Iran News Round Up - August 10, 2017

Intelligence Minister Hojjat ol Eslam Mahmoud Alavi stated that the Intelligence Ministry has summoned individuals connected to foreign Telegram channels. Alavi announced that “thousands of obscene [Telegram] channels” have been closed and their administrators have either “recanted” or been “systematically” handed in to the Judiciary. (Radio Farda)  

U.S. Navy sources reported on August 8 that an Iranian QOM-1 drone flew within approximately 200 feet of a U.S. Navy F-18 Hornet jet preparing to land on the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf. The U.S. Navy called the Iranian drone’s actions “unsafe and unprofessional” and noted that it was the 13th such action in 2017. (BBC Persian)

Iranian oil company Ghadir Exploration and Production Company signed a cooperation memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Russia’s state-controlled JSC Zarubezhneft and Turkish energy company Unit International S.A. in Moscow on August 9. The MoU outlines possibilities for joint ventures as well as technical and economic activities. (Mehr News Agency) (E)

Turkish officials announced the start of construction of a wall along sections of that country’s border with Iran on August 8. Turkish officials stated in May that they intend to build a wall along 144 km of Turkey’s border with Iran in order to prevent the entrance of PKK operatives into Turkey. Iran’s border with Turkey extends along approximately 500km. (Radio Farda)

News outlets reported on August 9 that Mohammad Tajbaksh and Mohammad Alipour were killed in Syria. Both were from Khuzestan Province.

• News outlets reported on August 8 that Ali Azimi, a member of the IRGC 38th Zulfiqar Brigade and a resident of Kerman Province, was killed in Syria. (ABNA)
• ISIS captured Mohsen Hajaji, a resident of Esfahan Province, on the Syria-Iraq border on August 7. Outlets reported on August 9 that he had been killed. (Radio Farda) (Tasnim News Agency)

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif presented his agenda for President Hassan Rouhani’s second term in office during a meeting with independent members of Parliament on August 9. Zarif stated that Iran “should prevent the U.S. from paying the price for breaking its word and prevent America from pinning the political and economic costs of violating the JCPOA on [Iran].” (Fars News Agency)

President Hassan Rouhani appointed three women to senior non-ministerial positions. Critics have highlighted the lack of gender diversity in his cabinet. Rouhani named Masoumeh Ebtekar as Vice President for Family and Women’s Affairs, Leya Joneydi as Vice President for Legal Affairs, and Shahindokht Molavardi as Presidential Advisor for Civil Rights. Both Ebtekar and Molavardi have previously held appointed positions within government, with Joneydi previously serving on the board of Tehran University. (BBC Persian)

• Iranian papers criticize Rouhani cabinet composition. Reformist newspaper Etemad characterized the cabinet as containing “very little change” but stated that “[President Hassan Rouhani’s] supporters aren’t satisfied with the cabinet’s composition.” Conservative daily Vatan-e Emrooz and Aftab mocked the fact that the new cabinet increased the average age in comparison to the first-term line-up. Critics targeted the age of Rouhani’s cabinet during the presidential campaign season. IRGC-affiliated Mashregh News lauded Rouhani’s choice for not “submit[ting] to reformist pressures” in his selection of his second-term cabinet.  (Telegram) (Twitter) (Twitter) (Mashregh News Agency)