Tehran’s Daily Newspaper Review

In their interviews with Iran, experts spoke of the Tehran stock market’s “rational” reaction to the fall in global indices. According to a member of Stock Exchange Supreme Council, only the copper, steel and petrochemicals markets were affected by the dive. Iran also held a round table on the roots of violence, now—at least in media representation—more rampant than ever in Iran. The exhibiting of violent movies and radial political remarks were two of the causes addressed by the experts in this forum. Iran also covered the demonstrations in Israel with the headline “Rebellion in Tel Aviv”. “As the wave of baseless political accusations subsided”, Iran’s editorial stated, “a new phase of unethical media behavior on the economy has begun and a government deserving praise for many of its plans is treated unkindly.” The author of the editorial criticized politicians who can’t distinguish between worthless partisan interests and the national interests.

Kayhan ran another of its “analytical” reports, this time on the turbulent situation in Syria, and the Iran-Israel-West triangle. Kayhan quoted Israel’s Persian radio channel saying that Iran’s retaliatory measures in the Persian Gulf in case of any military intervention in Syria are the main obstacles to any “stupidity” shown by the US and Arab countries vis-à-vis the Syrian government. “Aftershock of US’ financial crisis in Europe” and “Deadliest day for the US in Afghanistan” were also covered by Kayhan. The newspaper editorial, “A Government on Sale in Wall Street”, addressed the US debt crisis and portrayed a dismal image of the United States’ economic situation, while arguing that in the meantime, Iran has upgraded its regional profile and “the wave of its revolution has arrived in Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, Bahrain and Palestine.”

Resalat also reported of “46 million Americans awaiting governmental food aid”, decorating the front page with pictures of the American poor living on the streets. Resalat also analyzed the Reformists’ strategy for the upcoming parliamentary election. The newspaper claimed a distribution of responsibility between Reformist factions. According to the newspaper, mottos of the Reformist conglomerate are: efficiency (Kargozaran), free elections and warning against vote-rigging (Mosharekat and Mojahedin), national reconciliation and freedom of political prisoners (Association of Combatant Clerics). The expatriate wing of the Fetneh current is ordered to campaign for “international monitoring” of the elections, according to Resalat’s analysts. The editorial also concerned the parliamentary elections. According to Mohammad-Mahdi Ansari, author, signs of moderation and rationality are seen among the Principlists. In the meantime, the elections are a critical juncture since they will be the first competitive political event after the 2009 election, and they “call for vigilance among the elite and the citizens,” according to the author.

The government's 15-article proposal to alter a number of the Majles’ internal laws and regulations was described as “Government’s advance in Majles’ soil” by Shargh. The government’s plan includes articles that limit the legislators in questioning the ministers, and bans signing a letter of impeachment on the same day with the occasion. As the results of the formidable national university entrance –the Konkour- were announced, and leaflets for selecting the preferred subject and university were distributed, it became clear that the government has decided to give a monopoly to either of the genders in certain majors, Shargh reported.

Minister of Finance Shamsoddin Hosseini assured that well-off citizens will still receive their quota of liquid subsidies. This is contrary to rumors in recent weeks that the government will return to the initial clustering platform that made allocations with regard to the financial status of households. Tehran-e Emrooz also quoted the Speaker of the Guardian Council, Abbas-Ali Khadkhodayi, who, in response to the criteria recounted by Mohammad Khatami a few months ago as stipulations for Reformists to seek to participate in future elections, stated that conditions will be set only by the law. "Iran and the West, Differences of Two Discourses", was written by Hessameddin Kaveh as today's editorial in Tehran-e Emrooz. "The West and the US go their own way, while Iran moves on its own path," Kaveh wrote, adding that Iranians will never sacrifice their national pride and dignity for the ballyhoo created by the enemy. According to Kaveh, Iran's definition of right and wrong in terms of nuclear rights, terrorism and human rights is different from the West's.

Vatan-e Emrooz focused on the armed attack against Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz, the Saudi Minister of Interior. Vatan-e Emrooz also quoted Kadkhodayi's reaction to the Reformists' stipulations. "The Reformists want to drive on a street without red lights," Kadkhodayi maintained. The newspaper's editorial was on the strategic importance of Yemen for the Saudi regime. Territorial concerns, a possible unity between Yemeni and Saudi Shi'as and AlQaeda networks inside the two countries are the main reasons Saudi Arabia tries to manipulate the situation in its own favor, according to the author of the editorial.

* 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.