Tehran's Daily Newspaper Review

After a two-day holiday (Friday, and Saturday--the anniversary of the death of the sixth Shi’a Imam, Ja’far Sadiq), Iranian newspapers had plenty of news to report, from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's UN speech to the start of the new Persian academic year to the funeral ceremony of 26 anonymous martyrs of the 8-year war with Iraq-- all in the third day of a week which commemorates the “Sacred Defense” against Saddam Hussein’s attack on Iran.

Jomhouri-ye Eslami, stagnated in the Islamic Republic’s 80’s mentality, chose as its top headline a quote from Palestine’s jihadi leaders: “Mahmoud Abbas’ UN bid is illegitimate.” Million-strong protests in Yemen against the return of Ali Abdullah Saleh, and the funerals of martyrs were other major headlines of the newspaper. Not surprisingly, the report on Ahmadinejad's UN speech was given a small box on the right side of Jomhouri-ye Eslami’s front page. The newspaper’s editorial strongly criticized Mahmoud Abbas’ statehood bid, as it implicitly lead to the acknowledgement of the “forged state of Israel” while Israel is at its shakiest situation following the “Arab Spring”.

Kayhan was friendlier with Ahmadinejad, choosing as its top headline: “The Iranian President puts Imperialism on trial in the United Nations.” Burhanuddin Rabbani’s funeral, Hamas and Islamic Jihad’s opposition to Mahmoud Abbas’ UN initiative, and Ayatollah Khamenei’s message on the start of the Sacred Defense Week also appeared on the front page. The editorial, “New York-ian Reflections”, labeled the UN General Assembly ineffectual; arguing that the annual forum has failed to address the real problems inflicting nations across the world (such as the EU economic crisis, the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe, the Somali famine, etc.). It has lost its decision-making power to an arrogant, selfish elite (the powerful governments), which do not even represent their own constituents, let alone the people of the world.

Resalat focused on the funeral ceremony of anonymous martyrs of the war. Interestingly, the top headline of the newspaper was a quote not from the Supreme Leader or Ahmadinejad, but from state-run TV Chairman Ezatollah Zarghami (a potential candidate for the next presidential election): “Martyrs fell on the ground so that we don’t bow in front of the enemy.” The newspaper’s editorial, written by Conservative MP Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, called Mahmoud Abbas’ statehood bid a fleeting phase and part of a new propaganda move by Washington and Western countries, which will be shelved as powerful states achieve their desired result. It is a “fake wave” according to the author, created to contain the energy released from revolutionary, anti-Zionist movements sweeping the Middle East.

Shargh’s top headline had the potential for a sarcastic reading: “President releases new data of the year ’88 [2009 post-election violence] in New York.” According to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, only thirty-three citizens were killed in the post-election turmoil, two-thirds of which were either police forces or government supporters. Shargh interviewed Mohammad Sattarifar-- former head of the now annulled Organization of Budget and Planning- who claimed that Iran’s economic state in the current Persian year has deteriorated compared to the last year. Shargh also interviewed another former official of the Reformist era, Deputy Higher Education Minister for Students’ Affairs, Gholamreza Zarifian, who asserted that, “universities cannot be administered via directives.”

Tehran-e Emrooz was unexpectedly gentle to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, decorating its report on the President’s visit to New York with a charmingly assertive photo of his giving his speech. Nevertheless, the newspaper did not forget to address “misbehavior” of a pro-government media outlet who, according to Tehran-e Emrooz, has spread the false rumor that a current Tehran Municipality official has been arrested. The newspaper’s editorial was a historical analysis of the background of the Iran-Iraq war and Saddam Hussein’s fatal overlooking of Ayatollah Khomeini’s power to mobilize Iranians under one flag.

Vatan-e Emrooz, having a built-in mind to focus on United States’ news, was published with its front page bearring the headline “Black Execution”, accompanied by a photo of American citizens protesting against the lethal injection sentence enforced against (questionably) convicted killer Troy Davis. Ahmadinejad’s trial of the West in the UN General Assembly, Ayatollah Khamenei’s message for the Sacred Defense Week, and new details on the assassination of Burhanuddin Rabbani were other headlines of the newspaper.

* Notes:

The editorial section of Iranian newspapers is not always the work of the editor-in-chief or the senior editorial staff of the newspaper, but can be a contribution by experts and politicians (typically agreeing with the newspaper’s political stance.)

Vatan-e Emrooz daily 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.

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.