Tehran’s Daily Newspaper Review

President Ahmadinejad made a visit to the northwestern city of Ardebil on Monday to attend the celebration ceremony for the admission of the tomb of Sheikh Saffioddin Ardebili, a towering Sufi and the great-ancestor of the Safavid rulers of Iran, into UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Iran, the government’s mouthpiece, quoted Ahmadinejad’s nationalistic remarks as “There would no be monotheism and justice in the world had there been no Iranians”, “We never approve of monarchies, but this is different from showing the entire history of a nation as dark and dismal”, and “If we have a dark history, what is the reason for Prophet Muhammad’s praise of the Iranian nation?” In Tehran, the Head of the Central Bank Mahmoud Bahmani criticized the doubts cast upon the official economy figures published by the government, saying, “doubting the official statistics equates serving the Nezam’s enemies.” Iran’s editorial was in praise of Iranian history and civilization and how it served to uphold the Iranian nation in its confrontations with enemies.

Jomhouri-ye Eslami’s front page was dominated by critical headlines, all supposedly targeted at the government. “[Spokesman] Kadkhodayi: Guardian Council will punish use of public budget for parliamentary [election] campaigns”, “Ayatollah Safi: default in safeguarding Islam and the ideals of Revolution tantamount to betraying Islam”, “Head of Administrative Justice Office: Imam Mahdi’s followers don’t make cultural and financial fiascos”, “Mohammad Hashemi [Rafsanjani]: anti-Hashemi-ism bears no fruit”. The newspaper’s editorial, titled “Sepah and Politics”, related the debate over the Revolutionary Guards’ involvement in domestic politics and its designated mission according to the Constitution. The author mildly criticized Sepah’s economic activities, stating that it should not be both employer and employee and should act according to plans developed by the executive branches.

Kayhan’s special report was on “the Revolutionary Guard’s major operation in the northwest” and “cleansing the area of terrorists and thugs.” The headquarters of the Kurdish separatist group PJAK, close to the border city of Sardasht, was raided and taken over by Sepah forces. Kayhan reported the resurgent protests in Egypt and the people’s demand that the military relinquish power. In the meantime, its second front page photo displayed “massive demonstration of Syrians in support of Bashar Assad and Sayyid Hassan Nasrullah”. The Iranian navy’s decision to deploy warships to the Atlantic Ocean and trilateral negotiations between Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan to replace poppy farming in Afghanistan were other news stories covered by Kayhan. The lead editorial revolves around the issue of refueling bans imposed against Iranian airlines in European countries, and the possible retaliatory solutions.

Resalat’s top headline was an interview with ousted foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki about the pro-democracy movement of the region. The former senior diplomat stated that the Arab uprising is the fruit of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. Calling for a more active diplomacy by the Islamic Republic towards regional developments, Mottaki demanded severing of ties with Libya. He added that Saudi Arabia has now turned into a “US’ tool” in the region. In his interview with Young Journalists’ Club, Resalat’s Editor-in-chief Morteza Nabavi rejected Mohammad Khatami’s conditions for participation in the parliamentary elections, adding that “if Khatami’s equivocal stances were effective, they would have helped him during his two-term presidency.” He also called for the former president to clarify his stance vis-à-vis the 2009 protests. Resalat’s editorial was also a criticism of Hashemi Rafsanjani after the disputed presidential election, which led to re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

“There is no reason Reformists should be disqualified,” Shargh quoted conservative MP Ali Motahhari, whose remarks during recent years have angered many Principlists. Motahhari added that he is even ready to join the Reformists’ slate if there is any, except for the possible lists of two radical Reformist groups, the Islamic Participation Front and the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization. “Except for Mousavi and Karrubi, the Guardian Council should not disqualify any other politician due to the recent developments.” In the meantime, Speaker of the Guardian Council Abbas-Ali Kadkhodayi told Shargh that the official annulment of the Islamic Participation Front and the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization have not been issued by the Guardian Council, implying that their members have the opportunity to participate in the elections. Shargh also quoted Sepah’s official weekly Sobh-e Sadegh, printing “between Turkey and Syria, Iran will choose [Bashar] Assad.”

Vatan-e Emrooz’s top headline, “Scotland Yard in Phone Hacking Quagmire”, focused on the resignation of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner and his assistant following the News of the World scandal. “Why have they turned brazen?” Vatan-e Emrooz asked, on top of a photo of Mohammad Khatami and the influential but reticent eminence grise of the Left (according to the conservative media), Ayatollah Mousavi Khu’iniha. Khatami’s and Khu’iniha’s recent remarks and their criticism of current political circumstances is indeed supported by groups inside the political system, Vatan-e Emrooz said; otherwise, a determination to suppress the Fetneh would not allow for such behavior. The newspaper’s editorial was a dark portrayal of the US’ economic situation.

* Note: Vatan-e Emrooz does not publish on Thursdays.

Trouble with understanding some terms? Check our Glossary of Iranian Political Terms.

Briefing

Hamshahri (Citizen) is the official daily newspaper of Tehran's Municipality. Its general directions in politics, culture and economy are determined by the mayor of Tehran, currently Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.

Iran is the official organ of the administration.

Jomhouri-ye Eslami (The Islamic Republic) was known as the official organ of the Party of the Islamic Republic, founded in 1979 and disbanded in 1987. Currently, it is an open critique of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's policies and is known to be a mouthpiece of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Kayhan (Universe) is a hard-line conservative newspaper. Its editor-in-chief –currently Hossein Shari’atmadari- is appointed by Iran's Supreme Leader. Shari’atmadari’s editorials often spark off controversy and debate inside Iranian political circles.

Resalat (Mission) belongs to the moderate wing of the principlist camp. Resalat’s best known analyst is Amir Mohebbian, its political editor.

Shargh (East) is a moderate reformist newspaper. It was the most popular and influential reformist newspaper in its first period of publication which lasted from August 2003 until September 2006.

Tehran-e Emrooz (Tehran Today) is a ‘principlist reformist’ newspaper, connected to Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.