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

Nuclear Issue

• Nuclear negotiations in Moscow:
  • The Islamic Republic continues the second day of negotiations with the 5+1 Group in Moscow. 
  • Fararu News publishes details from yesterday's negotiations which were released by The Guardian. According to this report, the Islamic Republic representatives started the negotiations by demanding that Iran's right to enrichment of uranium be recognized, the sanctions be removed in return for Iran's cooperation with the IAEA, Iran and the 5+1 Group cooperate in nuclear cooperation, both parties engage in trust building measures including limiting the uranium enrichment to a maximum of 20% enrichment, and cooperate in the field of non-nuclear issues, for example in the fight against narcotics and regional issues such as Syria and Bahrain. On the other hand, the Islamic Republic has refused the 5+1 Group's demands to stop production of 20% enriched uranium, to shut down the Fordo enrichment facility and transfer the 20% enriched uranium abroad. Fararu quoting The Guardian also writes that the Russian representative engaged in an energetic support for the Islamic Republic.
  • Ali Baqeri, secretary to Said Jalili, had a separate meeting with the Russian negotiator. According to Farda News, the Islamic Republic has welcomed a proposal by Moscow.
  • Farda News accuses Catherine Ashton, the 5+1 Group chief negotiator, of memorizing Israeli demands rather than commitments earlier made to the Islamic Republic.
  • Shafaf News slams "the West's unwillingness to make progress in the Moscow negotiations."
  • According to Aftab News, the West is inclined to continuing the negotiations. 

Diplomacy

• According to Safir News, the Islamic Republic has on four occasions asked the British Foreign Office to reopen the British Embassy in Tehran, a request ignored by the British Foreign Office. 

Military and Security

• Sadeq Kharazi, former foreign minister: "Iran could have taken control over Bahrain in a few hours with its rapid reaction forces if it had wanted to. But this method would not conform to Iran's logic. Iran desires security for the Persian Gulf. Also during the Saddam era we showed that if Saudi Arabia desires to start a new game, it would most certainly be vulnerable."
• Anti aircraft guns fired Monday evening in Eastern Tehran frightened the local inhabitants. 
• [E] Fars News: The Iranian, Russian, Chinese and Syrian armies are due to stage joint amphibious exercises along the Syrian costs in coming weeks.
• [E] Fars News: Iran will soon unveil 10 types of home-made naval vessels, including different classes of destroyers and missile-launching frigates, a senior Iranian Navy commander announced on Tuesday.
• [E] Fars News: Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi announced on Tuesday that his ministry plans to start mass-production of new anti-armor weapon systems in the near future.

Iran in the Afghan Media

• Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry rejected Iranian Foreign Minister Salehi’s assertion that U.S. and NATO troops created instability in the region. Speaking at the “Heart of Asia” conference in Kabul, Salehi had said: “Unfortunately, the presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan over the past ten years has caused security in this country to deteriorate and the smuggling and trade of narcotics to increase. With the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan, human rights violations, organized crimes and civilian killings have also multiplied.”

Photos of the Day

• Second day of negotiations in Moscow. 
• The Islamic Republic press in Moscow.