Tehran's Daily Newspaper Review

Amid the shock over the historical 3 billion dollar embezzlement case –linked to some governmental officials, Iran reported of “The government’s determination to quench corruption in the banking system”. In his meeting with Pakistan’s PM Yousaf Raza Gilani, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated that “Imperialists’ survival hinges upon insecurity and rift between [the oppressed] nations.” In an analytical report, “Multipolar election? this is the problem”, Iran criticized “pseudo-Principlist” groups for their efforts to return Reformists figures such as Khatami back to the political stage on the threshold of parliamentary election. Iran’s editorial also spoke of determination to reform the banking system, crediting the government for identifying and publicizing the recent embezzlement.

Jomhouri-ye Eslami quoted Head of the Supreme Audit Court Abdorreza Rahmani naming lack of fiscal discipline as the key problem of Iranian economy. Differences over involvement of political groups in Saderat Bank embezzlement case, Jordanians’ call for severing ties with Israel and official commencement of Bushehr nuclear power plant’s activities were other headlines appearing on the front page of Jomhouri-ye Eslami. The newspaper’s editorial argued that in the embezzlement case, the priority should be returning the 3 billion dollars, not fighting over the culprits.

Kayhan top headline was another of its “analytical reports”, which stated that with integration of Bushehr nuclear power plant into the national electricity grid, Iran's persistence has finally paid off. The newspaper also quoted a judiciary official, saying that the industrial sector has not yet received its promised share of the Purposeful Subsidies’ revenue. An Iranian university professor imprisoned in the wake of pro-democracy movement in Bahrain was also released on Monday, Kayhan reported.

“Iran joined the nuclear club” Resalat quoted Russian Minister of Energy Sergei Shmatko, who had attended the inauguration ceremony of Bushehr nuclear power plant. Ahmadinejad's condemnation of foreign intervention in Syria and confiscation of the assets of the key suspect of the mega-embezzlement case were other major headlines of the newspaper. Resalat’s editorial, “Pathology of the Three Thousand Billion Toman Tumor”, focused on the role of investigative laxity in occurrence of major financial scandals.

Shargh’s top headline came from its interview with the self-proclaimed “traditional Reformist”, Seyyed Hadi Khamenei, brother of Iran's Supreme Leader, who stated that “lifting electoral restrictions is a right, not a stipulation.” Iranian FM Ali-Akbar Salehi’s meeting with IAEA Chief Yukia Amano was also covered by Shargh. The newspaper’s editorial was authored by Farshad Mo’meni, leftist economist and a long-time critic of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's economic policies, on the result of enforcing the Purposeful Subsidies plan.

* Notes:

The editorial section of Iranian newspapers is not always the work of the editor-in-chief or the senior editorial staff of the newspaper, but can be a contribution by experts and politicians (typically agreeing with the newspaper’s political stance.)

Vatan-e Emrooz daily 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.