Iran News Round Up

A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by the AEI Critical Threats Project's Iran research team. To receive this daily newsletter, please subscribe online. 

(E) = Article in English

Excerpts of these translations may only be used with the expressed consent of the authors

Politics

• Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will meet with several MPs and administration officials tomorrow to discuss the implementation of the “resistance economy” policies. 
• President Hassan Rouhani claimed, “Without Iran's will and presence, peace and stability will not be established in the region. This is the proud result of the sacrifices of martyrs.” 
• Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Supreme Leader and Islamic Awakening Global Forum Ali Akbar Velayati stated, “The enemies seek to sideline the Palestinian matter, but the Islamic ummah will not permit this matter be taken from top priorities...The enemy seeks to provoke religious, sectarian and ethnic conflicts. Anyone who takes this road has moved in the direction of the enemy's plan.” 
• Head of the Central Bank Valiollah Seif urged provincial governments to support the Central Bank’s inspectors efforts to prevent unlicensed activities, restrict institutions from imposing tasks higher than the banks' capacities and prevent the meddling of ”non-responsible” institutions in banking affairs. 

Military and Security

• Addressing the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Clergy convention on Saturday, IRGC Commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari said:
  • “The IRGC and the clergy share a common message. The goal of the IRGC and the clergy is aiding the expansion of God's religion in the framework of pure Mohammadian Islam.”
  • “The last resort of the enemies was economic pressure on the people. We are miraculously witnessing the people's support of the Revolution becoming more serious as these pressures are increasing.”
  • “If spirituality weakens in the IRGC, all other preparations will also be affected, therefore IRGC transformation must be in spirituality.”
  • “The role of the clergy is very constructive in this process. With their aid, the IRGC must continuously defend the Islamic Revolution non-conservatively and on time.”  
• Head of the Commander in Chief Military Office Artesh Brig. Gen. Mohammad Shirazi met with IRGC Imam Hossein University Commander Mohammad Reza Hassani and the inspected university research centers. 
• Armed Forces General Staff Headquarters Basij Affairs and Defense Culture Deputy IRGC Brig. Gen. Masoud Jazayeri criticized EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton's meeting with “seditionists” in Tehran over the weekend and said, “We will not permit the meddling of the West in Iran's domestic affairs whatsoever. Related officials must be careful so the negotiations do not cross into the determined limitations...It is best for Ashton to think about women's rights in the European Union.” 
• Senior Military Advisor to the Supreme Leader IRGC Maj. Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi met with senior IRGC Navy Forces commanders in Bandar-e Abbas to discuss regional issues and the preparations of Naval Forces.
• Representative of the Supreme Leader to the IRGC Hojjat al-Eslam Ali Saidi also addressed the National IRGC Clergy convention. He emphasized obedience to the Supreme Leader's framework and said, “Some currents are calling hezbollahis extremists. They should interpret the meaning of extremism before anything. The Basij must also know that it has a weapon called sacred fury but must not use it everywhere.” Saidi then relayed the Supreme Leader's concern about “the country's cultural situation,” pointing out criticism of Islamic punishment law in the Aseman newspaper last month. 
• Deputy Representative of the Supreme Leader to the IRGC Hojjat al-Eslam Abdollah Haji Sadeghi stated, “Not neglecting the enemy, increasing awareness, reliance on domestic capability and institutionalizing resistance in politics, independence and culture are the primary messages of the clergy today.” 
• Armed Forces General Staff Headquarters Chief Maj. Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi unveiled his latest book “Discovering the Secrets of Zionism” at the National Defense University (NDU) yesterday with the attendance of Parliament Vice Chairman Hojjat al-Eslam Mohammad Hassan Abu Torabi Fard and Head of NDU Ebrahim Hassan Beigi. 

Nuclear Issue

• Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on his Twitter page, “Understanding this matter that Iran will only accept a solution in which its dignity and nuclear rights are respected can lead to a final nuclear agreement before the summer.” 
• International and Legal Affairs Deputy to the Foreign Minister and senior nuclear negotiator Abbas Araghchi announced that, per the Geneva Accord, the Islamic Republic “is not limited whatsoever” in importing and purchasing goods from certain countries. 

Regional Developments and Diplomacy

• Foreign Minister Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham criticized a recent meeting between EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton and female activists in Iran, calling them “uncoordinated” and that it will not “help EU and Iran relations.” She announced that the Foreign Ministry has issued a warning to the Austrian embassy in Tehran.  
• National Security and Foreign Policy Parliamentary Commission Spokesman MP Hossein Naghavi Hosseini said, “The more confidence we create, the more Westerners introduce other matters and fundamentally say that the Islamic Revolution should not be around.” 
• Lebanese Hezbollah Executive Council Deputy Nabil Qaok said, “The Resistance is in its golden days and height of its power today. If leaders of the March 14 Movement think that the situation is to their advantage, [then] they are mistaken. On the ground realities in Syria and the operational situation in confronting the Israeli enemy affirm that the Resistance has always been able to overcome the most difficult situation and threats and succeed in increasing its military capabilities.” 
• Lebanese Hezbollah officials attended a funeral ceremony for Lebanese Hezbollah commander Ali Abdolhossein Farahat AKA “Khomeini,” who was killed in Syria yesterday. Hezbollah held a  separate funeral ceremony for Mohammad Habib Mazeh, also killed in Syria yesterday. Attending officials included MP Nawaf Mousavi and Head of Hezbollah in the South Ahmad Safi Al Din. 

Photo of the Day

• EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton meets with Supreme National Security Council Secretary IRGC Maj. Gen. Ali Shamkhani in Tehran.