Iran News Round Up - March 30, 2017

The Armed Forces General Staff released a statement praising Iran’s development in the military arena ahead of the anniversary of the 1979 referendum establishing Iran as an Islamic republic. The statement highlighted Iran’s major regional role and claimed the country’s “military and defensive sphere has led to panicking on the enemy’s front.” (Tasnim News Agency)

Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Reza Salehi Amiri met with Algerian Religious Affairs Minister Mohammad Aissa in Algiers on March 29. Salehi Amiri stated that Algeria, like Iran, is “taking the right stance against terrorism.” Salehi Amiri also stated that “Iran’s problems with Saudi Arabia must not harm relations between Tehran and Algiers.” (Fars News Agency) (E) (Boultan News)

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi argued that Iran could be the EU’s most reliable partner in the Middle East as Iran has proven it has “economic and cultural capabilities, and can be trusted for its steadfastness and stabilizing” role. He added that because Iran has made great efforts in fighting terrorism and sources of instability, it could help resolve many of the problems the EU currently faces. (Press TV)

President Hassan Rouhani addressed Iran-Russia relations upon his return from his visit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Rouhani stated that the varied contents of the recently released Iran-Russia joint statement “show how much relations between Tehran and Moscow have improved… I would say, overall, that Iran-Russia relations on both bilateral and regional terms have been completely transformed.”

• Rouhani stated that “Iran and Russia have had… constructive cooperation in the fight against terrorism, efforts to establish peace and stability in the region and the resolution of issues of Syria and Iraq.” Rouhani also stressed that Iran has “trilateral cooperation with Russia and Turkey on the issue of resolving the Syrian issue and achieving stability of the region.” (Fars News Agency)

• Judiciary Head Ayatollah Sadegh Amoli Larijani reacted to criticism from President Hassan Rouhani regarding the Judiciary’s arrest of an unidentified investor. Rouhani also called on the Judiciary to improve its efforts to attract investors to Iran. Judiciary Head Ayatollah Sadegh Amoli Larijani responded that “there is no place in the Judiciary for the detention of someone on a whim.” Larijani said it is “totally false” to claim that the Judiciary would detain an investor in order to impede investment in Iran.  Larijani also stated, “The Judiciary not only does not prevent healthy investment… but also facilitates healthy investment by dealing decisively with corruption.” (BBC Persian) (Radio Farda) (Mizan Online)

IRGC Commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari called on the government to provide water to Khuzestan to combat the recent buildup of dust in the region. Jafari said that the IRGC and Basij can assist in these services due to construction experience and provide relief to the people of Khuzestan. (Mehr News Agency) (ISNA)