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

Rezai reiterates demand of detailed election result; former vice president still under arrest; Student Basij calls for execution of protestors; Hezbollah group expresses readiness to maintain order in Tehran; Afghan commentary describes Iranian election as “demise of democracy”

Post-Election Events

• Civil rights activist Abbas Abdi says it is "impossible" for Mousavi to come second in Azerbaijan province.
• Moetalefeh faction's Asgar-Owladi apologizes for Ahmadineajd's statements calling the protestors "plain dirt", and says "none of God's creatures are plain dirt." He says he has thanked Rafsanjani for writing a letter of complaint against Ahmadinejad.
• Former Vice President Mohammad-Ali Abtahi still under arrest.
• Rezai calls on the Guardian Council for the second time to release detailed election result from each ballot box.
• Former Parliament Speaker Haddad-Adel expresses his view about the election and its aftermath. (video) 
• Ahmad Tvakkoli, a candidate in 2005 presidential elections, comments about the current crisis in Iran. (video)
• Communications Secretariat of the Presidency thanks Ahmadinejad for "defending popular vote" in the face of manipulation and false accusations.
• The Student Basij demonstrates in front of General Prosecution Office in Tehran, shouting slogans "combatants and corrupt elements on earth should be executed,” and "death to hooligan!"
• Sharif University Dormitory closes to all students, but Ph.D. candidates.
• Former President Khatami and Mousavi in an open letter to Judiciary Chief Shahroudi demand an end to use of harsh methods against the protestors.
• Alef News Agency releases Fars News' footage of an allegedly "inciting" speech made by Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani, daughter of former president Rafsanjani. (video) 

Military and Security

• A group called "Motorcyclists of Hezbollah" declares readiness to preserve security and calm in Tehran.

Iran in the Afghan Media

• Afghan commentary says the Iranian election and its aftermath show that Iran’s political system is not in tandem with democracy and refute Iranian leaders’ claim of “religious democracy” and “theocratic democracy” in the Islamic Republic.
• Mousavi urges supporters to attend another rally in Tehran.
  • Thursday’s protest rally was calmer than previous rallies in Tehran.
  • Thousands of pro-Mousavi supporters were shouting, “Where is my vote?”, and “Down to dictoators!”
  • Following the massive reflection of the protest on the internet, especially on Twitter, the Iranian authorities cut off mobile phones and SMS services.
  • Supreme Leader Khamenei will lead coming Friday prayer to address the people on the aftermath of the disputed election.
• Only 1,000 Afghan refugees voluntarily retun home from Iran since March 22, 2009.
• Commentary in Hasht-e Sobh questions Ahmadinejad’s participation at Shanghai Summit despite growing unrest in Iran. The writer says that prior to the current internal crisis in Iran Russian President Dmitry Medvedev intended to hold separate meeting with Ahmainejad on the sidelines of the summit to discuss Iran’s nuclear program, competition of Bushehr nuclear power plant, and Iran’s purchase of Russian military weapons and equipment, including the advanced S-300 air defense system.
• Hasht-e Sobh reports that the Iranian authorities have arrested the following influential people as part of their crackdown on the protestors:
  • Mohammad Ali Abtahi, former vice president during Khatami’s presidency and current advisor to Mehdi Karrubi.
  • Saeed Hajarian, member of Mosharekat [Participation] Front.
  • Abdul-Fattah Soltani, a lawyer at the Bar of Tehran and a founding member of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre (DHRC).
  • Hadi Kahalzadeh, a political activist.
• [E] Iranian border police guns down an Afghan ferryman and inurs another in western Nimroz province on Monday.