Tehran's Daily Newspaper Review

Iran followed a popular formula of the pro-Ahmadinejads’ discourse, i.e. a superlative adjective + the phrase “in the entire history”, hence the headline: “The highest level of foreign exchange reserves throughout the country’s history”. For the second day in a row, Iran launched a counterattack against the President’s nemesis, Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, and his office for mischievous fiscal transactions, particularly in the real estate and construction materials. The newspaper’s editorial attacked the administration’s critics who, instead of supporting a president who utters “epic, inspirational, anti-Imperialistic and courageous” speeches in his annual visits to New York, have burdened him with issues such as the three thousand billion-Toman embezzlement.

The Judiciary Speaker and Special Investigator on the Saderat Bank fraud case Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Eje’i’s stern remarks were reflected by Jomhouri-ye Eslami, as well as most other newspapers. According to Eje’i “those informed about the embezzlement are deemed as associates” in the case. The Judiciary Speaker also added that such a case of economic corruption could not have been accomplished without support [from inside the government]. “The Palestinian state will be formed only by resistance”, Jomhouri-ye Eslami, archetypically anti-Israel, quoted Ismail Haniyeh. The parliamentary election in restive Bahrain was described as a “clumsy drill in democracy” in the newspaper’s editorial. Massive boycott of the poll by opposition groups nothing but embarrassment to the Al-Khalifa regime, according to the author.

Kayhan’s front page was hogged by the news of the Saderat Bank fraud case. Wall Street protests, detention of documentary film-makers charged with cooperation with BBC Persian and new electronic services provided for the citizens by the government also appeared on the front page. In “About a Bet”, the newspaper’s editorial, George Soros, deeply detested by Kayhan and dubbed as one of the key conspirators behind the 2009 post-election unrests in Iran, was derided for his prophecy about the fall of the Islamic Republic of Iran in a February interview with Fareed Zakaria. The editorial also criticized enemies of the Islamic Revolution for their incessant attempts to politicize every social, criminal or environmental issue that happens inside Iran.

Resalat selected a harsher part of Mohseni Eje’i’s remarks, that if proved to have committed “corruption on earth”, an extremely heavy charge in the Islamic jurisprudence, the main perpetrator of the billion-dollar embezzlement case will be executed. In the newspaper’s editorial, Mohammad-Kazem Anbarlouyi expressed his discontent with Ahmadinejad's pressure on the Judiciary to release the two American hikers Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer on the eve of his annual visit to New York while citizens like Shahrzad Mir-Qolikhan are tortured in US prisons.

Shargh’s top headline reported a 14.5 billion-dollar deficit in payment of the liquid subsidies. The figure was originally released by Majles’ Special Economic Committee on Monday and according to Shargh, bodes a serious challenge for the Purposeful Subsidies plan. “All the dangerous Reformists will be disqualified [by the Guardian Council]”, Shargh quoted Tehran MP Ali Motahhari, who added that with the threat of Reformists’ victory dispelled, Principlists can present separate slates for the upcoming parliamentary election.

“Judiciary’s serious question about the government’s role in the embezzlement” read Tehran-e Emrooz’ top headline. Right under this headline, Tehran-e Emrooz quoted Tehran Municipality’s fiscal chief about laborious efforts to bring transparency to financial transactions of the organization. The newspaper also ran a critical report of the “Resistance Front” insistence on being assigned a greater weight in the united Principlist front, questioning them for remaining silent before the billion-dollar embezzlement case and creating schism among the Principlists.

* 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.