Iran News Round Up - June 1, 2017

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stated that adding new U.S. sanctions are “destructive to the nuclear deal and prevent [the progress of affairs].” Further, he mentioned that “these policies cannot disrupt the process of our work.” The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee recently passed legislation  that “would expand sanctions” on Iran for its “ballistic missile development, support for terrorism, transfers of conventional weapons to or from Iran, and human rights violations.” (Fars News Agency) (E) (Mehr News Agency)

Afghan Shia militia Fatimiyoun Brigade member Javad Allah Hosseini will be buried in Bakhtiar, Alborz Province, on June 2. The date of his death is unclear. (Defa Press)  

The Interior Ministry announced that the Guardian Council has formally approved President Hassan Rouhani’s victory in the May 19 presidential elections. The Iranian Constitution stipulates that the results of an election are not valid until the Guardian Council approves them.  (Mehr News Agency) (E)

Former IRGC Commander and Expediency Discernment Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei stated that while Iran was “able to change sanctions to opportunities” previously, it has been not been able to do so in the “past few years.” Rezaei also referred to the belief that the Supreme Leader and the “revolutionary forces” are against interacting with the world as “a very big lie.” (Tasnim News Agency)

Judiciary Spokesman Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei confirmed reports that an unnamed individual from the Office of the Cultural Advisor to President Hassan Rouhani was arrested. Ejei added that the individual was charged with “espionage” but provided no further details on the case. (Mehr News Agency) (Radio Farda)

President Hassan Rouhani called “the great Iranian nation and the Supreme Leader” Ali Khamenei “the true winners” of the May 19 presidential election during an iftar (fast-breaking) dinner on May 31.

• Rouhani also held an iftar dinner with recipients from the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation on May 29. During remarks at the dinner, Rouhani promised his administration will work to support needy families and stated that when every member of Iranian society “feels that we are members of one family, the social problems and issues will be resolved.” (President.ir) (E)

President Hassan Rouhani addressed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s recent criticism of Iran’s endorsement of the UN’s “Education 2030” agenda in 2015.  Khamenei’s criticism of Iran’s adoption of the agenda was aimed at least in part at Rouhani. Rouhani chairs the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, which endorsed the agenda.

• Rouhani promised that Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution will work to resolve Khamenei’s “concerns” and to “observe” his intentions regarding the “Education 2030” agenda in a “strict” fashion. Rouhani also stated, “We must work with Islamic countries and countries with which we have common cultures to defend and preserve our religious frameworks and national culture.” He also stated, “there are many such documents and international conventions, especially in the UNICEF, that are not binding. As explicitly stated in the [Education] 2030 agenda, we will merely act based on our religious, legal, and cultural framework and regulations.”
• On the May 19 presidential elections: Rouhani said, “Exactly at [the] time that some countries in the region were trying to undermine Iran and the Revolution, [the Iranian] people heeded the Supreme Leader’s call and participated [in] the election, giving them the best answer possible.” (President.ir) (E) (Tasnim News Agency)