Tehran’s Daily Newspaper Review
Speaking at the international conference of a religious organization, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad slammed the international order once again and stated that “The Iranian nation won’t yield to the unjust order ruling the world”. Iran reported the launch of the third domestically manufactured ocean liner in Persian Gulf waters. The newspaper’s editorial took an offensive approach towards the 3 billion dollar bank embezzlement scandal –allegedly linked to Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei’s coterie. The author praised the government for its clean slate and anti-corruption measures, attributing the recent criticisms against the government to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s battle against graft and cronyism.
Kayhan used figures to show the magnitude of the embezzlement case with a banner headline reading “Backstage of the 3,000,000,000,000-Toman Embezzlement”. The launch of the third home-built ocean liner, the deadly blast against US soldiers on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, and anti-government protests in Greece also appeared on the front page. “Lessons to be re-learnt”, Kayhan’s editorial, reviewed the process leading to 2009 post-election protests to warn the political elite not to turn into the enemies’ unwanted associates in undermining the Islamic Republic.
Resalat’s top headline came from its interview with Head of the Supreme Audit Court, Abdorreza Rahmani, who marked the lack of financial discipline as the main factor contributing to financial corruption. Resalat also focused on the aftershock of “Egypt’s revolutionary measure”, i.e. the seizure of the Israeli Embassy in Cairo by protestors, which has created a new wave of anti-Israeli and anti-American sentiments in the region. The newspaper’s editorial was a critique of former president Mohammad Khatami’s recent remarks to a group of students in which he had criticized those who do not recognize any dignity for citizens and make a pro-dictatorship interpretation of Islam. Khatami has a skewed understanding of Iranian society’s current problems, the editorial argued, adding that the former president’s comments about pro-dictatorship tendencies in the Nezam will only embolden human rights’ organizations.
Shargh quoted a member of Majles’ Article 90 Committee, who spoke of the Astray Current’s involvement in the mega-embezzlement case. The newspaper also featured a report in which private universities were called the great winners of the national university entrance exam –the Konkour- as only 16 percent of the applicants were admitted by state-run tuition-free academic centers. Controversial remarks by hardliner MP Ruhollah Hosseinian against Majles Speaker Ali Larijani –claiming that Larijani tried to block the Principlist faction from endorsing Ahmadinejad as he assumed Mir-Hossein Mousavi would win the presidential election- was also reflected by Shargh in a report entitled “Principlists play with the Reformists’ card.” The newspaper’s editorial was written by former chairman of the Saderat Bank, the main victim of the embezzlement case.
Tehran-e Emrooz also reported that Majles will probe the embezzlement case. Head of the Central Bank and Minister of Finance will be summoned to parliament to answer MPs’ questions. The newspaper also quoted Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani, who stated that unity among the Principlists is definite. Tehran-e Emrooz’ editorial, written by Afshin Zamani, criticized the Central Bank’s policies which have aggravated the situation in the gold and foreign exchange markets, and increased liquidity.
* Note: Vatan-e Emrooz does not publish on Thursdays.
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.
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.