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

• Ahmadinejad loyalist website IRNA quotes the president for being "indebted to the people, the Imam [Khomeini] and the martyrs," with no reference to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
  • Web portal of Iran, also close to Ahmadinejad, uses the same headline.
• Ahmadinejad says Iranians should have more holidays.
  • Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei urges the authorities to shorten "long and illogical holidays."
• Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani says "the current of deviation blames the clergy for the economic problems," warns against "the enemy's plot to tarnish the image of the clergy among the public."
• New oil minister Rostam Qassemi, former head of the Khatam al-Anbia Construction Base of the Revolutionary Guards, says he has "not accepted any conditions" previous to his appointment. Neda-ye Enqelab, close to the Revolutionary Guards, writes that the government on the other hand, has had to accept Qassemi's precondition that he should have free hands to purge the Oil Ministry of "elements close to the current of deviation," such as Mohammad Ali-Abadi and Ahmad Qal-e-Bani.  

Diplomacy

• Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi appears on Russia Today’s Arabic service:
  • "We thank Russia for its constructive efforts to solve Iran's nuclear issue. This proposal [step for step diplomacy] is a step forward which could be the path out of dead end. Therefore we consider Russia's proposal a positive step. This move proves the good intentions of Russia, but Iran has not received the details of the proposed plan..."
  • "The United States is trying to expand its global hegemony. Therefore, it must restrict or defeat its sole military rival Russia. This is why NATO is expanding towards Russia and desires to encircle Russia. In this context, Iran is the sole remaining [impediment] to this encirclement..."
  • "The West tries to gain hegemony over Iran in order to complete the encirclement of Russia. What would happen if Iran returns to the Western sphere of influence? Russia would be encircled by NATO... This is why I am saying that Iran has a vital dimension for Russia, and the reverse is also true. In my opinion, Iran and Russia need each other. Of course, Russia is concerned that Iran returns to the bosom of the West but we tell the Russians that this will not happen. I am very optimistic about the future of Iran/Russia relations..."
  • "We are convinced and certain that Russia will continue its support of Iran's positions. We believe that it is in the interest of Russia, and peace and security of the region and the world that Russia continues its support to Iran in political, regional and international issues... I extend the thanks of the government and nation of Iran to the government and nation of Russia for the Bushehr [nuclear] plant..."

Religion, Society and Culture

• Ahlulbayt TV releases an interview with Leyla Hussein, a Jewish convert to Islam, who chose Shi'ism because of her "fascination with the hijab."

Photos of the Day

• "Bad hijab."