Iran News Round Up

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei discussed President Hassan Rouhani’s progress in implementing the Resistance Economy doctrine during a meeting with the Assembly of Experts on March 9.

• Khamenei praised the “remarkable steps” officials such as Rouhani have taken to implement the Resistance Economy. He continued, “If all the necessary steps” regarding the Resistance Economy “had been taken, today, we would have observed a tangible difference in the country’s economic conditions and people’s lives.”
• He stated, “I have told the esteemed president that expressing macro indicators is good, of course, if those figures are not disputable. At any rate, these [indicators] do not affect the life and livelihood of people in the short and medium terms.” Khamenei stressed that the Resistance Economy, “with its strong intellectual and theoretical foundations, is the sole way for solving the country’s problems and it must be implemented.” (Leader.ir) (E) (Leader.ir)
  

IRGC Quds Force Advisor Iraj Masjedi discussed Iraqi political developments, the future of Iran’s involvement in Iraq, and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) during a press conference on March 8. Masjedi was appointed Iran’s ambassador to Iraq recently.  

• Masjedi praised the national reconciliation efforts by the National Alliance, the pan-Shi’a political bloc within the Council of Representatives, and stated, “Iran supports these convergences and alliances towards unity in Iraq. I doubt that Baathists can take advantage of the alliance.”
• Masjedi “stated that as in the past, Iran will help strengthen the Iraqi security structure after the liberation of Mosul.” Masjedi stated that “the formation of popular intelligence services and security groups in the different provinces and the use of new equipment could be a big help to providing security.” Masjedi stressed that “Iran can help with the security organizing of Iraq.”  Masjedi also stated that Iran is creating “networks on the Iran-Iraq border” to keep terrorists from entering Iran. Masjedi did not provide a further description of the networks. Masjedi also stated that after the liberation of the Mosul, ISIS will be a “security group.”
• Masjedi indicated that “Iran has always been on the side of all the ethnic groups and the tribes in Iraq,” and stated that “there are efforts to increase convergences in Iraq.” He continued, “If the Kurds see that their needs” are at the attention of “the government and the law, I do not think they will raise the issue” of independence. Masjedi stated, “Fortunately, all the ethnic groups have their own contributions in building the new Iraq; together, they [write] their country’s Constitution and approve this law… Today, the Kurds in Iraq have a good condition. According to the Constitution, they added the Kurdish language and regulate their own autonomous region.” Masjedi stressed that the Iraqi people alone should decide the issue of Kurdistan’s independence, but reiterated Iran’s support for a unified Iraq.
• Masjedi referred to the differences between the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Democratic Party, and stated, “[Kurdistan Regional President Massoud] Barzani and [KRG Deputy Prime Minister] Qubad Talabani are friends of Iran… We have had good cooperation together; however, the differences which have existed between them... Iran does not welcome this dispute, and has even tried to unify them. Historically, Iraq’s Kurds have shown support for, interest in, and friendship towards the Islamic Republic after the Islamic Revolution.” (Mehr News Agency)

Iranian Ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanaei announced that the Damavand, a Mowj-class corvette, the Derafsh, a Sina-class missile boat, were among the ships that entered the port of Makhachkala on the western shore of the Caspian Sea. (ISNA)