Tehran's Daily Newspaper Review

“We didn’t know Khavari holds dual citizenship” Etemaad quoted Mohseni Eje’i, Judiciary Speaker, who served as the minister of intelligence in Ahmadinejad's first administration. Mahmoud Bahmani, Central Bank Chairman, tried to dispel the anger caused by the 2.6 billion dollar embezzlement case by speaking of a substantial transformation initiative for the banking system in the pipeline. Etemaad also reported of a surprise visit by Majles’ National Security Committee members to the Evin prison. In the newspaper’s editorial Mohammad-Ebrahim Taherian called for the Afghan United Front to regroup once again and seek effective solutions for the crises Afghanistan is facing.

Iran’s top headline was a quote from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in his visit to the western Lorestan province, where he stated that Iran could not move towards prosperity with shortsightedness. The newspaper also cited Minister of Interior Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar who promised a conducive political atmosphere for the ninth parliamentary election scheduled for winter.

Jomhouri-ye Eslami focused on remarks by General Inspection Organization Chief Mostafa Pourmohammadi, who stated that the 2.6 billion dollar bank fraud proves who [political] power and wealth have become interconnected. “American cities in the hands of anti-capitalism protestors” the newspaper claimed, publishing an image of angry American demonstrators chanting slogans. Jomhouri-ye Eslami’s editorial included suggestions on how to support domestic products, in line with the recent demand by the Supreme Leader to replace imported goods with their domestic rivals in public-run organizations.

The defendants on the embezzlement case are charged with disturb the country’s economy Kayhan quoted Eje’i, a serious charge will bring a heavy punishment if proven. Kayhan also attributed the death of Coptic protestors in Cairo to Salafist radicals supported by Riyadh and Washington.

Resalat’s top headline reflected American economists “disclosure” who spoke of “US’ economy’s collapse in near future.” The newspaper also reported of a meeting between heads of the three powers, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Larijani brothers, where “they reached good agreements” according to the Parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani.

Shargh published the Presidential Office’s statement in criticism of the flogging of Peyman Aref, the student convicted of insulting the president. The president had not sued Aref according to the statement. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad criticized the verdict himself, saying that he was not happy to see the flogging exercised, while “big seeds”, i.e. the power-holders, were free to criticize him.

“The Principlists’ electoral starts moving” Tehran-e Emrooz reported, as the Principlist camp appointed its speaker, head of electoral headquarters and secretary, i.e Ali-Akbar Velayati, MP Zakani and former FM Manouchehr Mottaki. The newspaper’s editorial called for an “iron will” required to punish the culprits of the 2.6 billion dollar embezzlement. The editorial meanwhile called for provision of solid evidence in convicting the defendants.

MPs are seeking a bill to ban dual citizenship for officials or as Vatan-e Emrooz called them, “amphibian executives” following Melli Bank Chairman Mahmoud-Reza Khavari’s flee to Canada. “Iran needs no hot lines to contact the US” the newspaper quoted Commander of the Iranian Naval Forces Brig. Sayyari.

* 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.