Iran News Round Up

A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by AEI Critical Threats Project Iran Analysts Marie Donovan, Paul Bucala, and Caitlin Shayda Pendleton and contributor Wali Miller. 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.

Key takeaway: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed that Donald Trump’s election makes “no difference” to Iran in his first remarks after the presidential election.

Khamenei claimed that Iranians are “neither celebrating nor mourning because the elections make no difference to us.” He added that both Republicans and Democrats “have constantly directed their hostility toward the Iranian nation” since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iranian officials have expressed skepticism that U.S. policy toward Iran will change under the Trump administration. Senior Military Advisor to the Supreme Leader IRGC Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, for example, advisedIranian media to “let some time pass” before analyzing the effects of Trump’s victory. Several Iranian officials were cautiously optimistic about the effects of Trump’s victory in the days immediately preceding the elections, however. Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Ali Shamkhani, for example, said that he hoped the election would induce U.S. authorities to review “policies based on domination, intervention, and war in other countries.”

AEI Must-Reads

• Paul Bucala analyzes a recent speech by former Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Hassan Firouzabadi in “Supreme Leader's Adviser Discloses Details on Iranian Efforts Abroad."

Regional Developments & Diplomacy

• Khamenei: America’s election result makes no difference to us. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated, “I have no judgement about the U.S. elections because America is still the same. In the past 37 years, neither political party has done any good, and they have constantly directed their hostility toward the Iranian nation.” He added, “We are neither celebrating nor mourning because the elections make no difference to us.” Khamenei nonetheless praised Donald Trump for advocating the use of American taxpayer dollars on domestic issues rather than “war.” (IRNA)
   
• Foreign Ministry condemns UN resolution. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi denounced a UN resolution critical of Iran’s human rights record. The Canadian-drafted resolution calls for Iran to address its human rights violations and ensure transparency in next year’s presidential elections. Ghassemi stated, “The resolution has been developed and approved without taking into account the realities of the Islamic Republic of Iran, based solely on a selective and confrontational approach, and pursuing certain political objectives.” He also claimed that it was “ironic” that Israel and Saudi Arabia voted in favor of the resolution because they are “devoid of democracy” and “the true supporters and promoters of terrorism.” (Mehr News Agency) (E) (JamNews)

Economy

• Rouhani defends economic achievements. President Hassan Rouhani touted his administration’s economic record during a speech in Alborz province. He stated, “When I started this work, the inflation rate was at 45 percent… But the nation came together and restrained the damage from inflation. We brought inflation to  single digits… Our administration is an administration of action, not of slogans. It is the same administration that forced our opponents to lift sanctions.” (Fars News Agency)

Military & Security

• Security forces prevent ISIS-linked terrorist attack in Semnan province. Iranian security forces reportedly confiscated two tons of explosives in the city of Garmsar in Semnan province. According to security officials, “terrorists” affiliated with ISIS were planning to use the explosives in “at least 10 other locations across the country.” (IRNA)
   
• Defense minister: We will unveil new Karar tank soon. Defense Minister IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan announced that Iran will unveil its newly developed Karar tank and Saba-248 helicopter “soon.” He made the remarks at an international air show on Kish Island in the Persian Gulf. Iranian officials have touted the Karar tank as the domestically-produced alternative for Russia’s T-90 battle tank. Alleged footage of the Karar tank was released earlier this year, although the vehicle has not yet been officially unveiled.
  • Four Su-27s belonging to the the Russian Knights, Russia’s aerobatics demonstration team, were also featured in the air show on Kish Island. (Tasnim News Agency) (Tasnim News Agency)