Editorials
– Mardom Salary Newspaper criticizes the American contradiction toward Iran after the nuclear deal.
– Shargh Newspaper discusses excluding the Iranian people from political life.
Iranian News Roundup
– Unemployment Tsunami threatens Iran.
– AIDS Shuttles in Tehran’s Streets.
– Iran Stops Electricity Flow to Turkey.
– Zarif Visits Lebanon Next Week.
– Head of the Russian Federal Council to visit Tehran.
Mardom Salari Newspaper: US’ contradictory behavior toward Iran
An editorial in Saturday’s Mardom Salari Newspaper condemns what it says are conflicting US actions towards Iran, especially following the signing of the 2015 nuclear deal, adding that the US has failed to adjust its policy towards Iran in keeping with the deal to date.
The editorial said that over the previous two days, even while news agencies reported the US’ extension of its ‘national emergency’ status governing American-Iranian relations, the US State Department spokesman had said that the Iranian regime slogan ‘Death to America’ was nothing but political posturing and would not affect Iranian-American cooperation.
According to a report in the Washington Examiner, the editorial asserted, US President Barack Obama stated in a message delivered to Congress on Thursday that US-Iranian relations would not return to their normal state, adding that it is necessary for the current ‘national emergency’ status, in place since 1979, to be extended. Obama added in his message that the executive order, which was issued on November 14th, 1979 would be extended as of November 14th, 2016 for another year, with such ‘national emergency’ status announcements being the basis on which the majority of US sanctions against countries are implemented. Jimmy Carter was the first US president to achieve this state concerning Iran through the implementation of two executive orders issued in 1997, 1981.
Even while the latest update of this status was being introduced, the editorial continued, the US State Department spokesperson Mark Toner declared that Iranian students’ statements wishing death to America last Thursday during the anniversary of the 1979 storming of the US embassy in Tehran would not affect US-Iranian relations or prevent further cooperation between the two nations. Nevertheless, Toner added, close US monitoring of regional events by US intelligence services meant that Washington is concerned Iran’s harmful and destructive behavior in the region, particularly towards Yemen and Syria. The State Department spokesperson said that although the US can cooperate effectively with Iran on regional issues, Washington is also aware that the Iranian regime’s behavior has not changed.
The Mardom Salari editorial reflects increasing anger at the discrepancies and confusion in Washington’s dealings with Iran, with the letter from the current US current President to Congress perhaps written as a means to appease some Republicans’ fear of excessive US leniency with the country. Obama’s message may also have been an effort to win votes for Clinton in the upcoming presidential elections from Republicans who are unhappy with the prospect of a Trump presidency and see no major impediment to voting Democrat to stop this other than Obama’s tendency towards supporting the Iranian regime.
The inconsistencies in US behavior toward Iran stem from Obama’s preference for reconciliation with Iran, while many in the US administration remain unconvinced. Hillary Clinton has always stressed that her position on Iran will not be like Obama’s, but it’s widely known that candidates’ election promises and policies on assuming office tend to be very different.
Shargh Newspaper: Preventing People from Acting
An editorial in Saturday’s Shargh Newspaper editorial discusses the ways in which the Iranian people are prevented from taking direct political action over their anger at elected governments’ failures to work to achieve the objectives voted for by the people, who are let down despite doing their electoral duty.
The editorial, which takes its cue from a book by American author Wendy Brown, ‘Undoing the Demos,’ says that the opposition of Rouhani’s government to the electorate’s choices is certainly not unique but applies to all governments which threaten or limit the interests of the people. Thus, it continues, talking about the people as being opposed to this government, in particular, is wrong; the people are, in reality, hostile to any government whose interests conflict with those of the majority of the population, as its gains stem from exploiting the people and profiteering from their suffering. This sabotage of the people’s will by governments can be masked under many names, the editorialist states; in the era of Rafsanjani’s government, from 1989 to 1997, the argument used by the government was that Iran was unready to enter into the modern era and should commit itself to pursuing traditional economic methods. This government also promoted the false idea that a free market economy was only a transition from the traditional monopoly economy to a monopoly economy for foreigners’ benefit, the writer asserts, adding that this obstructed the process of turning the Iranian economic system into a free economy, a step which Iran has yet to achieve, although the domestic and global atmosphere were better suited to such a transition at that time.
These destructive policies were implemented in the eras of both Khatami and Rouhani, the editorial states, although they were known by different names. The editorial concludes by saying that this policy has not hindered the president or government, but has hindered the people from achieving their objectives, enabling the elite of beneficiaries and controllers of Iran’s electoral system to maintain and develop their economic interests at the expense of the people’s aspirations and future.
Donyai Eghtisad Newspaper: Iran from the viewpoint of the British Minister of Commerce
An editorial in Saturday’s Donyai Eghtisad Newspaper analyzed recent developments in British-Iranian trade relations in light of the British-Iranian Trade and Investment conference in London earlier in the week.
The editorial revealed that in his speech at the conference, the UK’s Minister for International Trade Liam Fox said that he considers Iran well suited for integration into the global economy, especially as the fall of the Soviet Union, which had significantly limited Iran’s trade prospects. He said that during the next month, a British trade delegation would visit Iran and discuss British investments being put into Iran estimated at $14 billion. That reflects the growing eagerness of British companies to enter the Iranian market in a quiet and steady manner. Fox added that one of the primary incentives pushing British companies to do business in Iran is Iran’s shift away from recession, with the country’s economy going from a negative growth rate of 4.5 percent to a current 5 percent positive rate, while inflation has tumbled from 48% to 8%. Other assets in Iran highlighted by Mr. Fox in his speech were the improved situation in Iran and its increased ability to prevent terrorism from reaching Europe. Nevertheless, he added, the biggest obstacles facing British-Iranian relations are difficulties in banking handling charges and fear of renewed US banking sanctions against the country.
♦ Tsunami of Unemployment Threatens Iran
Framraz Tawfiqi, the expert in the labor market, has warned of a tsunami of unemployment that threatens Iran, saying, “According to the Iranian statistics center, there are 22 million workers in Iran out of 78 million people, representing 27% of the total population.”
“By the year 2021 unemployed will amount to 5 million people,” Tawfiqi added.
Fares News Agency
♦ A Conference in Japan to Attract Investments to the Iranian Qeshm Island
A meeting was held Thursday in the Iranian embassy in Tokyo, Japan to attract investments to the Iranian Qeshm Island. This conference was attended by some Japanese officials and 70 managers of Japanese companies. It is noted that this is the second meeting to be held in the Iranian Embassy in Tokyo and the next one is to be held next spring.
IRNA News Agency
♦ Iran Stops Electricity Flow to Turkey
Deputy energy minister, Hoshang Falahatian announced that electricity exports to Turkey were terminated a few months ago due to the non-payment of outstanding $ 200 million debt by the Turkish firm that purchases power from Iran.
Deputy Minister expected that the Turkish company would be able to pay back its debts to Iran within four to five months.
“Exports will be resumed only if the Turkish side pays off all existing debts,” Falahian added.
Mehr News Agency
♦ Dhirgami: America is not keeping its side of the nuclear deal
Member of the Higher Council of the Cultural Revolution, Izzat Ullah Dhirgami has criticized the United States violation of the nuclear deal saying, “American decision makers including foreign minister John Kerry have stated many times that in case Iran does not change its policies, they would not stick to the nuclear deal.”
He added, “Through the initial statements of Americans, the nuclear deal has been implemented, but Americans did not keep their side of the deal. They seek to cover up their non-commitment through sideline statements; and unfortunately, some Iranian officials sell Iranians justifications on behalf of Americans.”
ISNA News Agency
♦ Speaker of the Russian Federal Council Visits Tehran
Speaker of the Russian Federal Council, Valentina Matfinco visits the Iranian capital Tehran on Sunday, November 13 heading a congressional delegate in response to an invitation by the Iranian speaker, Ali Larijani. During her two-day visit, Matifinco will meet the Iranian president Hassan Rouhani and foreign minister Javad Zarif to discuss the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Tasnim News Agency
♦ AIDS Shuttles Patrolling Tehran’s Streets
Executive Manager of Rusol Alta’awon Establishment, Mohammed Riza Saied Ghasemi said that there would be shuttles in the streets of Tehran for prompt detection of AIDS in cooperation with The Medical Science Universities Shahid Bahshati, Tehran, and Iran for 18 days in the Iranian Capital Tehran. He added that these shuttles are provided with equipment to make prompt tests to detect the AIDS in 10 minutes.
Zamaneh Radio Website
♦ Zarif in Lebanon Next Week
Spokesperson of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Bahram Ghasemi said that the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif would pay an official visit to Lebanon next week, adding that Zarif will meet Lebanese senior public servants to discuss the bilateral relations and the ways of enhancing cooperation between the two countries.
Fares News Agency
♦ Who is better for the Iranian Economy, Trump or Clinton?
In his talk to the Iranian ISNA news agency, the Iranian economic expert, Amir Ja’farzadeh said that the winning of the American presidential candidate, Trump might make a problem for the nuclear deal and foreign investors in Iran, which might force it to change its strategy. He added that if Clinton wins the elections, the American commitment to the nuclear deal will not be better than it during the Obama presidency.
Abrar Eghtisadi Newspaper
♦ British Banking Commission Supports Banking Ties with Iran
Director of the Financial Crimes in the British Banking Commission, Justin Walker, has expressed the willingness of the Commission to enhance economic cooperation with Iran. During the ‘Trade and Investment Vision between Britain and Iran Summit’ Walker said that many banks of this board are willing to enhance ties with Iran. Based on that assumption, the Commission is giving them advice on the legal amount of cooperation with Tehran.
Walker also said that he supports the resumption of banking relations with Iran and he will support it.
Tejarat Newspaper
♦ Suleimani’s Deputy: This Year is Climax of War in Syria
Deputy Commander of the Guards Corps, Quds division General Ismayeel Qa’ani said that the end of the Syrian war would come in sight this year.
“This year is the year for determining the fate of the Syrian war,” General Qa’ani said. “This is a war of existence, and the Guards Corps will never stop fighting there.”
During the conference of the Management and Leadership Qa’ani added, “Iran has deployed soldiers and officers in Syria who are experiencing war for the first time in their lives, but now have become same as the Iraqi-Iranian war commanders; each of them can run many military installations.”
The General noted that the terrorist groups have recently sent at least 10,000 militants to Aleppo province in Northern Syria to fight the government forces, and said that the terrorists have conducted over 30 suicide attacks on the Syrian army in Aleppo.
“Whenever Iran succeeds in Syria, and the Americans feel they cannot achieve their goals through military means, they resort to negotiations, and whenever they realize that they can reach their aims militarily they deny negotiations, which was evident when one of our brothers was killed by a $100 thousand missile in Syria,” Qa’ani claimed
As for Turkey, he said, “Erdogan informed his friends that he would do the prayer in the Umayyad Mosque after Ramadan. In fact, Erdogan has never been the decision maker of the Syrian war, but only part of it.”
“The US has been defeated in three major wars in the region where they suffered $3 billion losses or $5 billion as the presidential candidate Trump said in his campaign.” General Qa’ani also claimed. “Washington launched proxy wars after defeats of the US in the region where each soldier costs them an average of $1 million per year. It has created a new course of war by using terrorists,” Qa’ani said, implying that Washington did not create terrorists, but they made some investment in them and brought them to Syria
Mehr News Agency
