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

• Jahan News lists Ahmadinejad’s unfulfilled promises:
  • Equalizing prizes for Olympics and Paralympic champions.
  • Discontinuing payment of subsidies to the production units.
  • Lowering prices.
  • Reducing pollution in Tehran.
  • Stabilizing the transportation cost.
  • Creating millions of jobs.
  • Providing every Iranian family with 1000 square meters land for housing.
  • Earmarks for job creation.
  • Declaring Thursdays a holiday.
  • Revaluate the rial.
  • Introducing an Amir-Kabir medal.
  • Paying workers’ salaries.
• The government appoints former judge Said Mortazavi the head of the Social Security Organization. 
  • In protest against Mortazavi's appointment, parliamentarian Mohammad-Reza Bahonar says he will demand impeachment of Abd al-Reza Sheikh al-Eslami, Cooperatives, Labor and Welfare minister. 
  • Parliamentarian Parviz Sarvari says Mortazavi lacks the qualifications for this position.
  • Parliamentarian Ahmad Tavakoli says the appointment is "problematic."
  • According to Fars News, Mortazavi's appointment was "contrary to the minister's inclination," and a result of pressure from "the current of deviation," reference to Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei.
• Hamed Doroudian, pro-Ahmadinejad blogger, criticized Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's "double standards" and "expediency seeking" behavior towards Rafsanjani and Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei. Doroudian asked why Khamenei appointed Rafsanjani Expediency Council chairman, but slams Mashaei.

Military and Security

• Masoud Jazayeri, the deputy head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
  • "Apparently no one in the White House understands the dangerous dimensions of continued presence of the United States and its Western allies in Afghanistan, particularly after the latest crimes and increased hatred and protest of the Afghans... Americans should know that by exaggerating the events in Syria, they can never hide their countless crimes in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Fundamentally, the people of these countries will not allow the enemy to utilize such a strategy... They will soon open new fronts against the occupiers in order to slay the old empire of the United States to the ground... Western occupiers of Afghanistan will face a hard punishment... Growing protest rallies of the Muslim nation of Afghanistan and establishing resistance cells to deal blows to American interests are among tactics which could be organized against the invaders..."
• Mohammad-Hassan Mansourian, Air Defense deputy, addressing the Air Defense Commanders' Seminar, says changes in the structure of Iran's air defenses which include establishment of air defense units in the northern, southern and eastern parts of Iran. According to Mansourian, the air defense systems were established following "enemy military presence" in the Republic of Azerbaijan, Afghanistan and "in southern countries."
• Basij Commander Mohammad-Reza Naqdi says "Russia begins mass producing its missiles after 85 test rounds, but we start the process after two to three test fires..." Naqdi also says this is because of "divine assistance" to Iran's missile programs. 
• According to Mashreq News, Elias Mahmoudi, former Judiciary Counter Intelligence commander, has been arrested in the $1.5 billion embezzlement case.

Trade

• Japan continues oil imports from Iran.

Religion, Society and Culture

• Asnar-e Hezbollah vigilante organization issues an ultimatum to the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance in an attempt to stop screening the movies Zendegi-ye Khosousi [Private Life] and Gasht-e Ershad [Moral Police]. Ansar-e Hezbollah also demands resignation of the culture minister.
• Musician Jalal Zolfonoun passes away.

Iran in the Afghan Media

• Afghan politicians and media react to statements by Iran’s deputy head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Masoud Jazayeri, who recently urged the Afghan people to expel foreign troops from their country by force.  
  • Janan Mosazai, Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman: “It is the right of the Afghan government and people to decide what to do and what position to take… Afghanistan is an independent country and takes decisions on the basis of its national interest.” Mosazai added that the Afghan government highly values its relations with the international community, particularly the United States, and does not want to suffer isolation as in the 1990s. 
  • Omar Sharifi, political analyst in Kabul: “Afghanistan’s long-term partnership with the outside world in reality guarantees stability in the country and the region. But it is clear that many of our neighboring countries do not want stability in Afghanistan.” Sharifi also blamed neighboring countries of inciting violence in the wake of Koran burning. 
  • Nasrullah Stanekzai, an Afghan political analyst, describes Jazayeri’s statements as “Iran’s overt interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.”
  • Afghan journalists accuse Iran of using the Koran burning incident and Kandahar killings to fuel anti-American sentiments in Afghanistan. 

Photos of the Day

• Soccer player Ali Daei injured in a car accident.