Tehran's Daily Newspaper Review

Ahmadinejad's bitter complaints during recent days finally sparked strong responses from the Larijani brothers Ali and Sadeq, who control the judiciary and parliament. While Ali Larijani rebuked “political hooliganism” and the use of inappropriate language by “some officials”, Sadegh, the cleric brother, warned Ahmadinejad –though, as is quite the norm in Iran's political discourse, without singling out his addressee- not to complain about the wave of detentions which have targeted the president’s contacts following the 2.6 billion dollar bank fraud: “Don’t keep saying why you arrested this one and not that one” (Etemaad), “the executive power and movers and shakers impede the fight against corruption” (Jomhouri-ye Eslami), “we should fight on the same front to preserve the Nezam” (Resalat, looking at the full half of the glass), “I warn them to hold their tongue” (Shargh), “I’m warning you; my heart is full of stories not told just for the sake of Nezam, but if one day it becomes necessary, I will recount them for our people to become cognizant of some people’s machinations.” (Tehran-e Emrooz).

“We should keep composed” argued Pirouz Mojtahedzadeh in his interview with Etemaad. According to the well-known political analyst, the manner in which Amano’s report was compiled signals a new plot to create tension over Iran's nuclear file. “Iranian airlines plead to the minister” (of transportation) the newspaper reported, after news of Qatar Airlines being admitted to Iran's domestic flight routes.

Rising stock exchange index on the same day that Amano released his critical report on Iran's nuclear program prompted the headline, “Iran's economic resistance in the nuclear dispute”, in Iran daily today. “Through culture and morality, the Iranian nation will bring its adversaries down to their knees,” Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated during his visit to the impoverished province of Chahar-Mahal and Bakhtiari. Iran’s editorial slammed the IAEA and its chief Yukia Amano for debasing the credibility of the organization with an overtly partisan attitude towards Iran's nuclear program. Unlike his predecessor Muhammad ElBaradei, the editorial added, Amano does not suppress his pro-West tilt in dealing with Iran's file. Both the IAEA and its body organization the UN have lost their prestige since the presidency of West-educated East Asian diplomats, i.e. Amano and Ban Ki-mon.

Jomhouri-ye Eslami’s top headline focused on domestic and international reactions to Amano’s “biased” report on Iran's nuclear program. The new round of student protests in Britain and Hashemi Rafsanjani’s new advice on good governance of the country also appeared on the front page.

Amano’s “tailored” report on Iran's nuclear program struck the final blow to the IAEA’s credibility, according to Kayhan’s top headline. Berlusconi’s decision to step down from the Italian premiership, Wall Street protests, and Ahmadinejad's visit to Chahar-Mahal and Bakhtiari was other news published on the front page. “Mr. Amano! May God Perpetuate Your Shadow” [i.e., save you for us] was the polemic title of Kayhan’s editorial penned by Editor-in-Chief Hossein Shari’atmadari. The editorial made a critical legal analysis of Amano’s latest report on Iran's nuclear program, rejecting it for reliance on the unverified, most likely fabricated “Alleged Studies” as evidence.

“IAEA’s reputation was spent for the US’ fake claims,” Resalat quoted Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The newspaper also quoted the Russian Foreign Ministry as calling the new IAEA report a platform to promote lies against Iran [’s nuclear program]. “Implementing the Article 44 Constitution [on privatization of state-run economic agencies] faces impediments,” the newspaper quoted former IRGC member and current Petroleum Minister Rostam Ghasemi. “Principlists are more united than ever,” Resalat quoted Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Hojjat-ol-Eslam Abu Torabi. The newspaper’s editorial, authored by Saleh Eskandari, argued for creating institutions in form of “Islamic parties” in order to organize political activities within Iran's religious democracy and “channel” minds towards idealization of the Islamic Revolution ideas.

Shargh’s top headline concerned Iran's IAEA Ambassador Ali-Asghar Soltaniyeh’s tough response to Amano’s claims on Iran's nuclear program. “Public trust will be undermined the most,” Shargh quoted Speaker of Majles’ Reformist bloc Dariush Ghanbari, who spoke on the popular trend among officials to deny reports published by their counterparts or the media.

“Amano’s signature under the US’ claims” was Tehran-e Emrooz’s headline, run for the IAEA Chief’s Wednesday report on Iran's nuclear program. A Gathering in front of Qolhak Garden, the residence and property in possession of the British Embassy and the occasional subject of dispute between the embassy and the hard line media and political activists, was also covered by Tehran-e Emrooz. The demonstrators protested the overnight cutting of 310 fifty to one-hundred and fifty year-old trees by the embassy staff in the historical mansion’s garden. The newspaper’s editorial criticized Amano’s report, stating that it was written based on “vague, forged data”.

* 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.

Vatan-e Emrooz (Motherland Today) is a supporter of the president’s policies.