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

• Ayatollah Mohammad-Reza Mahdavi Kani, Assembly of Experts chairman:
  • "The Assembly should not do anything that weakens the Leader... [Supervisory role of the Assembly] means defending him in the face of events which may weaken him... The Experts of the nation are in the position of preserving the Guardianship of the Jurist and not in a position to criticize or weaken it. Therefore, we should demonstrate greater self sacrifice, and forgiveness..." 
• Commentaries on former president Mohammad Khatami's vote in the parliamentary elections:
  • Fars News: "[Since Khatami] has not expressed his repentance for his past support for those engaged in toppling the regime... [his vote] is not acceptable." 
  • Bashgah-e Khabarnegaran: "He [Khatami] drank from the chalice of poison so he could run for president." 
  • Hojjat al-Eslam Ali Saidi, the Supreme Leader's Representative to the Revolutionary Guards: "Khatami has no will... He finds himself between the radical movement and a movement inclined to cooperate with the regime, but none of them listen to him." 
• Tabnak provides a list of clerics elected to the ninth parliament. 

• [E] Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu in their meeting in Nakhichevan on Wednesday conferred on the upcoming round of talks between Tehran and world powers most probably to be held in Turkey. 

Military and Security

• Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei issues a decree on establishment of the Supreme Cyberspace Council. 
• [E] A senior Iranian Armed Forces Commander strongly condemned the burning of the Holy Quran at a US base in Afghanistan, and expressed confidence that Washington will pay the price for the desecration of the Muslims' holy book. 

Nuclear Issue

• Foreign Minister of China says his country is against Iran becoming a nuclear power. 

Trade

• Oil Minister Rostam Qassemi dismisses rumors on Iran selling oil to Shell, and adds that the embargo against Iran's oil exports would create more tensions in the international oil market. 
• The Islamic Republic's Ambassador to Madrid dismisses rumors that Iran has stopped oil exports to Spain. 

Photo of the Day

• Assembly of Experts.