Tehran's Daily Newspaper Review

Etemaad’s front page featured a high-profile interview: in what he called “his most forthright interview in the recent years,” Ali-Akbar Javanfekr, Editor-in-Chief of Iran and Head of the official IRI news agency IRNA, boasted that “Principlists have not yet understood that they have lost the game,” a clear message that Ahmadinejad, despite the Principlists’ pretension, has moved to a separate camp. Javanfekr’s interview was full of controversial remarks directed against the Principlists, some of which appear in the following:

“We don’t approve of the Principlists’ manner and have deviated from them”, “they started throwing a monkey wrench in works of the government; they asked for their own share [of power]. Ahmadinejad is popular; he doesn’t owe anything to them”, “[Former FM] Mr. Mottaki and [the Prosecutor General] should remain quiet. Their dignity hinges upon their silence. If the curtains open [and everything becomes revealed] the people will find out about too many things.”

“Board of Governor’s resolution released; further sanctions postponed”, Jomhouri-ye Eslami reported. The newspaper’s left column focused on the Arab World developments exclusively: from the battle over power in Saudi Arabia to million-strong demonstrations in Egypt, the Kuwaiti Emir’s order for a crackdown on protestors and the execution of convicts behind the explosion of two Shi’a imams’ shrines in 2005. The newspaper’s editorial criticized Majles’ decision to vote in favor of the Minister of Finance Shamsoddin Hosseini and their approval of a bill which granted MPs with a life-long pension amounting to 80% of the typical salary paid to holders of political positions.

Kayhan’s top headline focused on the latest developments of the Occupy Wall Street movement, with the headline reading: “we are 99%, we won’t surrender to the 1%”, along with photos of protestors nabbed by New York police officers. Kayhan also reported of the first national congregation of the United Principlist Front, though the relatively insignificant coverage of the gathering could raise questions. “Five roles, five actors”, Kayhan’s editorial, disclosed the scenario collaboratively played by Israel, IAEA Chairman Yukiya Amano, Saudi Arabia, joint headquarters of Israel, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Jordan and the Fetneh leaders, in order to highlight the looming threat of an attack against Iran.

“Let’s not bicker and focus on commonalities,” Resalat quoted Conservative chieftain Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani in its coverage of the Principlists’ electoral gathering. “Amano is responsible for any security threat against the lives of Iranian scientists,” the newspaper quoted Ali-Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's envoy to IAEA, in response to the agency divulging the name of Iranian nuclear scientists in its reports. Resalat also reported of a campaign for a one-million signature petition against UNHRC envoy Ahmed Shaheed’s report on the state of human rights in Iran. “War against Iran, Possible Scenarios”, the newspaper’s editorial by Amir Mohebbian, argued that war against Iran is nearly impossible due to the difficulty of creating an anti-Iran alliance, the dire implications of Iran's occupation for Russia and China in terms of energy security, the Iraq and Afghanistan experiences, the end of unilateralism era in the US’ foreign policy, the nature of Iran's political system, and the spirit of its supporters, etc.

“Vienna did not vote for New York” was Shargh’s top headline, reporting on the Board of Governor’s refusal to submit Iran's nuclear file to the UN Security Council, a blow to Washington’s efforts according to the Reformist newspaper. Burma’s Aung San Suu Ki’s decision to participate in parliamentary elections following the “end of Suu Ki’s house arrest, release of political prisoners and open political atmosphere” was meaningfully covered by Shargh. Massive detention of OWS activists and the occupation of the Kuwaiti parliament by protestors were also covered by the newspaper. “Arabs and Turkey converge against Syria”, Shargh’s editorial by Yousef Molayi, elaborated on the joint meeting of Turkey and Arab states in Rabat, Morocco, and the coalition formed to topple Bashar Assad’s regime.

Tehran-e Emrooz covered the Principlists’ convention with an epic headline reading: “unity of the Revolution forces amid the storm of plots”. The newspaper focused on the Finance Minister’s remarks which, similar to those uttered by the Central Bank President Mahmoud Bahmani, pointed to Jahromi, chairman of the Saderat Bank, where the scheme for 2.6 billion dollar bank fraud took place. Tehran-e Emrooz’ feature on the suspicious death of Ahmad Rezaei, son of the Expediency Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei, reported on the possibility of a murder based on evidence which defy suicide speculations. The newspaper’s editorial focused on the merits of the United Principlist Front’s convention.

* 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 (Confidence) 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 critic 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.