Tehran's Daily Newspaper Review

“Amid the new wave of sanctions against Iran and the West’s economic instability, 200 foreign investors visited Tehran,” Iran reported, in a confab inaugurated by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Irritated by marginalization of the pro-government Resistance Front group from the Principlists’ electoral team, the newspaper featured a critical report on the front page, arguing that the Seven plus Eight group –formed by representatives from different strands inside the Principlist camp- does not fully represent the whole gamut of the Principlist front. The newspaper also criticized Tehran MP Conservative Ali-Reza Zakani, owner of the Jahan News website, who had talked about forgiving Principlist figures who preferred silence during the post-election unrest. The newspaper’s editorial focused on the Judiciary and police forces’ raid on the Iran Daily’s office, criticizing them for preparing ‘food for the foreign media propaganda’ and ‘prioritizing political interests over national interests.’

Jomhouri-ye Eslami’s front page was in its typical format, that is, overstuffed with headlines, and with a special focus on the “Arab Spring”. The right column of the front page reported of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s agreement to relinquish power based on the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council initiative, the announcement of Iran's non-intervention in Bahrain’s unrest, and demonstrations in the Shi’a-dominated eastern region of Saudi Arabia. The newspaper’s top headline reported of Majles’ approval of a bill to consider downgrading ties with Britain, following London’s decision to boycott Iran's oil products and its Central Bank. Jomhouri-ye Eslami also reported of mass delivery of the state-of-the-art cruise missiles to the Iranian military’s naval force.

Kayhan commended the lawmakers’ decision to abolish a publicly rejected bill to grant a lifelong salary to the members of the parliament, stating that, “Majles rejected discrimination.” The heavy clashes between security and police forces with Egyptian demonstrators, Ayatollah Khamenei’s visit to the house of Gen. Hassan Moghaddam, senior IRGC commander killed in a blast in an ammo depot near Tehran, and Ahmadinejad's comments on the beginning of the Basij Week in Iran also appeared on Kayhan’s front page. The newspaper’s editorial spoke of three questions the US’ intelligence service is trying to find an answer to in order to take its next step in undermining the Islamic Republic. According to the author, these questions are: to what extent is the 2009 post-election unrest revivable? How far will the tension between the Astray Current -nested inside the government- with other components of the Nezam proceed? And which models could describe influence on  Iran by foreign pressure?

Resalat published a strong statement released by 228 MPs in condemnation of the US’ and UK’s boycott of Iran's Central Bank, reading that “they will take the dream of Iran's withdrawal to the grave.” The newspaper’s self-appraising editorial argued that the Principlist camp enjoys a solid, homogeneous social base, even despite the recent gap which has emerged between the Resistance Front and the Seven plus Eight group which represents the majority of the Principlists. It added that Reformists, the Astray Current, and the counter-revolution forces and foreign enemies are the key beneficiaries of a rift inside the Principlist camp which is the “purest” and “most faithful” of the political groups inside the Nezam.

Shargh focused on former IRGC Commander Yahya Rahim-Safavi’s remarks on Iran controlling US warships passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Yemen’s Ali Abdullah Saleh’s decision to step down, Majles’ bill to downgrade ties with London and a one-month deadline for the Islamic Azad University to appoint a new president, which means an end to the thirty-year rule of Hashemi Rafsanjani’s protégé Abdullah Jasbi. Shargh also quoted Chief Magistrate Sadeq Larijani’s tough remarks that stepping back from probing the case of 2.6 billion dollar embezzlement means betrayal.

Tehran-e Emrooz also reported of the “Last Supper of Tehran and London” following Majles’ bill to downgrade ties with Britain. “Who will inherit Jasbi’s legacy?” asked the newspaper, focusing on the likely candidates for presiding over the multi-billion dollar educational corporation of Islamic Azad University. Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf decided to follow suit and call for appropriating the UK-possessed Qolhak Garden after the news of cutting down 300 trees by the British Embassy staff infuriated the hardliners in Tehran. The newspaper’s editorial, written by MP Seyyed Younes Mousavi, also demanded that the government and the Judiciary pursue the case and take back Qolhak Garden from the British Embassy.

* 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.