Tehran's Daily Newspaper Review

Ayatollah Khamenei’s visit to the houses of Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan –the recently assassinated nuclear scientist- and Dariush Rezaeinejad, academician killed last year in front of his daughter’s kindergarten, was the top headline of Tehran newspaper’s today. “The young martyred elite are the honor of the country,” the Supreme Leader stated, adding that the assassinations prove the magnitude their young Iranian scientists’ endeavor. “Today, the [scientific] progress of the Islamic Republic brings hope to the Muslim nations and youth of the Muslim World,” he said.

Amid the unnerving situation of gold and foreign exchange market in Tehran, Iran tried to divert attention by slamming Tehran Municipality for its 600 billion Toman debt to the banks. The newspaper also reported of the President’s order for formation of a task force to rein in the restive foreign exchange market. The front page also gave suggestive coverage to the Turkish Parliament’s decision to extend the presidential term from a five-year tenure to seven years.

Jomhouri-ye Eslami reported of “continuing popular demonstrations against dictators in Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.” The newspaper also quoted from Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, who finds himself increasingly cornered after a pro-Ahmadinejad figure took the helm of his stronghold Azad Islamic University, who warned about the dominance of a single voice and monopoly over Iranian politics.

Shargh’s top headline focused on Iran newspaper’s analysis of the recent slump of Iran's national currency, and the hike in US Dollar exchange rate: the government’s mouthpiece had attributed the fluctuations to radical students’ takeover of the UK Embassy, and the Tehran Municipality’s assumed ploy to create turmoil in the gold market. Shargh also covered the Iraqi Oil Minister Abdul-Karim Luaibi’s visit to Tehran, a trip to express concern about Iran's threat to block the Strait of Hormuz, and to mediate between Tehran and the West. Sadegh Zibakalam cast a critical view on the Iraqi minister’s visit to Tehran, expressing sorrow that Iran's flawed foreign policy has provided the opportunity for countries such as Turkey and Iraq to take credit by mediation between Iran and the West.

* 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.