Iran News Round Up - May 3, 2017

Basij head IRGC Brigadier General Gholam Hossein Gheibparvar said that cyberspace brings the war to “preserve the Islamic Revolution” into the “rooms of our children.” Gheibparvar emphasized the need to be vigilant in order to win the “culture war” and warned against “wishful thinking” towards the country’s ability to deal with “cultural threats.” (Fars News Agency)

Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour, the Commander of the IRGC Ground Forces, said that the IRGC Ground Forces could be of service to the “oppressed and the Muslim world,” during a speech to foreign military attachés. He praised the IRGC for its ability to defend Iran’s borders in a world “rife with global arrogance” and “destabilizing activities” on the part of “great powers.” Pakpour expressed a willingness to “strengthen military ties with friendly countries” to defend against the “global arrogance.” (ISNA) (Tasnim News Agency)

Iran launched its largest solar power plant near the city of Isfahan on April 27. The $15 million plant is equipped with 39,000 solar panels and has an annual production capacity of 10 megawatts that covers 20 hectares. (Press TV)

Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan said a recent Israeli attack on an area near the international airport in Damascus “helps the terrorists.” He claimed that the strike was meant to undermine the Syrian government’s gains against opposition groups and “ensure the terrorist’s survival.” Additionally, Dehgan said that “improving relations with America was not possible” and such a matter “could not be discussed” due to U.S. “intervention abroad.” (Press TV) (E) (Fars News Agency)

Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghassemi said that Iran has “maintained the principle of no negotiations with America beyond the sphere of the JCPOA” after the JCPOA Joint Commission met in Vienna on April 25. Ghassemi also stated that the U.S. confirmed that Iran was abiding the nuclear deal’s requirements. (Fars News Agency)

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said, “through cooperation with each other, regional countries can fulfill their interests and defend themselves against threats.” Zarif added that Gulf countries can set aside their difference and turn the waterway into a “sea of friendship,” amidst “interference by big powers.” (Press TV)

President Hassan Rouhani issued a letter to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after 10 Iranian border patrols were killed by the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl in Sistan-Baluchestan province near Pakistan. In the letter, Rouhani called on the Pakistani government to prosecute the perpetrators and criticized Pakistan for its “inaction” in being unable to prevent these type of events. (IRNA) (E) (Fars News Agency)

• Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi similarly blamed the Pakistani government as being “accountable for the presence and operation of these vicious groups on its soil.” Ghassemi also stated that “the subversive and terrorist operations” of groups that promote violence and extremism is “condemned” and “unacceptable.” (Press TV) (E)
• Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan said, “while we reserve the right to give a firm response to such acts of terror, we call on Pakistani officials to arrest and punish the perpetrators of this crime at the earliest time possible.” (ISNA)
• IRGC Brigadier General Gholam Hossein Gheibparvar, the head of the Basij, said that the government was seriously pursuing the attack in order to prevent further movement of terrorists along Iran’s borders. (Fars News Agency)

Presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi outlined his plan to boost employment during an interview with Iranian state television. Raisi said that smuggled goods decrease domestic production and thus are a main cause for unemployment. Reacting to Rouhani’s economic stance, Raisi said that Iran did not need to “wait for foreign investment to resolve issues.” He promised that his administration would create 1 million jobs a year by supporting the agricultural, industrial, and mining industries in addition to implementing an overhaul of the banking system. (Fars News Agency)

President Hassan Rouhani reportedly filed a complaint in response to “not being given enough time” to respond to three different accusations leveled against Rouhani by Tehran Mayor Mohammad Ghalibaf. Ghalibaf himself submitted a complaint stating that Rouhani was given “two more minutes” to speak compared to the other candidates. Cleric Ebrahim Raisi also filed a complaint over the “procedure” of the first debate - no specific details were given. (Press TV) (E) (ISNA)

• Leading conservative candidate Hojjat ol Eslam Ebrahim Raisi received little attention from conservative media in the first round of debates after being outperformed by Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf. Raisi’s supporters highlighted his inaction in joining the arguments between conservative candidate Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf against President Hassan Rouhani and his First Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri. Meanwhile, Jahangiri and Qalibaf were well received according to post-debate polls. (Press TV) (E) (Mashregh News Agency) (Tasnim News Agency)

• After the debates, the conservative coalition of the Popular Front of Islamic Revolutionary Forces held a central council meeting to discuss “the general competitive situation” and to “determine the final candidate” of the Popular Front. Currently, the two candidates endorsed by the Popular Front are Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Hojjat ol Eslam Ebrahim Raisi. (Tasnim News Agency)

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rebuffed President Hassan Rouhani’s statement that “The JCPOA removed the shadow of war, threats, and sanctions from the country.” Khamenei countered:  “certain individuals say…’we managed to take away the shadow of war over the country’...These statements are not right. It is the presence of the people that has removed the shadow of war, and not the authorities.” Khamenei's critique of Rouhani's statement suggests that the Supreme Leader is willing to help Rouhani’s conservative opponents in advance of the May 19 elections. (Press TV) (Entekhab)