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:
  • Mohammad-Sharif Malekzadeh, secretary of the Supreme Council of Expatriate Iranians, and a confidante of Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei, is appointed Foreign Ministry financial and administrative deputy.
    • According to Alef News, Malekzadeh was "imposed upon the ministry" by Ahmadinejad. Alef also adds that Malekzadeh is accused of economic corruption.
    • Parliamentarian Mohammad Dehqan threatens to impeach the foreign minister if he does not dismiss Malekzadeh, whom Dehqan accuses of being a member of the "deviant current."
  • Shafaf News, close to Tehran Mayor Qalibaf, slams Iran Cultural Heritage Organization's cultural programs in Istanbul featuring Kurdish dance and unveiled women.
  • Hojjat al-Eslam Morteza Aqa-Tehrani, known as "professor of ethics of the cabinet" defends his work for Ahmadinejad: "Even if [former president] Bush invites me to be his professor of ethics, I'll do so!" 
• According to Neda-ye Enqelab, Mehdi Karrubi repents his opposition to the Islamic Republic in the past two years.

Diplomacy

• According to Hossein Anvari, Imam Khomeini Relief Committee director, more than 40,000 people in the Muslim world receive help from the committee, including 11,000 in Lebanon.
• [E] Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani in a meeting with Afghan Vice-Speaker Ahmad Behzad on Monday described withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan as a prelude and a main step towards establishment of security in the war-torn country.

Military and Security

• Hojjat al-Eslam Ali Maboudi, representative of the Supreme Leader to the Zanjan Ansar al-Mahdi Revolutionary Guards unit, urges the Guardsmen to "oppose deviation in society."
• Hojjat al-Eslam Mohsen Heydarian, representative of the Supreme Leader to the Beit al-Moqadas Revolutionary Guards unit of Kurdistan province, says the Guards needs more people like the late Mostafa Chamran.
• Nour-Mohammad Kazempour, Talesh Revolutionary Guards chief, says the Basij is the "soft power of the Islamic Republic."
• [E] Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi blasted the US plan for the establishment of permanent military bases in Afghanistan, and warned that Washington seeks to strengthen its hegemony over the region.

Religion, Society and Culture

• Ayatollah Amjad's website is filtered following Amjad's criticism against "injustice of the Islamic Republic."

Science and Technology

• [E] Ahmadinejad says Iran will soon send bigger satellites to higher altitudes, at least, 35,000km away from the Earth.

Photo of the Day

• Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi amongst “unveiled women” in Bolivia.