Iran News Round Up - September 1, 2017

Three members of the Afghan Shia militia Fatemiyoun Brigade were buried in Mashhad on August 31. The three fighters were killed in combat against ISIS. Hamid Bagheri, 26, was killed on August 20 in the Sheikh Helal District, Hama Governorate, Syria. Hassan Ibrahimi, 30, was killed on August 24 in Palmyra, Homs Governorate, Syria. Reza Mohammadi was killed on June 2 in Palmyra, Homs Governorate, Syria.   (ISCAnews) (IRNA)

Green Movement leader Mehdi Karroubi was discharged from the hospital on August 30 following an operation to repair his pacemaker. Karroubi’s surgery follows his hunger strike on August 16-17. Karroubi’s wife, Fatemeh, reported that security officials had been removed from the interior of their home upon Karroubi’s return from the hospital on August 30. Karroubi demanded the removal of security officials from his home and a date for a public trial during his hunger strike. Karroubi, as well as Green Movement leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Zahra Rahnavard, has been under house arrest since 2011. (BBC Persian)

Information and Communication Technology Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi stated that he is in talks with the Judiciary to reinstate voice calls on the social media platform Telegram. Jahromi stated that pursuing the reinstatement of voice calls on Telegram was a matter of “consumers’ rights.” Iranian authorities blocked access to the voice call feature in April 2017. Jahromi announced on August 28 that talks were also ongoing to unblock Twitter. (Fars News Agency)

Iran Air received two commercial aircraft as part of its deal with French-Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR. Iran Air has already received nine planes as part of the deal since 2016. The agreement allows for a possible 20 additional aircraft, as well as training programs for pilots and engineers. (Press TV) (E)

IRGC Commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari met with newly appointed Artesh Commander Maj. Gen. Abdol Rahim Mousavi on August 30. News outlets characterized the meeting as “intimate.” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed Mousavi as Artesh Commander on August 21. Mousavi previously served as Armed Forces General Staff Deputy Chief. (Tasnim News Agency)

Defense Minister Artesh Brig. Gen. Amir Hatami stressed that Iran’s “advisory assistance” to other nations will continue and added that “although our capabilities are extensive we will work within these [advisory] limitations.” He continued, “[the Defense Ministry’s] main aim is overcoming dependence, and supporting and ensuring the needs of the armed forces.” (Fars News Agency)

President Hassan Rouhani spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on August 31.. He stated that “some of the separatist tendencies and problems created in the Persian Gulf region” are not “for the benefit of the region’s peace and stability.” (ISNA) (Tasnim News Agency)

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi criticized Iraq’s Kirkuk Provincial Council’s decision to participate in the September 25 referendum on the independence of Iraqi Kurdistan. Ghassemi called the decision “a dangerous and provocative step… that will affect Iraq’s national capability in safeguarding the victories of that country over terrorism.” Ghassemi stressed that Iran “warns [Kirkuk] and emphasizes once more the commitment of all parties to [Iraq’s] constitution and the solution of the country’s problems through dialogue.” (Mehr News Agency)

Head of the Expediency Discernment Council (EDC) Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi and EDC Secretary Mohsen Rezaei traveled to Baghdad to meet with Iraqi Vice President Nouri al Maliki on Aug 31. Ayatollah Shahroudi, a favorite to succeed Ayatollah Khamenei as Supreme Leader, is the chairman of the EDC. The EDC settles disputes between the Parliament and the Guardian Council and acts as an advisory body to the Supreme Leader. Maliki expressed hope that this visit would help "strengthen the strategic relationship" between the two countries. Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) leader Abu Mahdi al Muhandis was also present at the meeting. The EDC delegation is scheduled to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al Abadi as well. (Tasnim News Agency) (Fars News Agency)

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif continued to criticize U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley’s visit to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in remarks on August 30. Zarif stated that “the nuclear deal contains a comprehensive framework… it was very precisely worded and negotiated.” He added that Haley’s emphasis on IAEA visits to Iranian military sites “is a further sign of her ignorance of the text of the nuclear deal.” (ISNA)

• Zarif also criticized former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton’s plan on abrogating the nuclear deal. Zarif stated that “this plan would be a major defeat for the U.S. and would cause its further isolation on the international stage.” (ISNA)