Tehran’s Daily Newspaper Review
The government’s mouthpiece Iran wrote of “124% growth according to UN reports”, bringing about “unprecedented foreign investment [which] have failed the Western sanctions against Iran.” The newspaper quoted another controversial remark by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who, in a congregation of education ministry officials from across the country, defended calling off the schools and governmental organizations on Thursdays (besides Fridays, which are the universal Muslim weekend). Predictably, it will take at least one week before objections to Ahmadinejad’s new remark subside. In the meantime, Iran’s Editor-in-Chief Al-Akbar Javanfekr praised the “intelligent measure” of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in establishing a ‘dispute resolution’ task force –chaired by the former chief magistrate Ayatollah Mahmoud Shahroudi. Javanfekr did not neglect to level criticism at the judiciary and legislative powers administered by the Larijani brothers, hoping that the supreme committee will relieve the government from forceful attacks by the other powers.
Jomhouri-ye Eslami dedicated its main headline to a critical quote by the octogenarian ayatollah Saafi Golpayegani: “High prices [of essential goods and services] in society are due to some officials’ ineptitude.” Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani also warned religious intellectuals and the elite about the emergence of extremism, stating that Western fascism, Zionism and radicalism are on their way towards convergence. “Is Majles fulfilling its supervisory responsibility?” was the title of Jomhouri-ye Eslami’s editorial. The author criticized the Iranian parliament for its approach during the approval process of Ahmadinejad-proposed Purposeful Subsidies plan and their lenience with the government, which has led to the present unhealthy economic situation.
Kayhan’s banner headline was a quotation from Hezbollah: “Norway catastrophe proved even Europe is not immune from the Israeli threat.” It also reported of the cancellation of Netanyahu’s European tour following the spread of anti-government protests in Tel Aviv. The “hot debate between legislators, law enforcement and judiciary officials over violence prevention” was Kayhan’s third headline. Ahmadi-Moghaddam, police chief, claimed that security backslide was rooted in the 1990s -the age of Akbar Hashemi’s and Mohammad Khatami’s presidency- when “security concerns were compromised.” The daily’s editorial, “The mysterious appeal of Iran’s political geometry”, elaborated on what the authored assumed to be the inherent charm of the structure of Iran’s political order. The structure was attractive, according to the author, for its vigor, survival despite turmoil, and enjoying a soul that gives it ample opportunity to mature. Leadership and citizens are the two columns supporting these features whose ignorance will marginalize any political group.
Resalat’s first headline read “Societal security officials’ final word with thugs in Baharestan”, referring to the Interior Minister, Police Chief and the Judiciary Speaker’s presence in the parliament for a debriefing session about the recent wave of violent crimes in Tehran and other cities. The newspaper also focused on Barack Obama’s July 25th speech with a headline reading: “There is no way to rule America.”
On its front page, Shargh published a large photo of Syrian President Bashar Assad, captioned “Imprisonment sentence for journalists abolished”; perhaps an indirect reference to journalists’ situation in Iran (or ‘telling the door so the wall can hear,’ as they say in Persian). “Ali Larijani: I hope incorrect interpretations of law [by the government] will end”, “Russia sells [Iran coveted] S300 [missile defense system] to Turkey, too” and “From the new academic year: Jeans banned in Markazi Province schools” were other headlines appearing on the front page. Shargh’s editorial, written by minister of culture in Khatami’s second administration and current member of Tehran City Council Ahmad Masjed Jame’I, titled “Community-oriented approach towards urban violence”, argued that community identity “guarantees security, collaboration and dynamism in neighborhoods and ultimately the metropolis.” The author also criticized the government for adopting a centralist approach in the Fifth Development Program and the abolishment of an integrated community-based administrative system.
Ahmadinejad’s suggestion to make Thursdays holidays –despite frequently expressed criticisms over the disproportionate number of holidays in the Iranian calendar- was Tehran-e Emrooz’ major headline. The newspaper also covered the Central Bank’s online survey on the name of the new Iranian currency, which is bound to be set free of four zeros with its new name. While Parsi (“Persian”) was by a wide margin the most popular option throughout the early days, the present currency name, namely Toman, has accelerated upwards with 41% of the votes, following Parsi with a narrow one percent difference. Tehran-e Emrooz also published the remarks of its patron, Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, who announced his office’s plan to run the largest forest park in Kahrizak in southwestern Tehran. Tehran-e Emrooz’ editorial, “Values and Sense of Security”, argued that more than the police and the judiciary, institutions assigned to establish security through the correction of behaviors and reinforcement of social norms, are responsible.
In large font, Vatan-e Emrooz published the Obama quote “US [affairs] cannot be administered” following his “failed economic negotiations with the Republicans”. Vatan-e Emrooz also focused on Ahmadinejad’s holiday plan. Besides his two-day holiday proposal, the president also suggested that holidays be named as “family days”, since the Persian equivalent for ‘holiday’ is from the same root as the word ‘idleness.’ The newspaper’s editorial linked the recent increased activities of the Kurdish separatist group PJAK with Israel’s conspiracy against Iran. PJAK’s operations are a sequel to the failed 2009 post-election protests, according to the author.
* Note: Vatan-e Emrooz does not publish on Thursdays.
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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.