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

• Parliamentarian Elias Naderan criticizes the Judiciary's "selective" fight against corruption:
  • "The claim of the Judiciary [of tackling corruption] will only be proven when it catches the big fish accused of involvement in the economic corruption file of the Iran Insurance [Company] and when it does not make any difference between them and other indicted individuals. Unfortunately, particularly in the case known as Iran Insurance, we see difference in [treatment] of those charged. Even in the $3 billion embezzlement case some people are mentioned in the court against whom there are no charges... The Judiciary should not expect the people to believe that it is defending the rights of the people and the regime, when we in practice see that the Judiciary, whenever it gets close to the big fish, faces a steel shield or a concrete dam and is prevented from pursuing the case."
• According to Oil Minister Rostam Qassemi, the Oil Ministry has been granted $14 billion from the National Development Reserve for development of the oil and gas industry. 

Diplomacy

• Following violent incidents against Afghan refugees living in Iran, Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi told Hassan Abdollahi, the Afghan Housing Minister, that Iran was Afghanistan's most reliable friend.
• [E] Egypt's newly-elected President Mohammad Mursi plans to visit Iran next month. 

Military and Security

• Reports on the Revolutionary Guards' Great Prophet VII war game:  
  • Revolutionary Guards Deputy Hossein Salami says the Guards has no plans to engage in "joint exercises with other countries." Salami's statements were made during the second day of the Great Prophet VII war game in which the Guards Air and Space Force test fired long distance and ballistic missiles against "enemy bases."
  • Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, Revolutionary Guards Air and Space Force commander, says the Guards used missiles with 2,000 kilometers range, but according to the plan, they only hit targets 1,300 kilometers away.  
• Parsine quotes the Associated Press' article on Ahmad Abolfathi-Mohammad and Mansour Hosseini, two Iranian citizens who were arrested in Kenya on charges of planning to attack "Western and Arab diplomatic centers."
• Parsine runs a background article on Revolutionary Guards members who joined the reformist camp. 
• [E] Iranian Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi said that his ministry was working on smart intelligence offense tactics and strategies in the current (Iranian) year (started on March 20).

Nuclear Issue

• 58% of the participants in the Shabakeh-ye Khabar website questionnaire urge the Islamic Republic authorities to cease uranium enrichment in return for removal of the sanctions regime against Iran.
• [E] Ahmadinejad played down effects of sanctions on Iran, saying that despite enemy assumptions, pressures and embargos will not be able to weaken the Iranian nation. 

Trade

• Mohsen Qomsari, National Iranian Oil Company International Affairs director, says in the wake of the European Union oil embargo against Iran, "African countries make a new market for Iran's oil exports." Qomsari said the Islamic Republic was negotiating crude exports to Kenya, Zimbabwe and Tajikistan. 

Photos of the Day

• Great Prophet VII war game of the Revolutionary Guards.