Iran News Round Up - March 18, 2017

Tasnim News Agency reported that the final version of the Iran Petroleum Contract (IPC) has been prepared. The IPC Is designed to provide more incentives for international firms to invest in Iran’s energy sector compared to the terms of the previous “buyback” model. Finalizing the IPC has taken much longer than the Rouhani administration had anticipated. Conservatives criticized previous iterations for being to favorable to foreigners. (Tasnim News Agency) (E)

Guardian Council Spokesman Abbasali Kadkhodaei stated that Guardian Council approved the annual budget for the Iranian calendar year 1396 on March 15. The calendar year 1396 begins on March 21, 2017. (Tasnim News Agency)

Artesh Navy First Zone Commander RADM Hossein Azad stated that two frigates, including the Jamaran, are among the Iranian vessels participating in a joint exercise with Pakistani naval forces in the Gulf of Oman. (Fars News Agency) (E) (Tasnim News Agency)

Defense Minister IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan praised the Iranian defense industry’s launch of production lines for a number of different weapons over the last year, and stated that the “capacity” of Iran’s “defense industry” experienced a “45 percent increase in the field of armaments and weapons” over the last year. (Defa Press)

Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization issued a statement that Iran has reached an agreement with Saudi Arabia regarding the terms to ensure the safety and travel arrangements of Iranian pilgrims. The statement indicated Iran will send more than 85,000 pilgrims on this year’s Hajj. Iranian pilgrims did not attend the 2016 Hajj pilgrimage after Iran and Saudi Arabia were unable to agree on travel arrangement and safety-related terms. A stampede during the 2015 Hajj in Mina, Saudi Arabia, killed over 2,400 pilgrims, including over 450 Iranians. (Mehr News Agency)

Interim Tehran Friday Prayer Leader Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Movahedi-Kermani disparaged Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al Jubeir’s statements accusing Iran of sponsoring regional terrorism and “seeking to eliminate” Saudi Arabia during his sermon on March 17. Movahedi-Kermani condemned Saudi Arabia’s involvement in Yemen and claimed that al Jubeir should realize instead that Saudi leadership will destroy its own regime through its own oppressive behavior. Movahedi-Kermani also claimed that “the U.S. leadership wants to take everything and give nothing.”

• Movahedi-Kermani also reiterated the regime’s stance that the U.S. has violated the nuclear deal. He stated, “The sanctions were supposed to be lifted and they have not been. Now, America says, “Let’s talk about the region.” It is strange how someone who does not adhere to his commitments talks about how there should be dialogue.” (Tasnim News Agency) (E) (ISNA)
• Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani criticized comments by certain “novice and inexperienced Saudi officials” regarding Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the fight against terrorism. Shamkhani stated that the ruling family of Saudi Arabia “has created and is leading the world’s most active terrorist-producing factory in Saudi Arabia.” Shamkhani also accused the U.S. of supporting terrorist groups in the region. (Tasnim News Agency) (E) (Fars News Agency) (E)  (ISNA)

Interim Tehran Friday Prayer Leader Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Movahedi-Kermani stated, “Unity of the people and the government is mutual love. The people’s communication with the government must be easy lest a distance [between the people and the government] occurs. Of course, the luxurious life of those in power separates them from the people. This is disaster. We must learn the great Leader’s valuing of the simple life.” Movahedi-Kermani also commented on the forthcoming May presidential elections. He stated, “We must strive to identify the fittest [presidential candidate] in order to select the best and most qualified candidate. Neglecting this major work bears a great punishment.” (ISNA)

• Movahedi Kermani also discussed the Rouhani administration’s implementation of the Resistance Economy doctrine. He stated, “The matter of the Resistance Economy is an important one for our country… What is the effect of seminars and meetings regarding the people’s problems? Lest there be only talk and no action taken.” (ISNA)

Mashhad Friday Prayer Leader Ayatollah Ahmad Alam ol Hoda discussed the implementation of the Resistance Economy doctrine under President Hassan Rouhani during his sermon on March 17. He stressed that although the realization of the doctrine “does not only depend on the administration’s performance,” but also on the legislative branch and others as well. He stated that nonetheless, “the administration’s duty in this regard is heavy, because the management of the country’s economy is the responsibility of the executive branch… Unfortunately, we have witnessed deviation from the Resistance Economy.” Alam ol Hoda continued, “This year, the administration has insisted on crude oil sales, but the Supreme Leader has repeatedly stressed that we must work on oil processing, rather than winning money from oil sales to buy foreign goods, because domestic production and youth employment is at stake.” (Mehr News Agency)