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:
  • Ayatollah Emami Kashani, temporary Tehran Friday prayer leader:
    • "After the emergence [Mahdi], when the Imam of the Era wants to pray, Jesus, son of Maria will stand behind him. The Imam of the Era will tell him: 'Please, you lead and I'll follow your example.' In one interpretation it has been said that Jesus, son of Maria responds: 'You are the commander, you lead.'..."
    • "This statement has a strategic dimension and constitutes an important political issue despite its relation to worship. At its core, there is a political issue. The government is a global government in which one man decides..."
    • "In Iran, the regime is Islamic as well... Today it is so that one man decides, that is the guardian of commands. In the world, it should not be said that two or three people decides. If someone stands ahead of the commander, the rule of the commander will weaken. Of course, should someone make a statement, but not to attack or weaken, or make a scientific statement, it is not prohibited. But the issue is that one must think about the [prestige] of the regime in the world. We must act like His Lordship and the pillars around him. We must all pay attention to and consider solidarity and total unity, the principle which makes the regime advance with the greatest dignity..."
  • Ayatollah Mohammad-Reza Mahdavi Kani:
    • "In case of conflicts, the powers of the state should reach out to the Leader and consider his words their fasl al-khetab [the final words]... Those believing in the regime should show forgiveness and put aside personal and party political issues..." 
  • The president’s office refutes "rumors" about First Vice President Rahimi’s arrest on charges of corruption.
  • Ayandeh News slams Ayatollah Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah Yazdi's claim that he has never used the expression "freemason" about Ahmadinejad's supporters. Ayandeh News also slams Mesbah Yazdi for having supported Ahmadinejad until recently.
• Ali Rezai, son of former Revolutionary Guards chief Mohsen Rezai, who was reported to have "fled Iran to Britain," in a statement to Tabnak News, says he and his father do not intend to run for parliament.
• As the families of three young men, Rouh al-Amini, Javadifar and Kamrani, commemorate their murder while imprisoned at Kahrizak Detention Center in the aftermath of the 2009 election unrest, Hojjat al-Eslam Alavi, Assembly of Experts member, and Hossein Mohammadi, a representative from the Office of the Supreme Leader, participate in the commemoration ceremony. Addressing the mourning families Alavi said:
  • "You, families of the three men who passed away, have shown patience and passed the exam. What makes you patient and consoles you is that the Leader of the Revolution, as the father of all children of this country, as soon as he understood that this rogue action had taken place, with a chest full of anger ordered such deeds to stop... You [on the other hand] did not hold the regime and the revolution... responsible for those rogue elements since you saw the commiseration of the Leader of the Revolution."

Diplomacy

• Ayandeh News reports improved treatment of Iranian Shi'a pilgrims in Medina, but worsening of the Iraqi border authorities' treatment of the pilgrims entering Iraq from the Shalamcheh border.

Military and Security

• Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi addresses the Tehran Friday prayers:
  • "Success of the Intelligence Ministry is the result of struggle and thinking. This ministry belongs to the entire land and no one should think that the intelligence belongs to a certain group... The Intelligence Ministry must abandon its defensive and passive posture and take an offensive posture to put the enemies at their place... Sedition of 2009 is not yet over... As the head of the intelligence of the country I say that the sedition continues to deal its final blows at various levels..." 
• According to Atye News, the arms cache which exploded in Cyprus last week contained an Iran-bound arms shipment confiscated in January 2009 by Cypriot authorities.
• Masoud Jazayeri, the General Staff Cultural and Propaganda chief, praises the role of the Revolutionary Guards in safeguarding the revolution and the Guardian Jurist.
• Esmail Kowsari, parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Committee deputy: "Besides intellectual and ideational help, Iran does not intervene militarily in any country... Rather than making accusations against Iran, the United States and Israel should answer to their military assistance to Saudi Arabia, the [United Arab] Emirates and Jordan." 

Trade

• The Islamic Republic abolishes state monopoly on oil exports.

Economy

• [E] Caretaker of Iran's Ministry of Industries and Mines Mehdi Qazanfari says the country plans to increase its crude steel production capacity to 43mln tons by the next two year.

Religion, Society and Culture

• Atye News condemns the Saudi MBC TV's planned television series, which according to Atye News, attacks the Shi'a imams.
• A TV series broadcasted by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting shows an old photo of Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf.
• Georgia exhibits Persian documents in its national archives. 

Photos of the Day

• Iraqi leader Muqtada al-Sadr.