Tehran's Daily Newspaper Review

Two pro-Ahmadinejad dailies –Iran and Vatan-e Emrooz- and conservative newspapers, Jomhouri-e Eslami, Kayhan and Resalat, gleefully covered the British riots on their front pages, perhaps seeing it as retaliation for the Western media’s coverage of the 2009 post-election protests in Iran.

“Unrest in 7 British cities”, published by Iran, described the turbulence in Britain as “civil disobedience”. In the inauguration ceremony of the high-profile new oil minister Rostam Ghasemi, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad asserted that Iran will break up the monopoly of setting oil prices by powerful countries. He also called for localization of processing and marketing oil products.

Jomhouri-ye Eslami also covered the street protests in London and other British cities. It also reported that the body of the former Syrian defense minister was found in his home.         Iraqi politicians’ opposition to a continued US’ presence, protests in Yemen and Tunisia, and the rising price of sugar and eggs were other headlines chosen by the newspaper. “Freedom of speech in Iran should be at its maximum,” Jomhouri-ye Eslami quoted Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The newspaper’s editorial-- mixed praise-- lauded the clergy for improving economic conditions after the Revolution, while warning that partisan strife has diverted the attention of the institution from their key mission, that is, reinforcing the tie between the believers’ ties with God.

“God returns non-believers’ plot to themselves” wrote Kayhan, paraphrasing a Qur'anic verse and speaking of “Fire in British cities”. “The situation is uncontrollable,” according to the British police, Kayhan reported. The newspaper also quoted Chief Magistrate Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani as saying that “giving hope to citizens is the key mission of the Judiciary.” Kayhan also reported Washington’s official support for the Kurdish terrorist group PJAK. Kayhan’s “The Den of Charlatans” reviewed a historical speech by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in 2000, in which he had complained about some newspapers turning into “bases for the enemy”. Despite the Leader’s warning, Kayhan continued, “the saga of enemy’s infiltration continued until the American-Israeli Fetneh of 2009 … and the political and cultural trace of infiltrators fleeing to foreign countries is still evident in newspapers and some IRIB programs.”

Resalat’s banner headline was “London burns in violence crisis: Cameron’s iron fist thumped on the head of British protestors”. Resalat also quoted Principlist MP Zohreh Elahian, who reported of Majles submitting documents on human rights violations by the British government to international organizations. In the meantime, Habibollah Asgarowladi stated in his interview with Iranian Students News Agency that “accusing Iran of human rights’ violation is the enemy’s new scenario.” Like Kayhan, Resalat’s editorial spoke of cultural assailants –journalists on the payroll of enemies- attacking the foundations of the Islamic Republic.

Shargh focused on a lawsuit filed by 2200 individuals indicting officials of Esfahan’s Water Company for failed policies that have lead to the drought of central Iran's most important river, the Zayandehroud. In an interview with Shargh, a prominent member of Mo’talefeh, Hamid-Reza Taraqqi, spoke of the tumor inside the cabinet’s body, the “Astray Current”, which will be eventually removed. As Taraqqi claimed, this is critical surgery, but it should be done anyway. “Fire under Ashes”, Shargh’s editorial written by Sadegh Zibakalam, was a sociological analysis of the turmoil in Britain.

Tehran-e Emrooz criticized the new “parallel move” in Ahmadinejad's cabinet, i.e. creating a new portfolio, the Deputy on International Affairs, which will undermine the diplomatic apparatus. It also reported of the likely abolishment of the minimum wage in the revised labor code. Tehran-e Emrooz’ editorial also criticized the President’s decision to appoint Ali Saeedlou as Deputy on International Affairs, reminding of the Supreme Leader’s remarks in 2010 after Ahmadinejad appointed four of his close aids as diplomatic advisors.

Vatan-e Emrooz’ chose “The underprivileged’s rebellion in England” as its main headline. Ahmadinejad's remarks in the inauguration ceremony of the new oil minister, an interview with the energy minister about the impact of subsidies’ removal, and skyrocketing gold prices were other headlines of the daily’s front page. The newspaper’s editorial written by the acid-tongued Hossein Ghadiany criticized Hashemi and Khatami for their ‘liberal’ political and economic policies, and asked them what they thought about the fall of the dollar or the riots in London.

* 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.

Khabar (News) is a principlist daily newspaper which adopts a critical stance towards Ahmadinejad's policies.

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.

Vatan-e Emrooz (Motherland Today) -which started its publication in November 2008-, belongs to Mehrdad Bazrpash, the thirty-old pro-Ahmadinejad politician who is also head of Iran's second largest auto manufacturer company, Saipa. Vatan-e Emrooz is a supporter of the president’s policies.