Tehran's Daily Newspaper Review

Graphic pictures of Qaddafi’s dead body covered the front page of most Iranian dailies today.

“Islamic slogans in Libya distress Western countries” Iran reported, while expressing lament that amid the delirium, Qaddafi took many secrets to the grave. The newspaper also quoted Mohammad-Reza Mirtajeddini, Ahmadinejad's legal advisor, who criticized Head of the General Inspection Organization Mostafa Pourmohammadi, who has been vocal over the 2.6 billion dollar embezzlement case, for making remarks beyond his jurisdiction.

Jomhouri-ye Eslami’s top headline announced Qaddafi’s death and Libyans’ celebration across the country, matched with a raw picture of Qaddafi’s dead body in a chiller room. “Saleh’s turn after Qaddafi” Jomhouri-ye Eslami reported the Yemenis as saying. “We will smash the bones of Israeli soldiers” the newspaper quoted Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrullah. “Therefore take a lesson, o you who have eyes”, a well-known Qur'anic phrase, was the title of Jomhouri-ye Eslami’s editorial which called for regional dictators to take a lesson from the fate of the Libyan dictator.

Kayhan’s top headline on Qaddafi did not yet forget to chastise Western countries: “Qaddafi’s supporters yesterday, claimants today.” Kayhan reported of Ahmadinejad's tête-à-tête with Tehran citizens, a move aimed to dilute Qalibaf’s reputation among the capital denizens, as some interpreted. In the newspaper’s editorial, “West’s Dual Game in Libya”, Kayhan reviewed Qaddafi’s diplomatic record, while criticizing Western countries, particularly France and Italy, for their hypocritical dealing with Libya.

“The end of imperialism and dictatorship” was Resalat’s headline for the latest Libyan developments. “The government should serve the people until the last day” of its tenure Resalat quoted Ayatollah Khamenei who met the cabinet on Thursday. “The Islamic Revolution needs loyal soldiers for velayat” or the Leadership Tehran's Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf said, adding that in Tehran Municipality, he and his colleagues are trying to keep up the people’s hope in Nezam.

Shargh published the most graphic image of the Colonel, annotated by secular intellectual Hatam Ghaderi who spoke of his suspicious feelings towards Qaddafi even during his heyday in the 1970s and how the Libyan leader tied the fate of his nation to his own chimera.

Tehran-e Emrooz reported that the fugitive head of Melli Bank Mahmoud-Reza Khavari, who has resided in his 3-million-dollar mansion in Toronto since the disclosures on 2.6 billion dollar scandal, is facing investigation by Canadian police over suspected citizenship fraud. “End of the insane dictator” was the newspaper’s headline for the death of Muammar Qaddafi. Tehran-e Emrooz’ editorial called Qaddafi a “fugitive criminal”, arguing that few Libyans were among the forces loyal to Qaddafi, indicating how unpopular the dictator was among his nation. As Qaddafi had turned into a new friend of the West since 2003, the Western countries’ excitement over his fall will only discredit these countries the author maintained.

Vatan-e Emrooz’ headline may have intended to serve a dual purpose. “Suspicious death of the green delusionist” could refer to Qaddafi, and could be a jibe about Mir-Hossein Mousavi, the Green Movement leader who was accused of being deluded about having won the majority of votes in the 2009 presidential election, by the Principlist media.

* 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.