Tehran’s Daily Newspaper Review

20 September 2010 | 23:25 Code : 8666 Tehran’s Daily Newspaper Review
Tehran’s newspapers on Wednesday, 24th of Shahrivar, September 15, 2010.
Tehran’s Daily Newspaper Review
For bittersweet amusement, one can compare Iran, official organ of the government, and Hamshahri, official organ of the Tehran municipality, to illustrate how the media proxies of Ahmadinejad and his political principlist rival, and a potential candidate of the next presidential election, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, focus their energy first and foremost on each others’ failures. Sara Shourd news also went on the cover of Tehran newspapers yesterday and Assembly of Experts, the legal elective body formed by clerics with certain religious qualifications responsible for election of and monitoring the performance of Iran’s leadership -though nominally, started its eighth convention in Tehran, under the chairmanship of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who finds his seat shakier than ever.

Hamshahri
In the National Week of Sacred Defense [8-Year War with Iraq]: The ‘Symphony of Resistances’ resonates from north to south of Iran
Citizens’ and MPs’ Efforts In Vain: Government refuses to grant metro credits
Assembly of Experts Inaugurates Convention
Iran
President at the Iran-Africa Conference: Qur’an defiling a scandal for the US
Discussed in Tehran City Council: Municipality’s substantial revenue from density sale not transparent
Minister of Health: Majles’ opposition to nurse recruitment against the law
Jomhouri-ye Eslami

Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani at the Opening Ceremony of the Eighth Official Convention of Assembly of Experts: Breaching the law is not acceptable by  anyone
Muslims’ Protest against  US Qur’an-Burning Spreading
One of the Three Americans Accused of Espionage Released
Kayhan
Kayhan’s Report: Assembly of Experts commends the Leadership’s wisdom in its 8th convention
African Leaders in Tehran: A new chapter in relations with Iran
With Tehran Prosecutor’s Approval: Sara Shourd released
Khabar
Massive Wave of Condemnation of Holy Qur’an Defiling
Head of the Office for Bureaucratic Justice Warns: Transferring civil servants from Tehran will fail
Hopes and Fears of Government and Majles: Countdown for enforcement of Purposeful Subsidies plan
Resalat
Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani in Assembly of Experts Opening Speech: Global imperialism has targeted Velayat [Faqih]
Head of the Judiciary [Sadegh Larijani]: A new conspiracy being formed by  international Zionism
President at Iran-Africa Conference: Iran and Africa enjoy shared viewpoints on global affairs
Shargh
Tehran Prosecutor in an Interview with Goft-o-Gou Radio: [Sa’eed] Mortazavi [former Tehran prosecutor], primary person accused of Kahrizak
Hashemi Rafsanjani in Opening Speech of Assembly of Experts: Unlawful moves the root of disunion
Proposed in [Assembly of] Experts’ Speeches: Parliamentary mechanism for presidency
Tehran-e Emrooz

[Members of the Assembly of] Experts Underscore Following the Leadership and Preservation of Unity
[Tehran] Prosecutor against Former Prosecutor: Uncovering the key accused of Kahrizak Case
Sara Shourd Finally Released
Vatan-e Emrooz

President: We are ready to hold African leaders’ summit in Tehran; Iran’s power welcomed by Africa
[Assembly of] Experts Stress the Final Word with Heads of Fetneh
Reactions to Qur’an Defiling Continue: Friday; Global Rage against Zionism

Briefing

Hamshahri (citizen) is the official daily newspaper of Tehran’s Municipality. Its general directions in politics, culture and economy are determined by the mayor of Tehran, currently Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.

Iran is the official organ of the administration.

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 appointed by Iran’s Supreme Leader. Shari’atmadari’s editorials often spark off controversy and debate inside Iranian political circles.

Khabar (News) is a principlist daily newspaper which adopts a critical stance towards Ahmadinejad’s policies.

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.

Vatan-e Emrooz (Motherland Today) -which started its publication in November 2008-, belongs to Mehrdad Bazrpash, the thirty-old pro-Ahmadinejad politician who is also head of Iran’s second largest auto manufacturer company, Saipa. Vatan-e Emrooz is a supporter of the president’s policies.