Tehran's Daily Newspaper Review

The cabinet rubberstamped the Supreme Leader's call for a ban on the public organizations purchasing imported commodities which are produced also domestically and with a higher quality. Protests in New York and other American cities were also happily covered by the Conservative press.

Iran's banner headline was the cabinet's decision to place a ban on certain imported goods for the state-run bodies. The newspaper also reflected remarks by yesterday's Friday prayers leader Ahmad Khatami who criticized "those who bake their electoral bread in the [2.6 billion dollar embezzlement] tandoor", i.e. those taking advantage of the incident to sideline rivals in the upcoming parliamentary election. Ahmad Khatami also slammed those who are abusing the situation to tarnish the image of the Islamic Republic, while their own record is replete with cultural, political and economic corruption. The newspaper's editorial called for the press to stick to their principles amid political storms and do not forget where the national interests of the country lie.

Interestingly, Jomhouri-ye Eslami's top headline spoke of launching several major industrial and civil projects in the Hamedan Province by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. It also quoted Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani saying that "one should not hope for reforms in any situation." Demonstration in Bahrain in reaction to the death of 17-year old citizen who was shot by the security forces was also covered by Jomhouri-ye Eslami. The newspaper's editorial reviewed the anti-corruption Eight-Article Decree issued by the Supreme Leader nearly a decade ago. In one of his recent speeches, Ayatollah Khamenei stated that had the decree not been ignored, the 2.6 billion dollar embezzlement would have never happened.

"American citizens: We don't want Capitalism" was Kayhan's major headline. Iranian students gathered in front of the Swiss Embassy –which represents US’ interests in Iran- to support protests in NY and other American cities. The protestors called for independent media to reflect the true face of Washington’s anti-human measures, Kayhan reported.

Resalat published a letter released by the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom in which the government was invited to chop off all the hands which abused the public budget. The newspaper’s editorial probed the Wall Street protests. “Capitalism in West deeply suffers greed” according to the author “and this has fostered arrogance” which is hard to be cured by experts of the Capitalist World.

Shargh interviewed Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei’s lawyer, Ali-Asghar Hosseini, an unexpectedly young, hip lawyer who complained about being called “the devil’s advocate” after he sued several well-known religious and political figures on charges of slander against the President’s Chief-of-Staff. Shargh also published pictures of the three Nobel Peace Prize winners of 2011, taking its headline –“These Three Women”- from a popular historical novel written by well-known Iranian journalist Masoud Behnoud. In the newspaper’s editorial Ehsan Shari’ati argued that the Arab Spring belongs to the “post-fundamentalism era”. Violence, religious tensions and foreign intervention are three main threats to the revolutions in Arab countries, wrote Shari’ati.

Tehran-e Emrooz focused on contradictory remarks about the dual citizenship of Mahmoud-Reza Khavari, the former president of Melli Bank who is now residing in Canada. While the Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi stated that Khavari’s clearance was granted before he came into the ministry, the Minister of Finance Shamsoddin Hosseini said that Khavari had been approved by the cabinet in 2008. In the meantime, Central Bank Chairman Mahmoud Bahmani defended his own record, saying that he was not the one who appointed Khavari and he is not even sure if the former chief of Melli Bank has actually moved to Canada. Tehran-e Emrooz’ editorial called for removing the legal loopholes which provide a chance for cases such as the 2.6 billion dollar embezzlement. The author also claimed that controversies over the case are perpetrated not only by the anti-IRI forces, but those who inside the system who have been involved with the scandal and try to divert attention from their complicity.

* 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

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.