Tehran's Daily Newspaper Review
Ayatollah Khamenei’s meeting with Basij members was the top headline of most newspapers today.
“Glorious congregation of Basij members in presence of the Commander of Armed Forces” Iran chose as is top headline. the newspaper also focused on the parliament’s decision to scale back relations with Britain in retaliation for new fiscal and energy sanctions.
“Basij is political, but not politicized and partial” Jomhouri-ye Eslami quoted Ayatollah Khamenei. Hashemi Rafsanjani’s remarks were not missed by the newspaper, as he praised Iranians for being pioneers in Islamic awakening movements of the region throughout the contemporary history. In its editorial, Jomhouri-ye Eslami spoke of the acid test the Judiciary has to pass with its probation of the 2.6 billion dollar bank fraud, in order to portray itself as determined pro-justice power.
Kayhan quoted Ayatollah Khamenei as saying: “the motto of Basiji’s leader [the late Ayatollah Khomeini] is heard from California and New York today”, regarding the protests across the world a legacy of Ayatollah Khomeini’s anti-oppression movement. Majles’ bill for downgrading ties with London, protest in Shi’a-dominated cities in Saudi Arabia and elections in Egypt were also covered by Kayhan.
Resalat quoted Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad-Reza Bahonar as saying that both the Fetneh and Astray currents, i.e. the Green Movement and Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei’s cadre, are serving as strategic tools of the US. Ayatollah Khamenei’s remarks on the Basij Day and downgrading ties with Britain were also covered by Resalat.
Shargh’s top headline was the parliament’s decision to scale back ties with Britain. “The Last Defense” of Hashemi Rafsanjani for the record of the higher education giant Islamic Azad University, coveted by Ahmadinejad, was also covered by Shargh. Ayatollah Khamenei’s remarks on Basij and developments of the Arab World were other headline-worthy news of Shargh.
* 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.