Tehran’s Daily Newspaper Review

24 August 2010 | 15:53 Code : 8468 Tehran’s Daily Newspaper Review

Tehran’s Newspapers on Monday, 1st of Shahrivar, August 23, 2010.

Two days after the inauguration of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, Iranian officials found another cause for celebration, namely the unveiling of their first UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) or bomber drone, the Karrar. However, top headlines were claimed by news of the annual meeting between Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and university students. Against students’ indirect objection to the standing of President Ahmadinejad’s two top aides, namely the Head of the Presidential Office Esfandiar Rahim Masha’ee, and Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi [accused of financial corruption], the Leader asked students to focus on primary issues, and mainly nuclear affairs. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Intelligence released a statement in response to remarks made a few days ago by the Head of the Organization of Atomic Energy, Ali Akbar Salehi, who had stated that there were no spies in Khatami’s nuclear negotiating team. The Ministry pointed to the verdict issued by the Judiciary sentencing Musavian (one of the negotiators) to two years in prison and a five year suspension from governmental posts for collecting data and providing it to foreigners.

Hamshahri

New Achievements for Iran’s Defense Industry

Flood Disaster in Pakistan Continues

Government’s Deadline for Moving 100,000 Civil Servants from Tehran Passes: 6000 have left Tehran

Iran

Supreme Leader of the Revolution in Meeting with Students: Anyone who does not acknowledge the principles is out of the ‘circle of unity’

President [Ahmadinejad] at Celebration of the National Day of Defense Industries: We negotiate on a par with [global] powers

Releasing a statement: Ministry of Intelligence calls Hossein Musavian’s [member of ex-President Mohammad Khatami’s nuclear negotiator team] act an instance of espionage

Kayhan

Supreme Leader of the Revolution in Friendly Meeting with Students: Unity is accepted only if based on principles

Meteorology Report: Tehran to become 4 degrees cooler

In A Statement: 249 MPs Support Supreme Leader’s recent guidance [in meeting with the Nezam’s (1) officials]

Khabar

We Are United with Every Person as Long as They Acknowledge Principles: In a friendly meeting with students, Supreme Leader of the Revolution answered their questions on the country’s current affairs, on the Kuy-e Daneshgah event (2), and on the President’s coterie [Masha’ee and Vice-President Rahimi]

In an In-Depth Interview with Khabar: [Principlist figure] Morteza Nabavi’s direct opinion about Khatami, Musavi and Karroubi

Ahmadinejad Welcomes the Idea of the Two Powers’ Joint Committee: What did MPs tell Ahmadinejad last night?

Resalat

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Meeting with Thousands of University Students and Elites: We are united with anyone who acknowledges the principles

With the President’s Attendance: Karrar armored drone unveiled

Minister of Intelligence: Hossein Musavian’s act was an instance of espionage

Shargh

Supreme Leader of the Revolution: Secondary matters [the controversy over Ahmadinejad’s coterie] should not replace primary, decisive issues [nuclear-related issues]

On Account of the Kahrizak Dossier: Three senior judiciary officials suspended

Shargh’s Exclusive Interview with [Speaker of the Guardian Council] Abass-Ali Kadkhodayi: Government is objecting, not every bill should be referred to the Council [of Expediency Discernment]

Tehran-e Emrooz

Supreme Leader Highlights in Meeting with Students: Unity only based on principles

The Most Unprecedented Judiciary Suspension: Three senior offenders in the Kahrizak saga to be tried

Held in Baharestan [Site of Majles]: The first joint Government-Majles meeting in 1389 [current Persian year]

Vatan-e Emrooz

Iran Unveils Bomber Drone in the Presence of the President: “Karrar’, messenger of death for enemies

Ministry of Intelligence Firmly States: Musavian was a spy

Iran 10-Year Leap: Continued reactions to Bushehr’s nuclearization

(1) Nezam (literally meaning ‘system’) is synonymous to ‘the Islamic Republic’ in Iranian political discourse. It is mostly used by insider politicians, or those who were once known as insiders (such as the self-exiled Reformists). The opposition to the Islamic Republic prefers to use rezheem (regime) which assigns it a negative connotation.

(2) Kuy (the contraction for Kuy-e Daneshgah-e Tehran) is the Tehran University main dormitory. The facility was raided by as yet unidentified plainclothes agents two days after the June 12, 2009 presidential election.

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.

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 anlayst is Amir Mohebbian, its political editor.

Tehran-e Emrooz (Tehran Today) is a ‘principlist reformist’ newspaper, connected to Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.

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.

Vatan-e Emrooz (Motherland Today) -which started its publication in November 2008-, belongs to Mehrdad Bazrpash, the thirty-old pro-Ahmadinejad politician who is also head of Iran’s second largest auto manufacturer company, Saipa. Vatan-e Emrooz is a supporter of the president’s policies.