Iran News Round Up
The Iran News Round Up ran from February 2009-September 2018. Visit the Iran File for the latest analysis.
Key takeaway: The IRGC continued to defend its role in Iran’s private sector following President Hassan Rouhani’s criticism.
Rouhani openly criticized the IRGC’s benefitting from Iran’s long-term efforts to privatize its economy in remarks on June 22. IRGC Political Deputy Brigadier General Rasoul Sanaei Rad continued IRGC Commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari’s defense of the IRGC’s involvement in Iran’s economy. Sanaei stressed that the IRGC has provided vital economic services during financially stressful times for Iran, especially during sanctions. Sanaei Rad claimed that the IRGC’s involvement in the economy has not detracted from the opportunities of any “government, semi-private, or private” enterprise.
This Iran News Round Up predominantly covers events from June 28-29.
IRGC responds to Rouhani’s criticism of IRGC’s economic role.
IRGC Political Deputy Brig. Gen. Rasoul Sanaei Rad responded to President Hassan Rouhani’s criticism of the IRGC’s involvement in the private sector. Sanaei Rad highlighted the armed forces’ legal right to use their resources for the country’s development and construction. Sanaei Rad stressed that sanctions on Iran have made the IRGC’s function in this regard increasingly necessary, and noted that past governments had called on the IRGC to assist in development and construction during previous periods of sanctioning. Sanaei Rad added that the IRGC’s involvement in the economy has not detracted from the opportunities of any “government, semi-private, or private” enterprise. (Fars News Agency)
Raisi’s veiled criticism of Rouhani comments on IRGC.
Former presidential candidate Hojjat ol Eslam Ebrahim Raisi stated that the defence of the country was a matter of “strategic” importance during a meeting with members of the Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission. Raisi’s comments were in response to President Hassan Rouhani’s criticism of the IRGC’s benefitting from Iran’s large scale efforts to privatize its economy. (Mehr News Agency)
Soleimani meets with Ebrahim Raisi.
Quds Force Commander Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani met with Hojjat ol Eslam Ebrahim Raisi at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad. No further details of the meeting were provided. (Khabar Online) (Farda News)
Citations & Links
1.
Fars News Agemcy
http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13960407000379
Citations & Links
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Mehr News Agency
http://www.mehrnews.com/news/4017028/%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A6%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AF%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D8%A8%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%87-%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%81-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B2%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%AF%DA%AF%DB%8C
Citations & Links
1.
Khabar Online
http://www.khabaronline.ir/detail/681193/Politics/parties
2.
Farda News
http://www.fardanews.com/fa/news/689929/%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%AA-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%B1%D8%A6%DB%8C%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D8%B9%DA%A9%D8%B3
Shamkhani: The U.S. is “playing with fire” instead of fighting terrorism in Syria.
Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Ali Shamkhani claimed the U.S. is undermining the peace process in Syria and called for an investigation into a U.S. statement accusing the Syrian government of preparing for another chemical attack and warns that Syria will pay a “heavy price” if said attack took place. (Mehr News Agency) (E)
Larijani: Iran willing to use ties with Pyongyang to aid inter-Korean negotiations.
Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani urged North and South Korea against aggressive military action one another. He stated said Iran should “make use of [its] bilateral relations” with Pyongyang in order to resolve tensions between North and South Korea. Larijani’s statement comes ahead of President Donald Trump’s June 29-30 summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. (Mehr News Agency) (E)
Ghassemi: EU remarks on the IRGC are “fraudulent” and a “psychological plot.”
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi denounced EU lawmakers’ statement accusing Iran of human rights abuses and supporting terrorism. Ghassemi warned that such acts by the EU would “undermine its credibility,” citing certain EU lawmakers’ connections with the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), which the U.S. listed as a terrorist organization until 2012 and advocates for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic. Ghassemi stated that the MEK has made “false claims” regarding Iran’s human rights record. (Press TV) (E) (Radio Farda)
Citations & Links
1.
Mehr News Agency
http://en.mehrnews.com/news/126213/US-playing-with-fire-in-Syria
Citations & Links
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Mehr News Agency
http://en.mehrnews.com/news/126218/Tehran-willing-to-use-Pyongyang-ties-to-help-inter-Korean-reconciliation
Citations & Links
1.
Press TV
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2017/06/28/526798/Iran-IRGC-Syria-terrorism-EU
2.
Radio Farda
https://www.radiofarda.com/a/f6_iran_ghasemi_eu_parliament_humanrights_mqo/28583636.html
Artesh: 60 “terrorist teams” have entered Iran.
Artesh Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. Ahmad Reza Pourdastan stated that some 60 ‘terrorist’ teams have entered Iran, but that coordination between state forces have thwarted their success. Pourdastan did not explicitly delineate a time frame for the figure. (Mashregh News)
PJAK fighters kill Basiji in West Azerbaijan Province.
IRGC sources reported that several PJAK members killed Basij Organization member Mostafa Ferdowsi at his home in West Azerbaijan early on June 28. (Radio Farda)
Citations & Links
1.
Mashregh News
http://www.mashreghnews.ir/news/742665/%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D9%BE%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-60-%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AF-%DA%A9%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%86%D8%AF
Citations & Links
1.
Radio Farda
https://www.radiofarda.com/a/f12-pjak-members-kill-basij-member-in-maku-northwestern-iran/28584180.html
Fatemiyoun fighter buried in Shiraz
Afghan Shia militia member Abbas Hassani was killed in Syria, and buried in Shiraz, Fars Province, on June 29. (IRNA)
Citations & Links
1.
IRNA
http://www.irna.ir/fars/fa/News/82580476/
