Iran News Round Up - April 13, 2018

Forty-three of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s ministers and deputies noted that Ahmadinejad’s recent “destructive behavior and positions” have affected Iran’s national unity and sense of togetherness in a public statement issued on April 12.They criticized Ahmadinejad and suggested that his disagreeable and critical approach toward certain government officials has opened the door for “foreign enemies” and “rioters” to endanger the regime and damage the Iranian people’s interests. Ahmadinejad has capitalized on recent Iranian anti-regime protests to leverage popular discontent to erode the legitimacy of regime officials and key institutions. Ahmadinejad has called for “immediate and free presidential elections” and the removal of Judiciary head Ayatollah Sadegh Amoli Larijani in recent letters sent to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Ahmadinejad-era ministers and deputies expressed their dissatisfaction with the current economic state of the country and praised regime strengths , such as strengthening the Axis of Resistance and defending Iranian security. The letter’s signatories also noted the country’s poor economic condition and livelihood issues present amongst the country’s “weak and intermediate strata.” They attributed these issues in large part to the “incorrect approach” of President Hassan Rouhani and his government. (Tasnim News Agency)  

President Hassan Rouhani and a ministerial delegation approved and announced 16 directives to organize and manage Iran’s currency exchange market. Directives include the requirement for imported goods into Iranian Special Trade-Industrial Zones and Special Economic Zones (SEZ) to be registered. First Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri announced the new directives to relevant state institutions, including Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the Interior Ministry, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, and the Central Bank of Iran. The directives follow President Hassan Rouhani Government's order to unify Iran’s official and free market exchange rates. The establishment of a fixed-rate for the Iranian Rial comes after significant devaluation of the Iranian Rial. The Iranian Rial has devalued by more than 30 percent since September 2017. (President.ir)

Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Supreme Leader Ali Akbar Velayati emphasized the need to enhance coordination and consultations between Iran and Syria in order to confront threats from “the Israeli regime, the U.S., their supporters, and their regional tools” during his visit to Damascus, Syria on April 11. Velayati reiterated Iran’s continued support for the Syrian government during a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al Assad. Velayati also met with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al Muallem and Syrian Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party Deputy Secretary General Hilal al Hilal. Velayati also visited pro-Syrian regime forces stationed in Eastern Ghouta as well as smuggling tunnels during his visit.  (IRIB News) (Twitter) (IRNA) (IRNA) (IRNA) (IRNA)

Russian Special Presidential Envoy to Syria Alexander Lavrentiev paid an “unexpected” visit to Tehran to meet with senior Iranian officials on April 10. Lavrentiev met separately with Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Ali Shamkhani and Foreign Ministry Senior Advisor for Special Political Affairs Hossein Jaberi Ansari. Shamkhani and Lavrentiev had a “long and confidential” meeting on recent developments in Syria including President Donald Trump’s warning that Syrian President Bashar al Assad will pay a “heavy price” for employing chemical weapons against civilians in the Syrian-opposition held town of Douma in Eastern Ghouta, Syria. Shamkhani and Lavrentiev also discussed Iran’s response to Israel’s April 8 strike on Iranian forces at the Syrian regime’s T-4 Military Airbase in Homs Governorate, Syria. Ansari discussed political and tactical coordination between Iran and Russia in Syria during his meeting with Lavrentiev. Ansari also dismissed claims of the Syrian government’s role in the chemical weapons attack on Douma and expressed Iran’s opposition to the use of chemical weapons. (ISNA) (IRNA) (IRNA)

Unverified sources claimed that Russian Special Presidential Envoy to Syria Alexander Lavrentiev requested on April 10 that Iran allow Russian long-range bombers to use the Artesh’s Shahid Nojeh Air Base in Hamedan, Hamedan Province in western Iran. Lavrentiev allegedly made the request during his meeting with Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Ali Shamkhani. Russian forces previously used Shahid Nojeh Air Base to conduct operations into Syria in August 2016. (Telegram)