Iran News Round Up - August 16, 2017

National Petrochemical Company head and Deputy Oil Minister Marzieh Shahdaei met with Ukrainian ambassador to Tehran Sergei Buldiliak on August 14. Shahdaei stated after the talks that the “formation of an export hub for Iran’s petrochemical products to Europe in Ukraine” was one of the major topics at the meeting. (Tasnim News Agency) (E)

Artesh Navy Commander RADM Habibollah Sayyari stated that the Artesh Navy will undertake an exercise in electronic warfare in the Makran region in southeast Iran this week. Sayyari commented that the drills will also include missile tests, intelligence operations, submarine deployment, and search and rescue operations. He added that the Artesh Navy will perform 25 exercises by the end of March 2018. (Tasnim News Agency) (E)

The IRGC responded to the U.S. Navy’s earlier reports that an Iranian drone had come within 1,000 feet of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf on August 12 and briefly held a position above it. U.S. Navy sources referred to the activity as “unprofessional.” The IRGC stressed that “IRGC drone patrols will continue in the Persian Gulf… irrespective of the psychological manipulation of alien powers.” (Radio Farda)

BBC news sources reported that Iran’s Judiciary has frozen the assets and banned the activity of over 150 BBC Persian journalists without explanation. The list of those targeted includes past and current employees of the network. BBC Persian Service head Ali Azimi stated that the Judiciary “has not contacted” any of those listed and added that a member of BBC’s reporting team had become aware of the ban when they were denied a request for documents on an Iranian government system. (BBC Persian)

Armed Forces General Staff chief IRGC Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri travelled to Ankara on August 15 to meet with top Turkish political and military officials. Bagheri and IRGC Ground Forces Commander Brig. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour met with Turkish General Staff Chief Hulusi Akar and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss “security issues, border security, and the fight against terrorism.” (BBC Persian)

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi welcomed the news of direct talks between Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar al Abadi and a delegation from Iraqi Kurdistan ahead of the September 25 referendum on that region’s independence. Ghassemi stated that such talks put Iraq on “the road to lasting stability and security.” (Mehr News Agency)

• Iran’s Ambassador to Iraq Iraj Masjedi met with new head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq Humam Hamoudi in Baghdad. Hamoudi’s appointment follows the split of former-leader Ammar al Hakim from the party in July 2017. Masjedi stated that “the selection of Sheikh Hamoudi as head of the Islamic Supreme Council was a clear choice, which has raised the spirits of jihadis.” (ISNA)

President Hassan Rouhani remarked on U.S.-Iran relations and the future of the nuclear deal in a speech to Parliament on August 15. Rouhani stated that “America has shown the world and even its own allies that it is neither a good partner nor a trustworthy negotiator.” Rouhani stressed that “those who attempt to continually return to the language of threats hold themselves prisoner.” (Mehr News Agency)

• Rouhani, Putin hold telephone conversation. President Hassan Rouhani and Vladimir Putin discussed regional issues in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen as well as recent U.S. comments on the nuclear deal during a telephone call on August 14. (Mehr News Agency) (E)

The Centre for Human Rights in Iran published a report regarding the professional background of proposed Communications and Information Technology Minister Mohammad Javad Azadi Jahromi on August 13. The report accuses Jahromi of “interrogating former political prisoners” including “at least five” of whom were connected to Green Movement leader Mir Hossein Moussavi’s electoral campaign in 2009. Jahromi reportedly held responsibility for audio surveillance at the Intelligence Ministry between 2009 and 2013. The report accuses him of “illegal” surveillance that was led to the imprisonment of Green Movement supporters. (Radio Farda)

Parliament began the first day of vetting for proposed ministers in President Hassan Rouhani’s second-term cabinet began on August 15.

• On the proposed cabinet overall: In the general discussion reformist-backed Omid parliamentary faction head Mohammad Reza Aref and Moderation and Development Party member Zahra Saei restated complaints of a lack of “employment of women” in the makeup of the second cabinet. Principlist Tabriz Representative Mohammad Hossein Farhangi criticized the fact that “there is no basic difference” between Rouhani’s proposed cabinet and that of his first term.
• On proposed Education Minister Bathaei: Conservative Qom Representative Mojtaba Zonnour criticized proposed Education Minister Mohammad Bathaei’s plan for “a lack of religious teachings” in his education program. Other members lauded Bathaei’s long-term experience in the Education Ministry.
• On proposed ICT Minister Jahromi: Some representatives urged their colleagues to forgive proposed Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Minister Javad Azari Jahromi his lack of experience as a result of his age. Jahromi, 36, is the proposed cabinet’s youngest minister. Mohammad Ali Pourmokhtar highlighted concerns of Jahromi’s connection to the Intelligence Ministry and highlighted that Jahromi “should not turn ICT into a second Intelligence Ministry.” (Fars News Agency)

Iranian sources reported the death of IRGC Brig. Gen. 2C Mostafa Khosh Mohammadi of the IRGC 45th Javad ol Aemeh Brigade, which is based in Golestan Province.  ISNA reported that Khosh Mohammadi reportedly emerged from a two-year retirement to serve as a demolitions and engineering expert in Syria. Sources provided conflicting reports of the cause of his death. ISNA reported that U.S.-led coalition airstrikes killed Khosh Mohammadi in the vicinity of the Syria-Iraq border. Tabnak cited Chalous Basij commander IRGC Col. Ja’bar Asghari, who claimed that ISIS killed Khosh Mohammadi while he was conducting a “demolition operation” in Syria. (Tabnak) (YJC) (ISNA)