Iran News Round Up - July 11, 2017

Deputy Prosecutor General of Mashhad Hassan Heidari announced the number of suspected ISIS arrests in the province to have risen to 27 people over the past several days. This follows an announcement on July 7 stating that 21 purported ISIS members had been arrested in the city. Heidari added that the intelligence forces expanded their investigation to the cities in the Razavi Khorasan Province in northeastern Iran. (ISNA)

Iranian security forces reportedly uncovered an arms depot belonging to the Sunni militant group Jaysh al Adl near the town of Saravan, in Sistan and Baluchistan province in southeastern Iran on July 8. The depot contained tens of small arms and two self-propelled guns (SPG-9s). (Radio Farda)

Col. Ebrahim Baghbani was appointed IRGC Salman Unit Operations Deputy on July 10. IRGC Salman unit is based in southeastern Sistan and Baluchistan province. Baghbani has previously commanded the Haydar-e Karar Unit in Sistan and Baluchistan. (Tasnim News Agency)

The upcoming funeral of IRGC fighter Meysam Alijani was announced on July 10. Alijani was reportedly killed in northwestern Iran. No further details were provided. (Mehr News Agency)

IRGC Naval forces seized a Saudi vessel for allegedly trespassing on Iranian territorial waters off the southern province of Bushehr.  Interior Ministry Director-General for Border Affairs Majid Aghababaei stated that the four crew members were arrested and delivered to Iran’s Judiciary. All four arrested individuals were reportedly Indian. The incident occurred three weeks after Saudi security forces allegedly arrested three Iranian fishermen. (Radio Farda) (Mehr News Agency) (ISNA)

First Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri defended the Total deal by emphasizing the need to expand Iran’s economy by strengthening the country’s industrial and mining sectors. Jahangiri stated that a number of critics have been seeking to highlight the deal’s negative aspects, claiming that “certain countries that share oil and gas fields with Iran spend their money inside and outside our country to keep Tehran from signing new contracts in oil industry.” (ISNA) (Radio Farda)

A group of members of parliament spearheaded by Hossein Haji Deligani of the conservative Followers of the Velayat faction will introduce a triple emergency motion on July 11 to temporarily suspend the recently signed deal with France’s Total oil and gas company. A further group of legislators will also be sending a written request to the president for further information regarding the deal. (Tasnim News Agency) (E) (Tasnim News Agency)

IRGC Quds Force Commander Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani addressed the recapture of Mosul from ISIS in remarks on July 10. Soleimani noted that some matters “cannot be solved with diplomacy alone.” Soleimani stressed the contribution of Iranian forces in aiding Iraq and noted that “the work the the sons of our nation have done in service of the nation of Iraq was the work of soldiers, under the banner of Iraq and Iraqi clerics.” He added that “the nation of Iran, under the orders of the Supreme Leader, placed its life and possessions into the service of [Iraqis] and we consider any soldiering on that front a matter of pride.” Soleimani also mentioned the role of Ayatollah Ali Sistani and praised him for “[saving] the people of Iraq on a number of occasions.” Soleimani then addressed notions of the fight against ISIS as a sectarian one and stated that, “nowadays both Sunni and Shia have come to the conclusion that they must take the administration of their countries into their own hands and not allow the intervention of any foreign [power].” (Tasnim News Agency)

Defense Minister IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan congratulated Iraq’s popular militias on the “liberation” of Mosul. Dehghan stated that the retaking of the city “raised the spirits of all lovers and supporters of stability, calm, and safety in Iraq - in particular the government and armed forces of [Iran].” He added that he hopes “that in the post-ISIS period all of Iraq’s civil and military forces will witness a lasting security by preserving the spirit of jihad, unity, and cohesion.” (Mehr News Agency)

• Shamkhani hails Mosul victory. Head of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani congratulated  Ayatollah Sistani and Iraq’s popular militias on the retaking of Mosul. Sistani commented that “the great victory in Mosul was achieved thanks to the leadership of top Shia clerics, [the] prudence of the Iraqi government and [the] bravery of the country’s army and popular forces.” (Mehr News Agency) (E)

Foreign affairs advisor to parliament speaker Ali Larijani Hossein Amir Abdollahian issued a warning about possible unwanted consequences of the Syrian ceasefire in remarks on July 10. He stated that “the ceasefire in Syria should not become a break and an opportunity for terrorist groups in Syria.” (Mehr News Agency)

Iranian media outlets reported on July 8 that former Iraqi president and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) founder Jalal Talabani will be visiting Iran this week, adding that the visit was arranged in advance following an invitation by Iran. Talabani arrived in Iran on July 10. The prospect of Talabani meeting with senior regime officials during his visit it reportedly “not yet on the agenda.” This is Talabani’s first visit to Iran in five years. (ISNA) (Mehr News Agency)

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi stated that the U.S. and Russia-brokered ceasefire in Syria should be expanded if it proves successful. Ghassemi added that if the ceasefire is expanded “and provides the foundation for stability in the region, it could be an effective agreement.” (Radio Farda)

Former presidential candidate Mostafa Mirsalim addressed the announcement of the recapture of Mosul from ISIS forces on Twitter. He noted that “after Mosul it is the turn of [our] foreign relations apparatus to provide conditions for the participation of Iran’s private sector… in the rebuilding of Iraq.” (Mehr News Agency)

Artesh Commander Maj. Gen Ataollah Salehi remarked on the importance of the IRGC and Iran’s armed forces amidst tension between President Hassan Rouhani and conservative detractors. Salehi commented that “it was the IRGC… that defended the newly-founded country against internal and external attacks.” Salehi also stressed that the Artesh “still assists” with the formation of the IRGC. (Mehr News Agency)

Lotfollah Foruzandeh, a member of the principlist Popular Front of Islamic Revolutionary Forces faction in parliament, stated that his faction is in touch with former presidential candidates Ebrahim Raisi and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf with regard to the pursuit of the faction’s strategies during President Hassan Rouhani’s second term in office. (Mehr News Agency)

Security forces took Hamid Baghaei, a vice president under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, into custody. Baghaei had reportedly failed to appear for a court summons, which he claimed was never delivered to him. Baghaei was first imprisoned on charges of embezzlement in 2015, but was freed later that year. Judiciary Spokesman Hojjat ol Eslam Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei has noted that Baghaei’s case is still open. (Radio Farda)

Deputy IRGC Commander Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami highlighted the independence of the IRGC amidst heightened tensions between President Hassan Rouhani and conservative critics. Salami stressed that, “our path is to build a watertight and undefeatable force for Islamic society.” He added that “these attacks on the IRGC are… insubstantial matters... God willing, we shall continue on our own path.” (ISNA)

Former presidential candidate and Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf addressed rising tensions between President Hassan Rouhani and his conservative detractors during remarks on July 8. Ghalibaf stated that the current political “crisis” stemmed from officials refusing to take responsibility for their actions. He added that “we must speak as [those in] accountable roles and say what we have done.” (Radio Farda)

Basij Commander IRGC Brig. Gen. Gholam Hossein Gheibparvar challenged the government to officially state its opposition to IRGC involvement in the private sector in remarks on July 7. These remarks come amidst rising tensions between President Hassan Rouhani and conservative critics. Gheibparvar addressed officials directly and stated that “if you do not want the IRGC to enter the private sector, officially announce that the IRGC should not enter the private sector for the advancement of the country.” (Radio Farda)

• Gheibparvar reiterated this sentiment during remarks on July 10. He commented that the IRGC’s detractors “should not believe [that the IRGC thinks] that these remarks stem from ignorance” and added that “lashing out against the IRGC [means] casting ourselves into revolution.” (Mehr News Agency)