Tehran's Daily Newspaper Review
The alleged financial corruptions of the “Astray Current” have been traced; despite in Iran's second auto manufacturing company, Saipa. Reportedly, the top executive positions in the company have been dominated by relatives of this current, whose members –except for Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, Hamid Baqa’ee and a few other figures- are largely unknown. Etemaad interviewed Mousavi Lari, Khatami's interior minister, who discussed the widening gap between Ahmadinejad and the Principlist camp. The newspaper also reported of the decision made by the Money and Credit Council to increase the bank’s interest rates.
4500 thousand billion Tomans will be allocated to construction of silos and other agricultural facilities Iran reported. Iran also critically covered the parliament’s presiding board’s decision that the judiciary and executive heads’ parliamentary speeches require the board’s approval, an unconstitutional measure according to Iran.
The Supreme Leader’s stress on the necessity of developing models for the younger generation was Jomhouri-ye Eslami’s top headline. “A powerful Majles and an effective government will double people’s hope in their future” the newspaper quoted Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani. “Do not harm the social capital”, Jomhouri-ye Eslami’s editorial, complained that the ongoing developments in Iran's political scene –particularly the government’s chimerical promises- are eroding the public trust.
Kayhan attacked the Arab League for being at the service of Zionists by condemning the violence in Syria and keeping silent about the massacre in Yemen. “The most urgent responsibility of the officials is to utilize the [academic] elite’s capacity” Kayhan quoted the Supreme Leader. Kayhan’s editorial was a strongly sarcastic of the US’ administration’s accusations against Iran, condemning Obama for upsetting the diplomacy table and calling “the most bankrupt and the most embarrassed” president of the US history.
Resalat cited Ayatollah Khamenei saying that the [political and cultural] models created by dictatorships are inspired by “Zionist protocols.” The newspaper also covered the momentous prisoner swap between Israel and Palestine with the headline “Netanyahu kneels before Hamas.” Resalat also quoted Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who stated that “US’ allegation [of assassination plot] against Iran has failed.”
“Iran one step closer to Arbabsiar” Shargh reported, speaking of an upcoming meeting between Iranian diplomats in the US and the main suspect of an alleged assassination plot to kill the Saudi ambassador to Washington. The Money and Credit Council’s decision to increase the interests was called “a belated revision of a mistake.” “The free market economy will undoubtedly weather the present crisis” Shargh quoted the Reformist intellectual Sadegh Zibakalam.
Tehran-e Emrooz reflected former culture minister Saffar Harrani who criticized both the Resistance Front and the Astray Current. Saffar warned that the Resistance Front’s refusal to join the Principlists in the upcoming parliamentary election will bring division which serves no one’s interests. The prisoner swap in Palestine was welcomed with the headline “the happy ending of resistance.” Abbas Palizdar, the corruption whistleblower, was detained while attending a wedding ceremony Tehran-e Emrooz reported.
“One dealt with one-thousand” Vatan-e Emrooz jubilantly published on its front page. “Obama should explain about [leader of the terrorist group Jundullah, Abdulmalek] Rigi’s confessions” the newspaper quoted Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
* Notes:
The editorial section of Iranian newspapers is not the work of the editor-in-chief or the senior editorial staff of the newspaper by default, but can be a contribution by experts and politicians (typically agreeing with the newspaper’s political stance.) The newspapers may also occasionally publish without an editorial.
Vatan-e Emrooz daily does not publish on Thursdays.
Trouble with understanding some terms? Check our Glossary of Iranian Political Terms.
Briefing
Etemaad is a Reformist newspaper owned by former MP Elias Hazrati. The newspaper supported Mehdi Karroubi in the 2005 and 2009 elections. In 2010, it was temporarily banned from publishing (for a three-month period) by the Judiciary.
Iran is the official organ of the administration. Its current editor-in-chief is Ali-Akbar Javanfekr, former media advisor to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
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 directly 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, Tehran Mayor and a likely candidate of the 2013 presidential election.