Tehran’s Daily Newspaper Review
Most Iranian newspapers did not publish today, as this Thursday is a bein-ot-ta’tilein or ‘between two holidays’, i.e the anniversary of the death of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and his grandson Hassan (AS), the second Shi’a Imam, which was on Wednesday, and Friday, the Muslim weekend which this year coincided with the martyrdom of the eighth Shi’a imam, Reza (AS).
“The Egyptians’ demonstrations are deeply religion-induced and –for several reasons- it cannot been dissociated from religion” claimed Sa’d-ol-Lah Zare’i in Kayhan’s editorial. “This uprising does not have an economic drive –although the Egyptian citizens are afflicted with a myriad of economic problems- otherwise, it should be led by the margin; the unemployed and workers’ unions, but the first large-scale demonstration started from the venue of Friday prayers and allah-u-akbar [God is the greatest] was the most ideal chant repeated by everyone,” he continued. “Undoubtedly, the demonstrations of the Egyptians, or better said “The Egyptian Revolution”, is, more than any other factor, influenced by the character of His Excellence Emam Khomeini and his rightful successor His Excellency Grand Ayatollah Khamenei…in terms of religions, Egyptians are the closest group to Shi’as and politically, the closest to the Islamic Revolution [of Iran].”
Iran
Economic Speaker of the Government [Minister of Economy Shams-od-Din Hosseini] Announces: 14 Billion dollars in National Development Fund by the end of the [Persian] year
People: We won’t leave the streets until Mubarak leaves office; 8 Million Egyptians Say Final Word to Mubarak in National Demonstrations
Despite MPs’ and Government’s Objection to the Illegal Impeachment: Political impeachment in absence of the minister of transportation [Hamid Behbahani]
Kayhan
Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, Yemen, Algeria and Bahrain in the Hands of Islamists: Rise of Khomeini in the Arabian Middle East
Tehran’s Stock Exchange Enters +100 Billion Dollar Club
Majles Ousts Minister of Transportation
* Note: Khabar and Vatan-e Emrooz do not publish on Thursdays.
Trouble with understanding some terms? Check our Glossary of Iranian Political Terms.
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.