Iran News Round Up

The Iran News Round Up ran from February 2009-September 2018. Visit the Iran File for the latest analysis.

Key takeaway: Presidential candidates used the final presidential debate to accuse one another of corruption.

The four main candidates - Astan Quds Razavi Foundation Head Ebrahim Raisi, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, President Hassan Rouhani, and First Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri -  both implicated one another in corruption scandals as well as accused one another of having poor records on fighting corruption. President Rouhani also defended his administration’s economic achievements and critiqued his opponents’ promises regarding cash subsidies.

This Iran News Round Up predominantly covers events from May 11-12.

Domestic Politics
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May 15, 2017

Corruption allegations dominate third debate.

Presidential candidates Astan Quds Razavi Foundation Head Ebrahim Raisi, Mostafa Mirsalim, Mostafa Hashemitaba, President Hassan Rouhani, and First Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri discussed Iran’s imports, banking sector reforms, subsidies, and other economic issues during the third and final presidential debate on May 12.

  • Rouhani: President Rouhani focused much of the debate on defending his administration’s economic achievements. Rouhani highlighted the significant decrease in the inflation rate under his administration. He also noted the removal of non-nuclear sanctions as a result of the nuclear deal, and stressed that he is “ready to remove all other [non-nuclear] sanctions in the next four years.” Rouhani stated that Iran “took back our (oil) market from Saudi Arabia. All OPEC member countries reduced their oil production except Iran.” Rouhani noted that he will not cut current cash subsidies. Rouhani warned that his opponents’ pledges to increase cash subsidies will result in a high inflation rate. Rouhani also claimed that Raisi is not serious about fighting corruption. Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s extensive use of subsidies and other economic policies caused significant damage to Iran’s economy.
  • Jahangiri: Jahangiri concentrated on attacking the two conservative frontrunners, Raisi and Ghalibaf. Jahangiri implicated Ghalibaf in several cases of corruption while serving as Mayor of Tehran, and painted Ghalibaf as insensitive to the people’s suffering under sanctions. Jahangiri also claimed that Raisi had a poor record fighting corruption in the Judiciary.  
  • Ghalibaf and Raisi: Ghalibaf likewise attacked both Rouhani and Jahangiri vociferously. Ghalibaf claimed that Jahangiri and many other government officials have taken exorbitantly high salaries. Ghalibaf and Raisi also accused Rouhani of failing to address instances of his family members’ corruption. Raisi also claimed that foreign investment has decreased in the wake of the nuclear deal. Raisi reiterated his pledge to increase cash subsidies and provide sufficient care for the poor. (IRNA) (E) (IRNA) (E) (Tasnim News Agency) (E) (Fars News Agency) (ISNA)
May 15, 2017

Raisi: We will tackle corruption.

Ebrahim Raisi emphasized that Iran was able to “leave the shadow of war... because of the people” in a speech on April 12. The statement echoes Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’ recent rejection of President Hassan Rouhani’s claim regarding the impact of the nuclear deal. Raisi also promised to “build a wall between the people” and the “corrupt and predatory.” (Mehr News Agency)

Citations & Links

1. IRNA
http://www.irna.ir/en/News/82526813/

2. IRNA
http://www.irna.ir/en/News/82526830/

3. Tasnim News Agency
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2017/05/12/1405159/iran-presidential-candidates-zero-in-on-economy-in-last-debate

4. Fars News Agency
http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13960222000592

5. ISNA
http://www.isna.ir/news/96022214056/%D8%A8%DA%AF%D9%88%DB%8C%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%82%D9%88%D9%87-%D9%82%D8%B6%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C%D9%87-%D9%88-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B2%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D9%82%D8%A7%DA%86%D8%A7%D9%82-%DA%A9%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7-%DA%86%D9%87-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AF

Citations & Links

1. Mehr News Agency
http://www.mehrnews.com/news/3975710/%D8%AF%DB%8C%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AF-%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%81%D8%B3%D8%AF%DB%8C%D9%86-%D9%88-%DA%86%D9%BE%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84%DA%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%85-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%87%DB%8C%D9%85-%DA%A9%D8%B4%DB%8C%D8%AF

Regional Developments and Diplomacy
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May 15, 2017

Rezaei discusses Trump-Lavrov meeting.

Expediency Discernment Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei warned of the “dangerous game of great powers in Syria” in a post on Twitter. The tweet likely referred to President Donald Trump’s recent meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. (Mehr News Agency)

Citations & Links

1. Mehr News Agency
http://www.mehrnews.com/news/3976328/%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%A8-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C-%D8%AE%D8%B7%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%A7%DA%A9-%D9%82%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%AA-%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%B2%D8%B1%DA%AF-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%DB%8C%D9%85

Casualties in Iraq and Syria
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May 15, 2017

Fatimiyoun fighter killed in Syria.

Zamen Etemadi, a member of the Afghan Shia militia Fatimiyoun Brigade, was killed in an undisclosed location in Syria. He was buried in Karaj, Alborz province, on May 11. (Ghatreh)

Citations & Links

1. Ghatreh
http://www.ghatreh.com/news/nn37397538/%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B9-%D8%AD%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B2%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%AA-%D8%B1%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%AF

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