with members of the Islamic Coalition Party (ICP). The ICP is a main member of the influential Principlist coalition Front of the Followers of the Line of the Imam and the Leader. (Entekhab)

The Critical Threats Project (CTP) and the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have proposed a course of action for the United States to pursue to destroy ISIS and al Qaeda in Syria in a new joint report, “America’s Way Ahead in Syria.” The report argues that any effort that focuses on ISIS first and plans to address al Qaeda in Syria later is likely to fail.