Iran News Round Up

A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by Ali Alfoneh and Ahmad Majidyar. To receive this daily newsletter, please subscribe online.

(E) = Article in English   

Politics

• Ahmadinejad indirectly criticizes Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at a press conference on Tuesday: "We are the only institution in the country responsible to the people... I am the only authority who is not at all concerned traveling around among the people..." Video. 
  • According to Baztab, Ahmadinejad also criticized the Revolutionary Guards as "a military institution which interferes in politics."

Economy

• The rise of the U.S. dollar in the Iranian market:
  • At a press conference Ahmadinejad promises to lower the price of the U.S. dollar "within 24 hours."
  • Economy Minister Shams al-Din Hosseini promises to "shut down the foreign currency bazaar."
  • According to Asr-e Iran, $1 was traded at 36,100 rials on Wednesday morning.
  • Esmaeil Ahmadi-Moqaddam, Law Enforcement Forces commander, says a new police unit will be established to fight foreign currency speculation.
  • According to Sadaiazad blog, the merchants in Tehran have announced a rally at Enqelab Square Thursday to protest the decline in the value of the Iranian currency.
    • According to another source, Thursday's announced rally is a "strike."
  • [E] Khamenei said that sanctions and pressures cannot force the Iranian nation to surrender since Iranians are strong and always overcome problems. 

Photo of the Day

• Ahmadinejad at a press conference.