Iran News Round Up

A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by AEI Critical Threats Project Iran Analysts Marie Donovan, Paul Bucala, and Caitlin Shayda Pendleton with contributor Shayan Enferadi. To receive this daily newsletter, please subscribe online.

(E) = Article in English

Excerpts of these translations may only be used with the expressed consent of the authors.

Key takeaway: Senior Iranian officials criticized the attempted coup against Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdo?an as undemocratic.

Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani noted that Iran opposes “any sort of coup in the country, either backed by domestic or foreign plotters.” Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Supreme Leader Ali Akbar Velayati promised that Iran’s “principles” as a nation would force it to “oppose this coup d’état or any other coups.” Judiciary Head Ayatollah Sadegh Amoli Larijani, however, used the coup as an opportunity to criticize Turkey’s support for opposition groups against Syrian President Bashar al Assad, whom Iran has been supporting. Larijani stated that Turkish officials are learning that “respecting the people’s vote is not specific to one country” and that their “confrontation with the legitimate and democratically elected government in Syria and support for terrorists was a mistake.”

Tasnim News Agency reported that Russia has delivered the “first shipment” of S-300 surface-to-air missiles to Iran. Tehran received several components of an S-300 system in April, including a deployable radar and command vehicle. Tasnim also reported that Iran was receiving the PMU-2 version of the S-300. The PMU-2 version is significantly more advanced than the older PMU-1 version some assessed that Iran had purchased based upon the parts disclosed in April.

The Foreign Ministry issued its second quarterly report on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission. The report acknowledges that America’s post-JCPOA sanctions regime has created “a psychological effect and confusion for foreign firms” wanting to invest in Iran, although it also notes some successes with European banks. The report ultimately calls for patience, noting that “meeting many of the expectations of the nuclear deal requires more time.” The Foreign Ministry’s first report on the nuclear deal’s progress similarly cautioned against expecting quick benefits from sanctions relief.

The Associated Press reported that key restrictions against Iran’s nuclear program will expire before the nuclear deal itself expires at year 15, according to a leaked confidential document. Iran will therefore be able to install more efficient centrifuges after year 11, potentially dropping its breakout time to six months. Iran will still be required to limit its enriched uranium stockpile to 300 kilograms throughout the 15-year period.

AEI Must-Reads

• Paul Bucala and Ken Hawrey document Iran’s aerial resupply network to Syria as part of Tehran’s expanding ground campaign to support Assad in “Iran’s Airbridge to Syria.”

Reactions to the Attempted Coup in Turkey

• Officials condemn coup. Senior Iranian officials criticized the coup attempt against Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdo?an as undemocratic and antithetical to the Turkish people’s interests in statements released over the weekend. Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), announced Iran’s “support for the legitimate government of the country” in remarks after an emergency SNSC session on July 16. He added that Iran opposes “any sort of coup in the country, either backed by domestic or foreign plotters." Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Supreme Leader Ali Akbar Velayati emphasized "Iran’s opposition to overthrowing democratically-elected governments" and promised that Iran would “oppose this coup d’état or any other coups” according to its “principles.” Judiciary Head Ayatollah Sadegh Amoli Larijani criticized Turkey’s support for opposition groups against Syrian President Bashar al Assad, stating, “Turkish officials are noting that respecting the people’s vote is not specific to one country. The Turkish government’s confrontation with the legitimate and democratically elected government in Syria and support for terrorists was a mistake.” Tasnim News Agency reported that President Hassan Rouhani had his first post-coup contact with Erdo?an on July 18, telling his Turkish counterpart that Iran “is happy to see the return of stability and security to Turkey.” (Tehran Times) (E) (Tasnim News Agency) (Mehr News Agency)

Regional Developments and Diplomacy

• Foreign Ministry submits second quarterly report on JCPOA implementation. The Foreign Ministry issued its second report on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy (NSFP) Commission. The report acknowledges that America’s post-JCPOA sanctions regime has created negative “psychological effects” and “confusion for foreign firms” wanting to invest in Iran. The report does note some successes, however, such as the release of the Central Bank’s frozen assets and Iran’s transactions with European banks. The report lastly calls for patience, claiming that “meeting many of the expectations of the nuclear deal requires more time.” (Etemaad)
   
• Deputy Foreign Minister: We had to move the Supreme Leader’s “red lines” during the negotiations. Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araghchi discussed the nuclear deal during a press conference on July 17. He acknowledged that the Iranian negotiating team was forced to compromise on several of the Supreme Leader’s “red lines” outlined for the nuclear deal, stating:
  • “Some of the red lines did shift -- for example, the red line that all sanctions must be removed. The Americans stated, however, that the U.S. government cannot remove sanctions imposed by Congress and that if we insisted on this point, there would be no nuclear agreement. So in two or three cases, the Iranian foreign minister submitted reports to the Supreme Leader and the red lines were shifted. But it was not as if we ourselves shifted the red lines.” (IRNA)
     
• Foreign Ministry condemns dissolution of Shia opposition party in Bahrain. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi criticized the decision by a Bahraini court to permanently dissolve al Wefaq, the largest Shia opposition party in Bahrain, as an “unconstructive move.” Ghassemi added, “This type of behavior opens the door to people who are not looking for peaceful solutions.” (Fars News Agency)

Military and Security

• Iran receives “first shipment” of S-300 missiles. Tasnim News Agency reported that Russia has delivered the “first shipment” of S-300 surface-to-air missiles to Iran. Tasnim News Agency also reported that Russia was delivering the PMU-2 version of the S-300, which is significantly more advanced than the older PMU-1 version some assessed that Iran had purchased. (Tasnim News Agency) 
   
• Bagheri: AFGS and NSFP commission must have a “close relationship.” Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy (NSFP) Commission members met with newly appointed Armed Forces General Staff Chief IRGC Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri on July 18. NSFP Commission Secretary Mohammad Javad Jamali Nobandegani stated that Bagheri and his staff discussed the current security situation as well as “the coordination that one can create in the composition of plans and review of political and security legislation between Parliament and the AFGS.” Nobandegani stated that Bagheri called for a “close relationship” between the AFGS and the NSFP Parliamentary Commission. Nobandegani also said that Bagheri stressed the importance of “further scrutiny” of the attempted coup in Turkey “because it has hidden aspects that should be examined gradually.” (Mehr News Agency)
   
• Moini appointed to senior Basij Organization position. IRGC Brig. Gen. 2C Mehdi Moini was appointed Basij Organization executive deputy on July 18. Moini served as commander of the IRGC Shohada unit in West Azerbaijan from 2008-2011. Syrian opposition groups capturedMoini and 47 other Iranians, including several high-ranking IRGC officers, in August 2012 but released them in a prisoner exchange with Bashar al Assad’s regime several months later. (Defa Press)

Domestic Politics

• Rouhani: The salary scandal will not make the people forget past corruption. President Hassan Rouhani discussed the controversial salary scandal, in which senior government officials have been accused of receiving benefits far in excess of the legal cap, during his trip to the northwestern province of Kermanshah. He warned, “If there are men who want to prolong this issue [of the salary scandal] so that previous thefts are forgotten, the people will not forget.” Rouhani also promised to give a “lengthy interview” in which he will explain to Iranians that the supervisory apparatuses designed to prevent such corruption have not acted appropriately. Conservative news outlets have criticized the Rouhani administration for enabling the excessive salaries and benefits despite Rouhani’s election in 2013 on a platform of combating economic corruption. The next presidential elections will be held in the spring or summer of 2017. (Ghatreh)