Tehran's Daily Newspaper Review

Jomhouri-ye Eslami’s top headline was the news of the IRI Navy’s being equipped with missiles with a 200-km range. The Muslim Brotherhood’s announcement that is has secured 40% of the votes in the first round of Egypt’s parliamentary elections was also covered by the newspaper. The Judiciary finally disclosed the names of a number of ‘economic corrupts’ charged with fiscal scandals abusing the bureaucratic system. “The government’s abrogation of law in the import of fruit is crystal-clear,” the newspaper quoted chairman of the Agriculture Committee of the Parliament, as untamed imports have been a major criticism leveled at Ahmadinejad's administration throughout the past six years. On the front page, the newspaper also published reactions by Iranian officials and organizations to the Tuesday attack on the UK Embassy in Tehran.

Kayhan’s top headline was the million-strong strike in Britain, which has “paralyzed” the country according to the newspaper. The repercussion of the UK Embassy seizure in the foreign media was also covered by the newspaper. Launch of the largest petrochemical complex of the world in the southern coastal city of Mahshahr, Ahmadinejad's tête-à-tête with Tehran citizens –a move which can be a part of his anti-Qalibaf campaign- and the crackdown on Shi’a protestors in eastern Saudi Arabia were other headlines appearing on the front page. In its editorial, Kayhan called for appropriate handling of the internal disputes of the Principlist camp.

Resalat’s top headline was a comment by Parliament’s Speaker Ali Larijani, who has interestingly turned into an anti-UK revolutionary after the Tuesday incident, in which he called the Islamist students’ move a “symbol of what the Iranians think” about the British Empire. Former Minister of Culture Hassan Saffar-Harandi’s call for the Principlists to learn their lesson from the Reformists’ fate and cast aside their differences was also covered by Resalat.

Shargh chose the headline “Return to Zero Degree Longitude” to speak of the tension between London and Tehran and the former’s decision to minimize diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic. The newspaper’s favorite part of Ali Larijani’s remarks was his call for the protestors against London’s diplomacy to abide by law.

Tehran-e Emrooz spoke of a “Diplomatic War between Iran and Britain”, calling London’s decision to expel Iranian diplomats “a hasty measure”. “Step-by-Step Victory of Islamism in North Africa” was also celebrated by the newspaper. In Tehran-e Emrooz’ editorial, the author argued that Britain was looking for an opportunity to begin an all-out diplomatic war against Iran. As the parliament had approved of downgrading -and not severing- ties, and the students’ decision to take over the British Embassy for a short time was “absolutely spontaneous”, London’s response was disproportionate, the editorial stated.

* 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

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.