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

• (E) Obama, Khatami to attend Alliance of Civilizations conference in Istanbul.

Politics

• Ayandeh criticizes inactivity of Mir-Hossein Mousavi's campaign headquarters. 
• Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani, brother of the former president, discloses secrets of the Iranian revolution:
  • "In Paris one night we were told that Carter's envoy wanted to meet the Imam [Khomeini]. Carter and Giscard d'Estaing's envoys visited the Imam [Khomeini] between 10.30 to 12.00. Mr. Carter's representative spoke in an intimidating and disrespectful tone during this visit and Giscard d'Estaing's representative chose a different strategy and spoke humbly with him and said: 'If you are unhappy with the place where you are, we can change your residence and provide you with more opportunities.'
  • He said that the Imam's return to Iran was dangerous and that it was better to employ more guards for him. Such words balanced the statements of the U.S. representative. Answering the U.S. representative, the Imam said that I have not yet told the Iranian nation to clarify the destiny of the Americans present in Iran, but if deemed necessary I would do so. This sentence of His Holiness the Imam had multiple meanings. In his answer to Mr. Giscard d'Estaing's representative the Imam said that 'I'm in good condition.' As soon as the two representatives left the house of the Imam the Imam said that he would leave for Iran at the first opportunity..." 
• Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani says that, during the presidency of Ali Khamenei, the Khamenei had a friendly relationship with Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi, but Mousavi faced opposition from then IRGC chief Mohsen Rezai and other IRGC commanders.
  • Presidential candidate Mehdi Karrubi says that during Khamenei’s presidency, Khamenei liked Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi.
• Mehdi Karrubi explains the philosophy behind the principle of "absolute guardianship of the jurist" in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic:
  • "I believe in the absolute guardianship of the jurist about which the Imam [Khomeini] spoke of and practiced, and as expressed by the Supreme Leader a couple of days ago. He also says the absolute does not mean that the Supreme Leader does as he pleases. Also the Supreme Leader acts within the framework of the law. Guardianship of the jurist is to be found in the Constitution. It is not the Supreme Leader who demands the 'absolute' guardianship. It is the governments who need it so they can approach the Supreme Leader when in need."
  • Karrubi explains that in cases of disqualification of candidates, the Supreme Leader uses his prerogative as "absolute guardian" to intervene, for example when Mostafa Moin's candidacy for 2005 presidential elections was canceled by the Guardian Council and Moin was disqualified. At this point the journalist asks Karrubi: "But is the Guardian Council about which you complain not appointed by the Supreme Leader?" Karrubi responds: "There are so many institutions under the supervision of the Supreme Leader. Does it mean that no one is allowed to criticize them? We can complain to the Jurist Guardian." 
• Ayatollah Mousavi Khoeini, Khomeini's representative to the hostage takers at the U.S. Embassy, refutes rumors that he met Mir-Hossein Mousavi. 

Religion, Culture and Society

• Commenting on Nowruz programming, Alef News Agency urges the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting to be more "artistic" in censoring foreign movies shown on Iranian television.
  • Readers of Alef's telegram make these comments: "Some times one thinks that directors of the Voice of Vision [of the Islamic Republic] consider their viewers as donkeys."
  • "Censorship of Slum Dog Millionaire was so bad that we bought the DVD [in the black market] in order to understand what the movie was about!"
  • "What do you expect of movies when a girlfriend is presented to the public as sister of the first character!"
  • "Do you know how humiliating it is when the national television underestimates intelligence of the public?"
  • "You claim Hollywood is Zionist-owned. Why do you show Zionist movies on national television?"
  • "Are you not ashamed of censuring scenes when a father embraces his daughter? What kind of mentality do you have?!" 

Nuclear Issue

• Khamenei, meeting Hugo Chavez: "Anger at the front of imperialism shows that Iran's technological achievements in the nuclear field are an effective movement towards strengthening those seeking justice in the world... The Westerners know very well that we are not pursuing nuclear weapons. Their anger is because of the fact that a country achieves this technology without their permission...Because of the limited oil resources...there is nothing else to do but move towards new sources of energy including nuclear energy." 

Trade

• Affected by the global financial crisis, French car manufacturers ignore the Sarkozy government's warnings and breach sanctions against Iran. 
• Executive Director of the National Carpet Center considers Russia to be the most promising market for Persian carpets. 

Economy

• Motalefeh member Asadollah Asgar-Owladi criticizes the economic record of both former Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Ahmadinejad and says "the Imam told us: 'The government should not engage in affairs which the people themselves can manage.'"

Photo of the Day

• Supreme Leader meets Hugo Chavez.