Tehran's Daily Newspaper Review

“The Iranian nation will give Imperialism a yet sharper slap in Friday’s elections.” Ayatollah Khamenei’s statement on Wednesday was the top headline of all major Iranian newspapers today. Iran's Supreme Leader also reminded the public that a parliament formed by a solid popular vote can serve as a more powerful voice in the global arena, and that citizens should wield their willpower to resist against pressures against the world by their Friday vote in the parliamentary elections.

Jomhouri-ye Eslami published the conventional announcement issued by the religious scholars of Qom seminaries inviting people to vote in the elections –as a religious duty. Forty-eight million citizens are eligible to vote, according to the figures presented by the Interior Ministry, nearly four million of which are first-time voters, always an attractive voter base for candidates. “We are not supposed to respond to every single demand of the IAEA,” Jomhouri-ye Eslami quoted the Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Fereydoun Abbasi, as Iran's refusal to open the doors of the Parchin military site for IAEA inspectors has made its way into media headlines.

Kayhan reported of US’ oil sanctions’ failure as Hillary Clinton has “confessed” that some of Washington’s allies refuse to comply with the US’ boycott of Iran's energy exports. The newspaper also covered the Saudi Household’s “fear of spread of protests,” in the Shi’a-dominated eastern region of Saudi Arabia. “Snipers, line up!” Kayhan ordered in its editorial, calling on Iranian citizens to turn out to vote on Friday, and target the heart of the enemy with their paper bullets –metaphorically.

Resalat’s editorial explained the magnitude of the Friday elections for its readers: in the first post-2009 turmoil elections, the ‘enemy’ is trying to show that the Green Movement is still alive and has boycotted the elections, Iran is standing at a point of a “historical turn”, as the Islamic Awakening looks upon the Islamic Republic of Iran as the ideal model of governance, the composition of the Ninth Parliament deeply influences the election of the next president in 2013. The newspaper also reported of Ayatollah Khamenei’s approval of Ahmadinejad's request for the appointment of former Islamic Azad University Chancellor Abdullah Jasbi as a new member of the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution, a consolation prize given by the president after years of struggle to oust Hashemi Rafsanjani’s protégé from the position.

Besides Ayatollah Khamenei’s speech, Shargh also focused on Hillary Clinton’s remarks in a recent US Congressional hearing session where the Secretary of State stated that Iran has not made the decision to manufacture an N-bomb. Minister of Intelligence Heydar Moslehi’s announcement of “good security conditions” in the country on the threshold of the parliamentary elections were also covered by Shargh.

Tehran-e Emrooz reported of Iran's serious warning to the Republic of Azerbaijan regarding its cooperation with Israel, as Baku’s ambassador to Tehran has been summoned for the third time this year to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Reports of a 1.5 billion-dollar arms deal between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Israel have been the cause of the recent summoning, according to Tehran-e Emrooz. The newspaper also covered remarks by Ahmadinejad's first finance minister Davoud Danesh-Ja’fari, who warned about the consequences of the government’s likely abrupt enforcement of the second phase of the Purposeful Subsidies Bill.

* 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.