Tehran’s Daily Newspaper Review

“We will complete all major projects” in the civil and industrial section Mahmoud Ahmadinejad assured the nation at the inauguration ceremony of his new Special Aide, former Minister of Industry Ali-Akbar Mehrabian. The government’s mouthpiece Iran also interviewed ambassador to Russia Mohammad-Reza Sajjadi, who stated that “Iran and Russia are in the same boat.” Sajjadi added that the two countries have common challenges and interests which calls for long-term strategic relations, in which case Moscow will not back off in supporting Iran in critical junctures (such as the disputed Iranian nuclear program.) The newspaper also once again appeared as the champion of civil rights, holding critical interviews with experts who expressed their opposition to the Iranian Police decision to assert tighter control over Internet cafes via means such as the installation of CCTVs and recording users’ profile.

Jomhouri-ye Eslami’s top headline came from Atomic Energy Organization’s President, Fereydoun Abbasi, who announced Iran’s latest nuclear achievements (including mastery of the technology to mass-produce 3.5, 4 and 20 percent enriched uranium.) Abbasi also stated that the Bushehr nuclear power plant will join the national electricity grid in less than a month. The stunningly slow internet speed inside Iran during recent days (as usual attributed to malfunctioned anchoring of ships in the Persian Gulf and the subsequent cut of undersea optic fiber cables) provoked protest from Jomhouri-ye Eslami, which shows little interest in such topics. “A Maneuver to Preclude Fall”, the editorial, related the upcoming joint military drill between the US and Israel to the countries’ concern with the Arab Spring, Obama’s wish to gain support from the powerful pro-Israel lobby in the US, and promotion of Iranophobia among Arab states of the region.

Kayhan reported of “Iran’s practical response to the West’s threats” as the uranium enrichment operation has launched in the controversial Fordo nuclear facility near the city of Qom. The newspaper covered Hezbollah’s reaction to the Baghdad blasts, and the White House’s “angry response” to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s Latin American tour which kicked off today. The results of the first screening process for Majles’ candidates, carried out by the Executive Boards of the Ministry of Interior, will be announced on Monday, while the boards’ conduct in the previous parliamentary election raised harsh protests after many well-known figures, mainly from the Reformist camp, were disqualified. Kayhan’s editorial presented a critical narrative of the West’s attitude towards Iran’s nuclear program (read the editorial on IRD on Monday) and a likely shift in Iran’s nuclear program from the “threshold state” to the “zone of immunity”.

Resalat’s self-flattering top headline was a quote from its Editor-in-Chief Seyyed Morteza Nabavi, who, in an expert panel held in the newspaper, stated that “Resalat’s priority is promotion of Islam’s universal culture.” “White House no more able to battle,” the newspaper published, reading into the newly introduced defense strategy of the United States. The newspaper also covered the worries of arch-Conservative politician Habibollah Asgarowladi, who stated that parliamentary “elections should not turn into a battlefront between the Principlists” and their various factions.

Shargh’s top headline focused on the recent struggle between the House of Iranian Cinema, the private guild of the Iranian cinema industry, and the Ministry of Culture, which has led to the ministry’s rash dissolution of the union, an act which members of the House of Iranian Cinema have called illegal and beyond the ministry’s jurisdiction. In the meantime, renowned cinémateurs, including globally acclaimed Majid Majidi, published an open letter in criticism of the ministry’s decision to shut down the organization. “Principlists share liability in the government’s record” Shargh quoted Speaker of the parliament’s Reformist bloc Darius Ghanbari. The Reformist lawmaker criticized what he called flaws in the government’s provincial visits and non-materialization of the myriad of promises, which have eroded the social capital of citizens’ trust, according to Ghanbari. The newspaper also interviewed liberal economist Massoud Nili on the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Tehran-e Emrooz featured a special report on the Eighth Parliament’s record, one month before the polls start for formation of the next round of Majles. The newspaper criticized Parliament’s speaker Ali Larijani for his simultaneous presidency over the parliament and the Principlist bloc of the parliament and his fluctuation between the government and its main critic, i.e. Majles Research Center chaired by Ahmad Tavakkoli. The report also addressed Majles’ retracted impeachments, which hit an all-time record of ten cases. Tehran-e Emrooz also expressed warning over the ‘enemy’ plots to sow rifts among the Principlists, which could jeopardize their victory in the upcoming parliamentary poll.

Vatan-e Emrooz covered the upper fold of its front page with a satellite image of the Fordo nuclear facility, preceded by the headline “Once again, Iran responds to the West’s pressures”. In “from Tel Aviv to Khatami”, Vatan-e Emrooz spoke of a new Western-Israeli-Saudi plot against the Islamic Republic on the verge of parliamentary elections, intended to employ Reformists and the exiled outlaw opposition to “reconstruct” the 2009 post-election unrest. The report also named former President Mohammad Khatami as an agent with the mission to promote an election boycott.

* 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 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.