Tehran’s Daily Newspaper Review

Etemaad’s top headlines were remarks by Abbas Palizdar and Emad Afrouq. Palizdar, the corruption whistleblower, interviewed with the newspaper from an unidentified location, saying that he did not want to stay in Tehran to be arrested. He added that he was backed by Ahmadinejad’s first administration to publicize economic corruption, but was left alone afterwards. Emad Afrouq criticized the government, stating that both Messianism and “Iranian School” doctrines were promoted by a single source within the government. Mohammad-Ali Mohtadi called Ali Abdullah Saleh’s decision to relinquish power a banal promise that will not be realized with stipulations set by the Yemeni president.

Iran daily reported of a 100-billion dollar investment package developed by the Petroleum Ministry for oil and gas projects. The newspaper also covered the opening ceremony of the first subway line in Mashhad-- Iran’s second most populated city-- by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who reportedly refuses to grant a Majles-approved 2 billion-dollar credit to Tehran’s metro system (governed by his political rival Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf.)

“The United States is seeking capitulation treaty in Iraq” Jomhouri-ye Eslami reported. The newspaper also quoted Parliament’s Speaker Ali Larijani who stated that Majles will not treat MPs’ complaint against Ahmadinejad with laxity. While Iran speaks of billions, Jomhouri-ye Eslami reported of 150-million dollar investment to develop the South Pars gas field, which is jointly exploited by Iran and Qatar. “Obama in Afghanistan’s Quagmire” was the title of Jomhouri-ye Eslami’s editorial, focusing on the American fiasco in occupying Afghanistan, and its failure to establish a powerful central government in the country.

Kayhan’s front page was dominated by the news of demonstrations in the United States and the protestors’ call for citizens to join them. Iran’s lawsuit against Russia for its refusal to deliver the promised S300 anti-missile defense system, and the Saudi regime’s siege of Shi’a-dominated cities in the east of the country also appeared on the front page. Kayhan’s editorial was a “typology of developments in Egypt”. According to the author, the political process in Egypt will determine the future course of the ‘Islamic Awakening.’ The editorial warned about the West and Saudi Arabia supporting their favorite groups– pro-West parties and the Salafists-- while Iran has a historical chance to secure a foothold in Egypt.

“Iran masters full cycle of space technology”, Resalat published with large fonts on its front page. “All sides [of the Principlist camp] should join the 7+8 mechanism” Resalat cited Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani, the man in charge of uniting the Principlists for the upcoming parliamentary election, as saying. Resalat’s editorial was a critique of irreconcilability and antagonistic attitudes in politics. Interestingly, the author supported the recent meeting between the arch-Conservative Mo’talefeh Party and Seyyed Hassan Khomeini –Ayatollah Khomeini’s grandson who has made a significant tilt towards the Reformists during the recent years, particularly since the 2009 presidential election.

Shargh’s top headline was a quote from the Chief Police Commander Brig. Ahmadi-Moqaddam, who stated that the police will not intervene in inter-gender mingling. He also added that meddling into citizens’ private lives is not the police’s business. Shargh also interviewed Azadeh Haddad Adel –daughter of former Majles’ Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad Adel- about her life experience in Japan –where she received her PhD in nanotechnology- and the US. “Diversionary Debates in Iraq”, Shargh’s editorial, argued that Washington’s renewed interest in keeping its military forces in Iraq stems from its fear of losing traditional allies -Bahrain, Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

“The final station for anti-unity forces,” Tehran-e Emrooz published on its front page, referring to the controversial Resistance Front, which has distressed the Principlist camp by refusing to send representatives to the 7+8 workgroup which is in charge of drawing up a single slate for the winter parliamentary elections. The Resistance Front received a final warning from Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani, who said that the 7+8 will turn into a 7+6 body if the group keeps shunning the pro-unity calls. The newspaper’s headline for the opening ceremony of Mashhad’s first subway line was sarcastic: “Ribbons re-cut in Mashhad, empty bank account of Tehran metro: Mashhad metro re-inaugurated”. The newspaper’s editorial also criticized the Resistance Front for its refusal to unite with the mainstream Principlist groups.

“Football under the shadow of revolution” was the top headline of Vatan-e Emrooz, addressing the Tuesday soccer match between Iran and Bahrain while the bilateral ties between the two countries have been strained after Tehran’s support of Shi’a protestors and Manama’s charges of intervention leveled at Iran. The demonstrations against the economic situation in 800 American cities were also covered by the newspaper.

* 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.