Iran News Round Up - July 6, 2017

Nematollah Vahedi was buried on July 4 in the town of Savojbolagh in Alborz Province. Mohammad Sajjadi will be buried in Tehran province on July 6. Both fighters were killed during clashes in Syria. (ABNA) (ABNA) (Tasnim News Agency)

Iranian airlines Qeshm Air announced an agreement on June 30 to buy 10 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes. The aircraft will be delivered after 2022. (Radio Farda)

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi stated on July 4 that despite the absence of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Iranian officials will be deployed to Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina to provide consular services to Iranian pilgrims during the Hajj. (ISNA)

Hassan Rouhani reiterated his congratulations for Iraq’s retaking of Mosul from ISIS forces on July 4 during meetings with Ammar al Hakim, Head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq. Rouhani noted that Iraq’s newfound “stability and unity would be strengthened more than ever and that without a doubt this stability and security is to the advantage” of both countries. (ABNA)

President Hassan Rouhani criticized U.S. and Saudi foreign policy during a speech to the International Conference on Combatting Sand and Dust Storms on July 3. Rouhani stated that “whatever country… [uses] its power to threaten another’s existence… [threatens] its own existence.” The President noted that instead regional actors should pursue “win-win policies” in order to create a “powerful region.” (YJC) (E)

Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Chairman Alaeddin Boroujerdi stated on July 1 that Iran will not violate the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) but also will not comply with U.S. hostility. Boroujerdi stressed that Iran will not rollback efforts on its missile program, claiming that the program is “integral to Iran’s defensive strategy.” Boroujerdi added that if the diplomatic crisis between Iran and Saudi Arabia is to be resolved, the latter has to take the initiative, claiming that Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif attempted to initiate dialogue between the countries but received no cooperation from Saudi Arabia. (Mehr News Agency)

Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) head Ali Shamkhani spoke with Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev by phone on July 4. Shamkhani noted that the purpose of the conversation was “enhancing coordination… to prevent US illegal interventions in Syria.” This statement was released as peace talks between Russian, Iranian, Turkish, UN, Syrian, and opposition officials began in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Tuesday. During the meeting Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Jaberi Ansari met with Russia’s special envoy on Syria Alexander Lavrentiev. (Mehr News Agency) (E) (Mehr News Agency) (E)

IRGC forces in Tehran reportedly uncovered a large stockpile of listening devices and other ‘spy’ equipment in north Tehran on July 3. Four people were identified and arrested in connection with the stockpile, which they had allegedly smuggled into the country. (Mashregh News Agency)

The Artesh Navy began a five-day exercise named “Velayat 96” in the Caspian Sea on July 2. (YJC)

Brig. Gen. Ahmad Reza Pourdastan stated on July 2 that Iran’s Armed Forces’ strategy will be “to eliminate ISIS if they get closer than 40 kilometers [25 miles] to Iran’s borders.” Pourdastan added that the Army’s ground forces are stationed along the country’s western borders with Iraq’s Diyala province, claiming that Iran is “keeping a close watch” on ISIS movements in the area. (Tasnim News Agency)

• Dehghan: “Iran will respond to enemies in the strongest form possible.” On July 1, Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan reiterated support for Iran’s missile program, claiming that “any threat posed by enemies will be dealt with strongly and decisively.” Dehghan added that U.S. sanctions will not have a serious impact on Iranian activities due to Iran’s “deep-rooted and strong system.” (Tasnim News Agency)

One border guard was killed and three injured in clashes between Iranian border guards and armed smugglers on July 2. The smugglers were reportedly transporting alcoholic beverages when they were confronted by border guard forces in the town of Piranshahr in West Azerbaijan Province. (Tasnim News Agency)

Khatam ol Anbia Head Air Defense Base Commander Brig. Gen. Farzad Esmaili announced that Iran has officially installed its Russian-built S-300 missile defense systems. Iranian officials first announced the delivery of the missile system in October of 2016, though this appears to be the first announcement of their readiness for deployment. Esmaili added that the Iranian-built Bavar 373 SAM missile system will be built and tested by the end of the year and stated that the Iranian-built system would be “stronger” than its Russian counterpart. (Tasnim News Agency) (Defa Press)

Deputy IRGC Commander Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami stated on July 5 that there was no other way for Iran to survive but to “remain strong” militarily. Salami emphasized that “without great jihad, self-sacrificial endeavors and the establishment of power, and its development, and expansion, we cannot stand against our hateful enemies.” (ISNA)

 IRGC Ground Forces Commander Brig. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour addressed on July 5 reports of IRGC shelling of Kurdish groups in Iraqi Kurdistan. Pakpour stated that Iran would target “terrorists in the process of training and planning” to destabilize Iran wherever they may be. He added that the July 3 attack came in the wake of “a terrorist team entering [Iran] through [northern Iraq]” with another team in the process of being trained in the area. (Fars News Agency)

• IRGC shells Iraqi Kurdish groups. IRGC forces reportedly shelled Kurdish militia positions north west of Irbil from across the Iranian border in Piranshahr, West Azerbaijan Province on July 3. Peshmerga forces across the border reported that two Kurdish fighters had been injured. (ABNA) (Rudaw)

IRGC Commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari appointed IRGC Brig. Gen. 2C  Mohammad Reza Yazdi as the new commander of IRGC Mohammad Rasoul Allah Unit (Greater Tehran) on July 4. Yazdi replaces IRGC Brig. Gen. Mohsen Kazemeini. Yazdi previously served as the IRGC’s legal and parliamentary deputy. (BBC Persian)

• Esmail Kowsari, an IRGC veteran and hardline former parliamentarian, was promoted commander of Tehran’s IRGC Sarallah Base, on July 1. (BBC Persian)  

First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri addressed the increasing tension between Rouhani and conservative figures on July 1. He stated that after the reelection of President Hassan Rouhani there were those who were “unable to hide their anger” with regard to the popular vote. Instead Jahangiri urged these figures and officials to “accept the people’s vote.” (Radio Farda)

President Hassan Rouhani discussed his administration’s foreign policy in a statement to the Judiciary on July 2. Rouhani stated that “being revolutionary” means “isolating America.” He added that Iran’s foreign policy should allow other nations to “understand… and accept” the country’s discourse. Rouhani then turned to recent domestic political tensions and asked whether “electoral competition” needed to be repeated given that that “period has finished.” (BBC Persian)

IRGC Commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari reiterated comments on July 1 in defence of the IRGC as tensions between conservatives and President Hassan Rouhani grow. Jafari stated that since members of the IRGC “die for the people of Iran,” verbal attacks are harmless against the organization. Jafari stated that the IRGC considers “solving economic and social problems as much a provision of safety as armaments and military equipment, if not more.” Jafari stressed that this manner of commitment to the Iranian people  would endure so long as the IRGC was in the hands of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (Fars News Agency)

IRGC Commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari announced that his term as IRGC Commander will be extended an additional three years during the ceremony appointing Mohammad Reza Yazdi as commander of the IRGC’s Mohammad Rasoul Allah unit (Greater Tehran). It had been expected previously that Jafari would observe a ten-year term like his immediate predecessor, IRGC Maj. Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei first appointed Jafari as IRGC Commander in 2007. (BBC Persian)  

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on the Judiciary on July 3 to take a broader approach to its role internationally as the “flagbearer” of Iran’s rights on the international stage. Khamenei claimed that international organizations have “stood by the oppressors instead of the oppressed” and said that the Judiciary should intervene in “any matter … to face up to lawbreakers and dissenters.” He characterised the role the Judiciary should take as  “developmental and jihadi.”  Khamenei also emphasised the need for the Judiciary to take actions against America and countries that support terrorism, and support Muslims in Nigeria, Myanmar, and Kashmir. (Fars News Agency) (E)

Maj. Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi, military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated on July 5 that “weakening the IRGC… [results in] the weakening of the politics and national security” of Iran. He went on to add that the weakening of the IRGC also affected Iran’s economy since “if there is no security in the country, domestic and foreign investment” will not increase. Safavi invoked Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini's statement that “I wish I was a Revolutionary Guard,” and stated: “Imam Khomeini… said [that statement] from the bottom of his heart and I hope that people will not seek to weaken the IRGC.” (Tasnim News Agency) (Jahan News)

Grand Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamedani stated, “Those who seek to weaken Iran’s security and the IRGC are enemies of the people” in remarks on July 4. Hamedani warned against the “polarization” of Iran’s political sphere and advised Iranian authorities to be more lenient in accepting constructive criticism, stating that “fair critique is a factor of progress.” (Tasnim News Agency)

Assembly of Experts Head Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati criticized the behavior of “one candidate” during the presidential elections, an an oblique reference to President Hassan Rouhani, and noted that “during the elections certain government institutions became election headquarters.” Jannati stated that his concerns had been referred to the Judiciary in hopes that they would be investigated. Later in his speech Jannati turned to the increasing tensions between Rouhani and the IRGC and asked “what would happen to this country’s security without the IRGC? One dimension of the IRGC is to serve [the government]. ” (Tasnim News Agency)

IRGC Quds Force Commander Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani addressed increased tensions between President Hassan Rouhani’s government and the IRGC in remarks on July 4. Soleimani praised the leadership of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and noted that Iran possesses “no greater treasure than the Supreme Leader.” Soleimani then commented on recent detractions aimed at the IRGC and stated that “no one should target the IRGC to weaken and attack it, since today the IRGC’s heart is devoted to a way forward for the country and the people.” (Fars News Agency)