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 Foreign Ministry censured U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s statement that the Trump administration supports the “peaceful transition” of the Iranian government.
Tillerson addressed the Trump administration’s policy regarding Iran during a House Foreign Relations Committee testimony on June 14. Tillerson acknowledged that the administration’s Iran policy is under review, but stated, “Our policy… is to push back on [Iran’s] hegemony, contain their ability to develop, obviously nuclear weapons, and work towards support those elements inside of Iran that would lead to a peaceful transition of that government. Those elements are there, certainly as we know.” Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called the policy “unlawful” and “delusional,” and called on the U.S. to learn from its previous involvement in Iranian domestic politics. Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Supreme Leader Ali Akbar Velayati also condemned the U.S. Senate’s decision to impose new sanctions on Iran’s ballistic missile program and regional activities.
An Artesh Navy vessel trained a laser on a US Marine Corps helicopter accompanying the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, guided missile destroyer USS Cole, and cargo ship USNS Washington Chambers in the Strait of Hormuz on July 13. The US labeled the Artesh Navy’s actions “unsafe and unprofessional.” The incident is notable as the IRGC Navy, not the regular Artesh Navy, is known for its provocative behavior in the Strait of Hormuz.
This Iran News Round Up predominantly covers events from June 12-15.
Foreign Ministry reacts to Tillerson’s comments on government “transition” in Iran.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi addressed U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s comments on the Trump administration’s policy regarding Iran during a House Foreign Relations Committee testimony on June 14. Zarif called Tillerson’s comments “unlawful & delusional regime-change policy,” and stated that the U.S. should learn from its “decades” of “failed” attempts at “regime change and sanctions” against Iran. Zarif continued, “For their own sake, US officials should worry about saving their own regime than changing Iran’s, where 75% of people just voted.” Ghassemi called Tillerson’s statement “unacceptable” and “interventionist.” He also stated that all of the U.S. “attempts” to “meddle in Iranian affairs” via “staging a coup or supporting military intervention” have failed. (Twitter) (E) (Radio Farda) (E)
Velayati: New Iran sanctions are “against” the nuke deal.
Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Supreme Leader Ali Akbar Velayati condemned the U.S. Senate’s decision to impose new sanctions on Iran’s ballistic missile program and regional activities, as well as sanctions on Russia. The House of Representatives has not yet voted on the legislation. Velayati stated, “The Senate’s measure in reinstating sanctions is against the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action].” (Ghatreh)
Safavi: If U.S. wants war, we will target its bases in the Middle East.
Senior Military Advisor to the Supreme Leader IRGC Brig. Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi stated, “Should the US seek to launch a war against Iran, all of [its] military bases... in the region will become unsafe” in remarks on June 14. Safavi claimed that Iran is “able to cover a missile range of up to 2000 kilometers from its borders.” Safavi called the U.S. inability to “put an end to the Syrian conflict and get its own way in that country” proof of its “vanishing” power. (Press TV) (E) (Fars News Agency)
- Safavi also claimed that the recent U.S.-Saudi arms deal will not secure the region but “will rather be used to endanger and create stress in the region where the heart of world’s energy is.” (Tasnim News Agency)
Rezaei: Saudis are trying to provoke other countries against Iran.
Former IRGC Commander and Expediency Discernment Council Chairman Mohsen Rezaei addressed former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s remarks that “leaders in the [Middle East] region” called on the U.S. to bomb Iran prior to the nuclear deal. Rezaei stated, “This is not the first time the Saudis have tried to provoke other countries against Iran.” Rezaei further claimed that “the sword dance” of Riyadh and Trump is intended to “create a new disturbance against Iran.” (Mehr News Agency) (E) (IRNA)
IRGC advisor: “The U.S. is preparing to go to war” with Iran.
Senior Political Advisor to the Supreme Leader’s Representative to the IRGC Brig. Gen. 2C Yadollah Javani addressed Congressional efforts to apply additional sanctions on Iran’s ballistic missile program and stated, “By applying pressure [on Iran], the U.S. is preparing to go to war with the Islamic Republic.” Javani reiterated the regime’s stance that Iran will not allow external actors to influence the development of its “defensive capabilities.” (Entekhab)
Zarif blames the U.S. for creating, al Qaeda and ISIS.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that in the 1980s, “Fear-mongering about Iran misled the West to tolerate [the] global promotion of Wahhabism,” which resulted in al Qaeda, ISIS, and Jabhat Fatah al Sham, the successor to Syrian al Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al Nusra. Zarif claimed that in the current moment, U.S. collusion in the “marginalizing [of] mature Muslim groups” is promoting “Wahhabist extremist recruitment.” (Fars News Agency) (E)
Senior IRGC official highlights U.S. and Saudi’s pivotal role in terrorist attacks.
Armed Forces General Staff Deputy IRGC Brig. Gen. Massoud Jazayeri stated, "Undoubtedly, the management, guidance, and support of the Tehran terrorist attacks were conducted by Saudi Arabia and the U.S." (Tasnim News Agency)
Citations & Links
1.
Twitter
https://twitter.com/JZarif
2.
Radio Farda
https://en.radiofarda.com/amp/iran-us-sanctions-policy-transition-regime-tillerson/28555125.html
Citations & Links
1.
Ghatreh
http://www.ghatreh.com/news/nn37929864/%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7-%D9%88%D8%B6%D8%B9-%D9%85%D8%AC%D8%AF%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%AE%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA
Citations & Links
1.
Press TV
http://presstv.ir/Detail/2017/06/14/525272/Iran-US-military-aggression-missile
2.
Fars News Agency
http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13960324001003
3.
Tasnim News Agency
https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1396/03/24/1436587/%D9%88%D8%A7%DA%A9%D9%86%D8%B4-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%84%D8%B4%DA%A9%D8%B1-%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%88%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%AE%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%AF-110-%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%AF%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B7-%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86
Citations & Links
1.
Mehr News Agency
http://en.mehrnews.com/news/125931/Saudi-US-sword-dance-aimed-at-throwing-Iran-into-new-fray
2.
IRNA
http://www.irna.ir/fa/News/82565310/
Citations & Links
1.
Entekhab
http://www.entekhab.ir/fa/news/349747/%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AC%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%AF%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B2%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AC%D9%86%DA%AF-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%87%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%AF
Citations & Links
1.
Fars News Agency
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960323001591
Citations & Links
1.
Tasnim News Agency
https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1396/03/23/1435665/%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B7-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7-%D9%88-%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA
Khamenei warns Rouhani not to “split society.”
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that in 1980, “the president at the time split society and the people in two… this experience must not be repeated” in a speech to government officials on Jun 12. Khamenei was referencing Iran’s first president, Abolfazl Banisadr. The comparison of President Hassan Rouhani to Bani Sadr is significant. Bani Sadr’s political camp was a major rival to the clerical political network in the early years of the Islamic Republic, and Bani Sadr himself attempted to curb some of the revolution’s excesses such as the notorious revolutionary courts. Bani Sadr fell out of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s favor, and later was impeached.
- On the government’s failure to “distrust” Iran’s enemies: Khamenei stressed the importance of “distrusting” Iran’s enemies and stated, “Our government could have distrusted the enemy, but it acquiesced in some cases and for some reason - for instance to give the U.S. an excuse - however not excuses were yielded and it was detrimental for us.” Khamenei further warned government officials not to make statements “in a way that implies trusting the enemy, as it will have a negative effect on both inside the nation as well as among the foreigners.”
- On negotiating with the U.S.: “Many issues are not resolvable with the US, because of the nuclear energy, human rights and the like, but because of the nature of the Islamic revolution… [The Americans] oppose the independence for this country even if we were a nonreligious, and non-revolutionary, but… independent state.”
- On failures during the nuclear negotiations: Khamenei acknowledged that “we trusted and still trusted the nuclear negotiating team,” but stated that “on the JPCOA we trusted the words of the other side, giving up on certain issues… which consequently left” opportunities upon which Iran’s enemies could capitalize. (Khamenei.ir) (E) (Tasnim News Agency)
Iran backs out of UN 2030 education bill.
The Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution declared that Iran will no longer participate in the UN’ “Education 2030” agenda. The council stated that Iran’s “Document on Fundamental Transformation of Education” will be the only major educational guideline for the Islamic Republic. The move follows Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and many other hardline conservatives’ intense criticism of Iran’s implementation of the bill. (Tasnim News Agency) (E) (ISNA)
Citations & Links
1.
Khamenei.ir
http://english.khamenei.ir/news/4913/Who-created-ISIS-Was-it-anyone-but-the-U-S-Ayatollah-Khamenei
2.
Tasnim News Agency
https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1396/03/22/1434950/%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AE%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%BA%D9%84%D8%B7-%D8%AF%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%85-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%85-%D9%87%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%AF%D9%88-%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%DA%AF%DB%8C-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84-59-%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%AA%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B9-%D9%85%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A7%DA%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B5%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%85-%DA%AF%DB%8C%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A6%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AF
Citations & Links
1.
Tasnim News Agency
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2017/06/14/1436110/iran-abrogates-2030-education-agenda
2.
ISNA
http://www.isna.ir/news/96032313590/%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%AF-%DB%B2%DB%B0%DB%B3%DB%B0-%D9%85%D9%84%D8%BA%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D8%AF
Security forces kill two members of Sunni extremist group in Sistan and Baluchestan province.
Intelligence Minister Hojjat al-Eslam Mahmoud Alavi stated that security forces killed two and arrested five members of a Sunni extremist group called Ansar al Furqan in the southwestern city of Chabahar on June 14. Alavi claimed that three of the five arrested individuals were Iranian nationals, while the remaining two “were from neighboring countries.” Ansar al Furqan is not affiliated with ISIS. Alavi said that one Intelligence Ministry member was killed during the operation.
- Alavi also stated that security forces “disbanded” a “terrorist team” consisting of five Iranian and two foreign nationals in Kurdistan province on June 14. Alavi did not provide further identification regarding the team’s affiliation with any militant groups.
- Alavi noted that ISIS’s defeats in Syria and Iraq “caused them to turn their attention to Iran.” Alavi reiterated the regime’s stance that it possesses evidence that Saudi Arabia hires “mercenaries from neighboring countries to create insecurity in Iran.” (Mehr News Agency) (E) (Fars News Agency) (E) (Mehr News Agency)
Parliament debates formation of “special anti-terrorist force.”
Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Spokesman Seyed Hossein Naqavi Hosseini announced the possible formation of a “special anti-terrorist force” in light of the recent Tehran terror attacks. He also urged the implementation of “comprehensive security programs in various aspects” as well as the establishment of “an early warning system” to identify future attacks. (Tasnim News Agency)
Security forces arrest four individuals with possible ISIS connections in southern Iran.
Hormozgan Province Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) Commander Brig. Gen. Azizollah Maleki stated that police forces killed four individuals allegedly connected to ISIS in a clash near the near the town of Roudan in Hormozgan province on June 12. Maleki noted that two of the individuals were foreign nationals. (Fars News Agency) (E)
Chinese Navy fleet to conduct joint exercise with Artesh Navy in the Strait of Hormuz.
A Chinese Navy Fleet berthed at the southern port of Bandar Abbas on June 15. The fleet is scheduled to conduct a joint exercise with the Artesh Navy in the Strait of Hormuz on June 18. (Tasnim News Agency) (E) (Fars News Agency)
Citations & Links
1.
Mehr News Agency
http://en.mehrnews.com/news/125942/Saudis-hire-mercenaries-to-attack-Iran
2.
Fars News Agency
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960325000181
3.
Mehr News Agency
http://www.mehrnews.com/news/4005256/%D9%BE%D9%86%D8%AC-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%DA%86%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%DA%AF%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%86%D8%AF
Citations & Links
1.
Tasnim News Agency
https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1396/03/24/1436807/%D9%BE%DB%8C%D8%B4%D9%86%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D8%B4%DA%A9%DB%8C%D9%84-%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%88%DB%8C-%D9%88%DB%8C%DA%98%D9%87-%D8%B6%D8%AF%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D9%BE%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%AB-%D8%A7%D8%AE%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86
Citations & Links
1.
Fars News Agency
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960322000523
Citations & Links
1.
Tasnim News Agency
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2017/06/15/1437280/chinese-naval-fleet-docks-in-southern-iran-for-joint-drill
2.
Fars News Agency
http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13960325001210
IRGC Air Force member killed in Syria.
IRGC Air Force member Heydar Jalilvand was buried in Karaj, Alborz Province. He was killed in Syria on June 11. (Tasnim News Agency)
Citations & Links
1.
Tasnim News Agency
https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1396/03/23/1435976/%D8%A2%D8%AE%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D9%BE%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%B7%D9%87%D8%B1-%D8%B4%D9%87%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B9-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%85-%D8%AD%DB%8C%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%AC%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%B9%DA%A9%D8%B3-%D9%88-%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85
