Tehran's Daily Newspaper Review

Ayatollah Khamenei’s remarks (IRNA, Mehr) in his meeting with the academic elite were the top headlines of most Iranian newspapers today: “Launch ‘free-thinking’ forums”, “conquering the peaks of progress is feasible with elite who care for the destiny of their nation”, “we should reach a level where the other nations sit under the Iranian nation”, “the president should place a ban on the import of already-domestically-produced commodities”, and “banks should support producers”.

“Mahmoud Bahmani or the ministerial seat.” Etemaad reported of the dilemma the Minister of Finance Shamsoddin Hossein is facing under pressure from parliament to either dismiss Central Bank governor Mahmoud Bahmani for his failure to prevent the 2.6 billion dollar embezzlement case, or await impeachment. Etemaad’s editorial was written by Mohammad Shari’atmadari, Minister of Finance under President Khatami, elaborating on the significance of functional regulatory mechanism exercised by the Central Bank.

“Do not upset Tehran's SE market with media hype,” Iran quoted MPs and experts, reacting to a recent report published by Hamshahri newspaper which claimed the Financial Committee of Majles is planning to launch an investigation into the stock exchange market. Iran also covered “the enthusiastic reception of the people of Hamedan for the president,” who is making his fourth tour around Iran to monitor the progress of promised projects. “Heads of the three powers are in unison in battling corruption,” the newspaper also quoted Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani, head of the Judiciary.

Jomhouri-ye Eslami also quoted the Chief Magistrate as saying that “Decisive action in regards to the enormous embezzlement case will return public trust.” The newspaper also referred to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's comment during his visit to the city of Hamedan, where he had requested that citizens not cash out their monthly-allocated liquid subsidies for 90 days so that the government can manage to control the inflation rate.

Resalat quoted Conservative headman Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani who called for a clear definition of “those who have failed the ’88 Fetneh”, i.e. politicians who refused to voice strong support for the establishment during the post-election turmoil of 2009. His remark came in response to bickering by the Resistance Front, which calls for ‘purifying’ the Principlist camp and purging it of those who failed to pass the loyalty test during the Tehran protests of 2009 and 2010. Also, “Drug traffickers will be banned from hajj”, the annual pilgrimage to the Muslim holy sites of Mecca and Medina, Resalat  stated, quoting Chief Police Commander Brigadier Ahmadi-Moghaddam.

Shargh took back its Wednesday report on a four-hour interrogation in the 2.6 billion dollar embezzlement case by Prosecutor General Mohseni Ezhe’i. It also covered the funeral ceremony held for the father of Hassan Rowhani, former National Security Council Secretary and chief nuclear negotiator during Khatami's presidency, where both Conservative and Reformist figures converged to offer their condolences.

Besides the Supreme Leader’s remarks, Tehran-e Emrooz interviewed Seyyed Mehdi Shoja’i, novelist and a Revolution loyalist, who spoke of “cultural decline” happening in the society, and complained about the plethora of lies inflicting Iranian society and executives.

* 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.)

Vatan-e Emrooz daily does not publish on Thursdays.

Trouble with understanding some terms? Check our Glossary of Iranian Political Terms.

Briefing

Etemaad is a Reformist newspaper owned by former MP Elias Hazrati. The newspaper supported Mehdi Karroubi in the 2005 and 2009 elections. In 2010, it was temporarily banned from publishing (for a three-month period) by the Judiciary.

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.

Vatan-e Emrooz (Motherland Today) is a supporter of the president’s policies.