Tehran’s Daily Newspaper Review

The ceremony turned into bloodshed -à la Pakistan- in Chabahar, the southeastern most city of Iran, as two suicide bombings claimed more than thirty lives among the mourners, some of them Sunnis. Separatist Jundullah—whose leader Abdol-Malek Rigi was executed by the Islamic Republic of Iran in June—claimed responsibility for the attack. The blasts were widely condemned by Western countries, including Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which Iranian officials suspect to be behind the attacks.

Hamshahri

Universal Condemnation of the Terrorist Crimes in Chabahar

83% Fall in Average Rainfall across the Country

Lawmakers Criticize Plan for Government-ization of Mayors’ Appointment

Iran

Supreme Leader of the Revolution Stresses in a Message: Enemies fear dignity and power of the Islamic Ummah; International condemnation of the terrorist catastrophe of Chabahar’s Tasou’a

On the Country’s Chief Issues and the Purposeful Subsidies: The president speaks to the nation tonight

With Prosecutor’s Suit and Exposés against Mahdi Hashemi [Rafsanjani]: Iran’s Editor-in-Chief [Kaveh Eshtehardi] summoned to the Prosecutor’s Office

Jomhouri-ye Eslami

Islamic Iran Immersed in Mourning and Grief on Ashoura

Funeral of the Martyrs of the Blood-Soaked Tasou’a of Chabahar

Supreme Leader of Revolution’s Message on the Terrorist Incident of Chabahar’s Tasou’a

Minister of Commerce [Mahdi Ghazanfari]: Prices stable until the end of the [Persian] year [in March]

Kayhan

Supreme Leader of the Revolution Underscores in a Message: Chabahar crime signals Imperialism in dread of unity of the Muslim world

In Istanbul and with Attendance of [Former FM and Supreme Leader’s Senior Diplomatic Advisor] Ali-Akbar Velayati: Erdogan’s participation in the unprecedented mourning ceremony of Ashoura

Riots and Strikes across Europe: Countries supporting the ’88 Fetneh [Iran’s post-election protests] in the fire of crisis

Khabar

Western Officials Compelled to React against Terrorists’ Activities: Global reverberation of Chabahar’s bloodsoaked Tasou’a

Supreme Leader of the Revolution: Imperialism doesn’t want the Islamic Ummah to be powerful

Resalat

Supreme Leadership’s Message on Chabahar’s Terrorist Incident: Enemies fear unity of the Muslim World

Official Mourning Announced in Sistan-va-Baluchistan [Province]: 39 Martyrs and tens wounded, result of Chabahar’s terrorist incident

Ministry of Intelligence: 9 Terrorists linked to Chabahar crimes arrested

Turkish FM: Imam Hussein (AS) brings integration and solidarity

Tehran-e Emrooz

Details of the Bloodsoaked Tasou’a in Chabahar: 36 Martyred, 100 wounded, 9 terrorists arrested

Time to Decode Purposeful Subsidies: Will the president reveal new information about the major economic plan?

Vatan-e Emrooz

Fresh Unspoken Words on How the Fraud Allegations in the Tenth Presidential Election Were Contrived: From White House to aghazadeh (1)

Historical Participation of Turkish PM among Istanbul Mourners: Roazeh-recital (2) of Mr. Prime Minister

With Pronouncement of the President’s and Leader of Revolution’s Messages and with Participation of People from Different Strands: Funeral of Chabahar terrorist attack martyrs

Hojjat-ol-Eslam Mojtaba Zolnour [Supreme Leader’s Representative in Sepah]: ’78 [1997 pro-democracy protests] and ’88 fetnehs products of the sinful morsels of the Reconstruction Era (3)

* Note: Khabar and Vatan-e Emrooz do not publish on Thursdays.

(1) Disapproving and disparaging term widely used in Iranian political literature to describe the sons of famed political or religious figures, who supposedly enjoy privilege over ordinary citizens due to their father’s stature; in this headline it most probably refers to Mahdi Hashemi, son of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

(2) Roazeh is a mournful religious hymn sung by trained individuals –dubbed roazeh-khan or roazeh-reciter- in Shi’a ceremonies.

(3) Reconstruction Era is a term used to describe the presidential tenure of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Begun in the wake of peace between Iran and Iraq after a bloody 8-year war, Hashemi’s liberal economic –and to some extent cultural- policies which diverted largely from the revolutionary first decade of the Islamic Republic were slammed by the left and Hezbollahi groups. Zolnour’s reference to “sinful morsels” is based on a fundamental Islamic teaching: that food coming from sinful earnings will divert one from the divine path that leads to prosperity.

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

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.

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 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 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.

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.