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:
  • Ayatollah Alam al-Hoda, Mashhad Friday prayer leader says Supreme Leader Khamenei is himself "managing the crisis" of "deviations."
  • One hundred parliamentarians have signed a letter demanding that the president "answer questions" at a parliamentary session.
  • Ali-Asghar Parhizkar, Arvand Free Trade Area and a former colleague of Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei, is arrested on unclear charges.
  • Hojjat al-Eslam Mehdi Taeb says some of the individuals arrested on charges of membership in the "current of deviation" had "the Star of David" on them which they "used in sorcery to topple" the regime in Tehran.
  • Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf's challenge to Ahmadinejad:
    • A number of Tehran Islamic City Council members resign so they can run for parliament.
    • Mansour Arzi, religious praise singer, has turned from a supporter to a critic of Ahmadinejad and joined Tehran Mayor Qalibaf.
• The Law Enforcement Forces is looking for an "arsonist" who tried to burn Rafsanjani's office at the Expediency Council.

Diplomacy

• [E] Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari has arrived in Tehran to participate in the International Conference on Global Fight against Terrorism.
  • [E] So has Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
• [E] A group of Iranian officials and lawmakers, who are in Moscow for the 11th International Oil and Gas Exhibition, conferred with Russian officials on ways to expand the two countries' cooperation in the field of energy.

Military and Security

• Avaz Shahabifar, chief of the Fath Revolutionary Guards unit of the Kohkilouyeh and Boyer Ahmad province, slams the local authorities for building a statue in honor of Ariobarzanes in Yasouj.

Nuclear Issue

• [E] China reiterates dialogue to end disputes over Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

Trade

• Iran begins a railroad project which connects Iran with Turkmenistan.

Photo of the Day

• Pakistani guests at Tehran’s Friday prayer.