Tehran's Daily Newspaper Review

Proceedings of Friday’s Quds Day rally held across Iran were the top headline of Iranian newspapers today.

Iran's top headline was a quotation from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who made the public speech of Quds Day for citizens in Tehran: “Supporting the enemies in the region will only bring infamy” he addressed some regional powers. Iran also reported of the 61-billion dollar non-oil export in Ahmadinejad's second term. In the newspaper’s editorial, Gholam-Hossein Eslamifard lauded the Iranians for their massive turnover on Quds Day rally which proved their allegiance to the Islamic Republic. He also predicted that just like the Islamic Revolution, the new political powers rising in Arab countries have to face a myriad of challenges including foreign intervention, wave of terrors etc.

Jomhouri-ye Eslami reported of “the most glorious International Quds Day” as “nations liberated from dictatorship mount the stage.” The newspaper’s editorial argued that West is the main loser of developments in the Arab World. The author rejected statements which imply that Libyans will face challenges in forming their next regime due to the tribal fabric of their society or lack of powerful political parties, calling them Western claims.

Kayhan’s front page was almost entirely covered by photos of yesterday’s rally and a headline that read: “Chants of Death to Israel, from Nile to Euphrates.” (the second part of the headline is thought to Israel's territorial agenda.) Kayhan’s editorial, titled “Quds, the Lynchpin” stated that the new century is witnessing Islam’s powerful return to rule the societies. Iran and Palestine are the focal points of the Muslim World, the author argued, thus attacked heavily be West in order to undermine the Muslim World.

Protestors across the Muslim World “called for annihilation of the Zionist Regime” according to Resalat. The newspaper also quoted Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani who stated that “the Quds Day signals non-deviation in the process of Islamic Awakening in the region.” Resalat’s editorial spoke of the sentiments of the demonstrators of the Quds Day and wished for the concentration of revolutionary energy to liberate the occupied Jerusalem.

Shargh reported of million-dollar embezzlement case in Tehran Province’s gubernatorial office which is probed by the General Inspection Organization. It also covered the Quds rally in Tehran. Some demonstrators called for shutting down the British embassy in Tehran the newspaper reported, while another group called for the release of Imam Musa Sadr. The newspaper’s editorial was written by Dariush Ghanbari, speaker of the minority Reformist bloc of the parliament, on the future of Iran-Iraq relations.

Tehran-e Emrooz quoted Mostafa Pourmohammadi, head of the General Inspection Organization, who asserted that embezzlement cases have existed in both the present and former gubernatorial terms in Tehran. The newspaper also quoted Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani who had ruled out any call for a larger share of the electoral slate of Principlists. The editorial was written by Hassan Beheshtipour, Russian affairs analyst, on Iran-Russia relations and the problem over delivery of S300 missile defense system by Moscow to Iran.

Vatan-e Emrooz chose “Islamic Awakening until the Liberation of Quds” as its top headline. Ahmadinejad's meeting with the Emir of Qatar, new oil minister’s remarks and Qaddafi’s liking for former US Secretary of State Condi Rice were other headlines of the newspaper.

* 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.