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 subscribe to this daily newsletter, e-mail [email protected].

(E) = Article in English

Diplomacy

·  Ahmadinejad speaking at a seminar of Iranian citizens living abroad: "When I was in the United States, a journalist told me that it is possible that the great powers want to isolate Iran. I answered: 'Iran will isolate those who want to isolate it, along with their fathers and forefathers for seven generations.'

·  Khamenei meets Armenia’s president, condemns "conspiracies of the foreigners."

·  Egypt’s government accuses the Islamic Republic of interfering in internal affairs of Egypt through Hezbollah, threatens to close Al-Alam television's offices in Cairo. 

Politics

·  Argument between Ahmadinejad supporters and Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani.

·  Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi happy after the Guardian Council recognizes that there are no legal prohibitions against female presidential candidates. 

·   Rumors that Masoumeh Ebtekar, unapologetic spokeswoman for hostage-takers at US embassy, may run for president.

·  candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi, speaking in Ahwaz, praises the people of Khuzistan for their sacrifice during the Iran-Iraq war, says the people need "guarantees for free elections."

        o  Video of Mir-Hossein Mousavi speaking in Ahwaz. 

        o  Kargozaran technocratic faction criticizes Mir-Hossein Mousavi's promise to dismantle the moral police. 

        o   Former Foreign Minister Velayati refutes Iran's reports that he frowns upon Mir-Hossein Mousavi’s candidacy. 

·  Former parliamentarian Akbar A'lami, whose candidacy the Guardian Council barred in the latest parliamentary elections, challenges Mehdi Karrubi and Mir-Hossein Mousavi to participate in a debate with him. 

·  Senior presidential advisor Mojtaba Hashemi Samareh resigns. 

·   Reza Talayi-Nik, former IRGC Commander and Secretary General of the Development and Justice Party of Islamic Iran, declares the support of his party to idea of a national unity government and supports the candidacy of former IRGC Mohsen Rezai. 

        o  Former Intelligence Minister Ali Fallahian says proponents of the idea of a national unity government could win the presidential election. 

Military and security

·   Ahmadinejad promises to build a more advaced satellite, launched on missiles that will have a 1,000 mile range.

·   Rafsanjani considers ending the Iran/Iraq war one of his greatest achievements. 

Photo of the Day

·    Mehdi Karrubi visits Qazvin.