Tehran's Daily Newspaper Review
Iran daily decorated its front page with a news on “the early bustling market of the new [Persian] year,” which will start in less than a month. The newspaper also interviewed speaker of the cabinet in Ahmadinejad's first administration Gholam-Hossein Elham who claimed that “the society’s collective conscience rejects challenging the president.” The newspaper also interviewed several members of the parliament, who criticized the state-run TV for unfair coverage of election candidates.
Jomhouri-ye Eslami’s front page featured a large photo of angry “Pakistani citizens protesting the US’ Congress bill for Baluchistan’s autonomy.” The newspaper also quoted Minister of Industry and Commerce Mahdi Ghazanfari who stated that gasoline, gas and water prices will increase with the initiation of the second phase of the Purposeful Subsidies Plan. In its editorial, the Jomhouri-ye Eslami called Yemen’s upcoming presidential elections a “show” and a joint scenario run by the United States and Saudi Arabia.
Kayhan’s top headline was Iran's retaliation against EU sanctions by cutting oil exports to France and the UK and its negative impact on the EU financial crisis. The newspaper also reported that the legal period for electoral campaigns will kick off from Thursday, 4th of Esfand. Protests in Morocco and Spain, and new aerospace achievements also appeared on the newspaper’s front page. Sa’adollah Zaeri made electoral advice in Kayhan’s editorial, arguing that the establishment’s ‘tolerance’ in qualifying diverse Majles’ hopefuls does not imply the same tolerance practiced by citizens in electing their favorite candidates, hence maximum elaboration when voting.
Top of Resalat’s front page was of the news of a joint communiqué issued by the Combatant Clergy Association and the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom which announced that their support is exclusive to the slate introduced United Principlist Front, though it is a matter of serious question how influential are these two clerical institutions in Iran's politics these days. Resalat’s editorial focused on the start of the trial of the 2.6 billion dollar bank fraud indictees. Kazem Anbarlouei, author of the editorial, called the trial a signal of the Nezam’s power, proving that no corrupt figure can violate the law. He also called for the Judiciary to focus on prevention of crime.
“Inspectors returned” Shargh reported, as IAEA’s representatives entered Iran to discuss the “alleged studies”, body of documents Western intelligence services claim to be evidence of Iran's military intentions in pursuit of its nuclear program. “I’m inspired by the Arab Spring,” Cat Stevens aka Yusuf Islam told Shargh in an interview in which he also called a likely attack on Iran a “historic” mistake. The newspaper also reported of the Omani foreign Minister visiting Iran despite the denial of rumors that the Arab kingdom is mediating between Tehran and Washington.
Tehran-e Emrooz’s top headline was a quotation from IRGC Commander Mohammad-Ali Ja’fari who said the responsibility of any disturbance in Persian Gulf security is upon the aggressors [willing to attack Iran.] Increase in subsidies’ ratio before the parliamentary election provoked the protest of Majles’ legislator Gholam-Reza Mesbahi who asked the government about the resources from which the cash would be paid. The newspaper’s editorial by another member of the parliament, Ja’far Qaderi, also argued that the government is not allowed to increase the cash subsidies unless the price of commodities is liberated. He also warned that Majles would stand against such a decision.
Vatan-e Emrooz top headline screamed about an “evil contact” between the overseas body in charge of handling the Green Movement affairs, namely the Green Path of Hope council and members of the Marxist counter-revolutionary group Organization of Iranian People's Fadaian (Majority). The “hot” debate between outspoken critic of the government Ali Motahhari and former Ahmadinejad aide Mehrdad Bazrpash was also covered by the newspaper. The debate revolved around Hashemi Rafsanjani’s conduct during the post-election Fetneh of 2009.
* Notes:
The editorial section of Iranian newspapers is not the work of the editor-in-chief or the senior editorial staff of the newspaper by default, but can be a contribution by experts and politicians (typically agreeing with the newspaper’s political stance.) The newspapers may also occasionally publish without an editorial.
Vatan-e Emrooz daily does not publish on Thursdays.
Trouble with understanding some terms? Check our Glossary of Iranian Political Terms.
Briefing
Iran is the official organ of the administration. Its current editor-in-chief is Ali-Akbar Javanfekr, former media advisor to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
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 critic 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 directly 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, Tehran Mayor and a likely candidate of the 2013 presidential election.