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 subscribe to this daily newsletter, please visit this page, fill out the "New Subscribers" section, and check "Iran News Round Up" listed under "Projects." 
 
(E) = Article in English

Diplomacy

• Iranian leaders’ reactions to protests in Egypt:
  • Foreign Ministry’s press release: "The Islamic Republic of Iran once again condemns the interventionist acts of the United States authorities and the Zionist regime, and warns that any actions against the movement of the Muslim Egyptian people and against the national interest and solidarity of this civilized, epoch-making nation would add another chapter to Egypt’s dark past characterized by injustice and human rights abuses, and would provoke anger and hatred of the Islamic community all over the world."

• • Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamadani:

• • • "After the victory of the revolution in Iran, Imam Khomeini said that Iran's revolution would be exported to all countries..."
    • "Under those conditions many did not believe that statement, but today we are witnessing the realization of the late Imam [Khomeini’s remarks]..."
    • "Today, we see that the people of Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and Jordan have revolted and these revolts were inspired by the Islamic revolution..."
    • "But the global imperialism desires to depict these revolutions as secular so a revolution like the one in Iran does not take place..."
    • "We know that the revolution in these countries is Islamic and the people in those countries must be vigilant that their revolution does not become secular."

• • Academic Sadegh Zibakalam:

• • • "It is correct that thousands of the protesters pray at the Tahrir Square in Cairo. It is correct that many of the women are wearing the hijab and the beard of many male [protesters] is a sign of their piety. But does all this mean they are trying to establish an Islamic regime in Egypt or Tunisia, a regime similar to one in Iran? Does it mean that they are anti-Western and anti-American and desire a regime in power which is opposed to the West and the United States? The answer is most certainly no..."
    • "The main and fundamental demand of the Egyptian and Tunisian people is freedom. Their main goal is wrapping up the machinery of authoritarianism, dictatorship and repression in these countries..."
    • "They do not want an Islamic government, or enforcement of the Shari'a. They don't say 'Death to the United States'; they have not burned the flags of the United States and Britain; and they have not burned the effigy of Obama..."
    • "It is natural that if popular regimes come to power in Egypt and Tunisia, the close relationship between Hosni Mubarak and Tel Aviv would no longer be the case. Therefore, the Israelis are correct in worrying about developments in Egypt..."

• • [E] Iranian Foreign Minister states support for Tunisian and Egyptian uprisings.
  • [E] Envoy renews Iran's call for peaceful solution to Lebanon's problems.
  • [E] Iran says Egyptian uprising imperils Israel.
  • [E] Iranian Parliament Speaker says US unable to stand against the demands of the Egyptian and Tunisian people and warns against further intervention.
• Iran's Parliament voices support for Egyptian nation's uprising.

Politics

• Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani addresses people in Babolsar:

• • "Some make nationalistic statements in the country at a time when such words have no support even in the Arab countries. There was a time when the nationalist discourse was dominant in Turkey and in other countries, but such a discourse has no followers these days..."
  • "Today, in Palestine, Hamas and Islamic Jihad are following Islamic thought, and in Turkey Islamic thought is the dominant discourse, not nationalistic claims. I am sorry to see some make such statements in this country. They should know that they can't reach anything through Marxism and nationalism."

• After Iran’s parliament gave a no-confidence vote to Roads and Transportation Minister Hamid Behbahani, Jahan News speculates about the candidacy of Mohammad Ali-Abadi, Ali Saidlou, Rahim Ghorbani, Ataollah Sadr, and Shahriar Afandizadeh as replacement for Behbahani.
• According to Alef News' analyst, former government officials dismissed by Ahmadinejad will form an alliance to challenge the Ahmadinejad government.
• Asr-e Iran ridicules Hojjat al-Eslam Mousa Ghazanfar-Abadi, Kerman’s representative to the parliament, for using the parliament’s tribune to announce "annihilation of the monster of imperialism," instead of raising awareness about villages in Kerman that are destroyed by flood.

Military and Security

• According to Aziz Nasirzadeh, Islamic Republic of Iran Army Coordination Deputy, the Air Force's air to ground missiles are now improved with precision bombing technology.

Trade

• [E] Pakistan’s prime minister says Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline to be completed in three years.
• [E] Iran allows fuel tankers enter Afghanistan with no limit after assurances fromKabul.

Religion, Society and Culture

• Hassan Abbasi, Revolutionary Guards theoretician, is appointed member of the referee panel at the Fajr Film Festival.
• Alef News warns against societal threats such as "dance lessons for ladies in Qom," marketed as "sports classes." Alef News adds the news has alarmed the "pious inhabitants of Qom."

Photo of the Day

• Discovery of a body in the cellar of the Ministry of Agriculture.