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

• Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif addressed reporters after a meeting with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, in which they discussed the framework of the current round of nuclear talks. Zarif expressed optimism in reaching a final deal: “if there are differences of opinion during the draft, which exist, we will spend time to resolve them.” He also repeated the position that “Iran’s defense systems have not been brought up and the topic will not enter the negotiations.”
  • “We will not accept anything less than deserved- the right to exercise our [nuclear] rights.”

• International and Legal Affairs Deputy to the Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed the challenges in reaching a comprehensive nuclear deal ahead of starting this “most crucial” stage. Araghchi said the U.S.  “must make the hard decision to let go of resolutions based on illusions” and said that the P5+1 has not demanded an end to nuclear R&D.
  • “The power of the Arak [heavy water] reactor won’t diminish; it will continue in its predesigned path and we will possibly decrease the concerns about it with some changes.”
  • “Different options have been raised about Arak, the most important of which is what Head of [the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran] Ali Akbar Salehi has said about making technical changes in certain parts of the reactor to reduce plutonium output.”
  • National Security and Foreign Policy (NSFP) Parliamentary Commission member MP Javad Karim Ghodousi said Iran “should restart 20% uranium enrichment and cease negotiations” based on the claim that recent reports from Iranian agencies show that the U.S. has been “unfaithful” to its commitments under the Joint Plan of Action:
    • “The Supreme Leader’s red lines explain that the Arak heavy water reactor will not be altered; it will be operated just as it has been constructed, with 95% of the equipment installed.”
    • “Head of the [AEOI] and the nuclear negotiations team has talked about changing the design of the Arak heavy water reactor and has accepted it as a good proposition, despite this proposition being deceitful.”

•  NSFP Parliamentary Commission Chairman MP Alaeddin Boroujerdi said “The missile program is our red line and the negotiations team has been ordered not to enter this arena.” He was also receptive to the Saudi Foreign Minister’s “expressed” interest in talks with Iran, adding “if they are serious, [we] can have better relations.”  

• President Hassan Rouhani responded to his administration’s domestic critics during a ceremony commemorating the first Shi’a Imam’s birthday by saying that he will show “patience” toward mounting accusations and criticisms from “sick” individuals. Rouhani added:
  • “I am hopeful that our nation and all followers of Ali will be patient in their duties.”
  • “I tell you as your servant that to this day God has given me a lot of patience and until this day I have been able to ignore the things I hear and the things I read on websites.”
  • “Some had looted the people’s treasury in the name of standing against superpowers”

• Head of the Passive Defense Organization Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Brig. Gen. Gholam Reza Jalili underlined the necessity for securing nuclear facilities and said “Threat assessment and civil defense systems need to be deployed in the six Iranian nuclear provinces. 

• Chairman of the Parliament’s Councils and Internal Affairs Commission Amir Khojasteh announced that a delegation of five Iranian MPs will travel to Iraq on Thursday. The parliamentarians are scheduled to meet with their Iraqi counterparts as well as with other officials. 

• International Affairs Deputy to the Oil Minister Ali Majedi announced that negotiations were ongoing with Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan regarding crude oil swaps through the Caspian Sea.