Iran News Round Up

A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by Ali Alfoneh, Ahmad Majidyar and Michael Rubin.  To receive this daily newsletter, please subscribe online.
 
(E) = Article in English

 Politics

• Presidential crisis:
  • According to Amir-Hossein Sabeti, Raja News columnist, Ahmadinejad has three preconditions for returning to the presidential office: Appointing Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei as first vice president, dismissal of Said Jalili as Supreme National Security Council secretary, and dismissal of Hojjat al-Eslam Heydar Moslehi as intelligence minister.
  • According to Aftab News, Ali Larijani, parliamentary speaker, and Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani, Assembly of Experts head, have had a meeting with Ahmadinejad during the past couple of days.
  • Twelve parliamentarians call for impeachment of Ahmadinejad.
  • In an interview with Rooz Online, Hojjat al-Eslam Jafar Shojouni says "the destiny of [Abol-Hassan] Bani-Sadr is awaiting Ahmadinejad."
    • Shojouni refutes having given an interview to "the counter revolutionary daily."
    • Rooz Online releases the audio tapes of the interview with Shojouni.
  • Sobh-e Sadeq criticizes Ahmadinejad's attempt to dismiss the intelligence minister "in the midst of a regional crisis." 
  • The Student Basij distributes a CD-Rom containing Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei's thoughts on "the school of Iran."
  • 100 parliamentarians sign a letter warning Ahmadinejad and reminding him that he has made a pledge to "serve the people and stand by the Supreme Leader of the revolution."
  • 10 cabinet ministers met with Ahmadinejad Wednesday night.
  • According to Serat News, Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei and Hamid Baqaei had a separate "secret meeting" Wednesday night.
  • Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani's Office dismisses rumors on the ayatollah's meeting with Ahmadinejad.
  • Ayatollah Alam al-Hoda: "Even if the entire country has voted for a public official, he would be illegitimate if the Supreme Leader does not approve of him."
  • Hojjat al-Eslam Ali Saidi, the Supreme Leader's Representative to the Revolutionary Guards, says Ahmadinejad can only preserve his popularity "by obeying the Supreme Leader.", adds: "Failing to obey the orders of the Guardian Jurist amounts to not obeying the commands of God and the Imam of the Era."

 Military and Security

• Commander Mohammad-Reza Yazdi, Revolutionary Guards Legal and Parliamentary deputy, says the Guards' economic activities are legal and it is possible to investigate them.
• Commander Yadollah Javani, Revolutionary Guards Political Bureau director, defends the economic and political interventions of the Guards.
• The Public Notary digitalizes identification papers of Iranian citizens. 
• Alef News reports long lines of people in front of the banks in an attempt to purchase gold below the market price.

Diplomacy

• Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani visits Indonesia.
• [E] Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi welcomed the reconciliation agreement signed between the two main Palestinian movements, Fatah and Hamas, calling it a positive move towards materializing Palestinian people's goals and rights.
• [E] Iran's Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani in a meeting with his South Korean counterpart Lee Yong-hoon stressed Tehran's eagerness to further expand judiciary cooperation with Seoul.

Economy

• 2011-2012 national budget:
  • A parliamentary majority passes the general points in next year's national budget.
  • Ahmad Tavakoli, head of the Parliamentary Research Center, calls the 2011-2012 budget "inflationary."
  • The opposition argues that the government's expectations concerning job creation do not reflect expectations concerning the growth rate.
• Parliamentarian Abdollahi says "there is not a single dollar in the foreign exchange reserve!"

Trade

• Turkmenistan declares its readiness to increase natural gas exports to Iran.
• [E] Iranian Economy Minister Seyed Shamseddin Hosseini in a meeting with Turkish State Minister Hayati Yazichi expressed the pleasure that Ankara has replaced London as Tehran's fourth trade partner.
• [E] Baghdad and Damascus are prepared to cooperate with Iran to build a joint pipeline to transfer Iran's gas supplies to Syria and other Arab states, a Syrian official said.

Photos of the Day

• Self service Falafel in Ahwaz.
• “Cultural NATO”