Iranian newspapers dealt with political issues related to the foreign policy of Iran, where they claim to reconsider joining the SCO in light of rumors of rejection of a permanent membership. Tehran’s contentment after the British withdrawal from the EU, while an editorial revealed the luxurious way of life of the Iranian wealthy people in light of the economical recession in the country.
As for the news, economically, Iran’s oil production from the Arab Gulf has risen and a tax evasion scandal hits two big institutions. Politically, the United States demanded Iran to cut off relations with North Korea.
Prominent Editorials
“Reconsidering Joining the SCO,” Sharq Newspaper discussed in its editorial the possibility of joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. It says that the admission will no doubt provide substantial economic gains to Iran, but at the same time has high political cost. Iran participated in the organization as an observer for eleven years. It has been applying for permanent membership for ten years, but has been rejected; although, there are expectations for a permanent admission to the organization. The editorial says that Iran’s membership in the organization with the presence of the two powers China and Russia will shift it away from its goal in the twenties which is to become the greatest power in the Middle East. In addition to that, both China and Russia are insisting on implementing the project of Alharir Road, for high cost and low economic viability, because of its political benefits through linking them to Central Asia. Therefore, this project puts extra burdens on Iran and strengthens its competitors’ in Central Asia such as Uzbekistan which strongly opposed Iran’s membership. The editorial sees that all Member States, excluding China and Russia, are, economically, weaker countries and will make burden on Iran, especially after the withdrawal of Britain from the EU which means that the time of economical alliances is gone.
“Strategic mistake of reformers” Sharq Newspaper is analyzing in its editorial the electoral process of reformers in the current Iranian parliament elections. The editorial says that when reformers took the decision to participate in the parliamentary elections of 2015, they faced problems such as the exclusion of Reform Front leaders from the elections by the Council of Guardians, and even by men of the second and third level. Moreover, they nominated unknown names of reformers’ soldiers against generals of conservatives. However, soldiers of this row were not enough to complete the lists of reformists, so they hired some fundamentalist moderates that coincide with the policies of Rouhani’s government. This was the reformers strategic mistake and probably needs years to repair. When those fundamentalists participated with reformists and entered the parliament, they preserved their old affiliations. In addition, in the elections of heads of parliamentary committees, they voted against reformers, which made them fail to deter extremists from getting into the parliament. Indeed, reformers have made a big mistake; the central point they must accept is that fundamentalists might disagree on tactics but, strategically, they are always united.
“Luxurious life of wealthy Iranians” Etelaat Newspaper in its editorial reported from the US New York magazine about the luxurious life of the Iranian wealthy people, in light of poverty and economic recession. The editorial says that no doubts that a group of Iranians have formed a new aristocratic class, and of course, it is their right as long as they struggled to make their wealth through legitimate channels. But is that the reality in Iran? The editorial wonders “Meanwhile some families spend thousands of dollars on a child birthday; millions of Iranians can’t afford their daily basic needs, which raises a question if this was the goal of the revolution?” During the past three decades, Iran went through many levels of revolutionary turmoil, war, reconstruction, and reform. During each of these stages, some Iranians suffered meanwhile others prospered. Smuggling markets flourished, sons of ranking officials dominated the economy, profiteers spread and corruption grew, which led to the outflow of capital, meanwhile, luxurious cars are roaming in the streets of Tehran and stacked in car agencies. According to the Minister of Intelligence, revealing the skyrocketed salaries of officials could be a good sign of tackling corruption. The editorial finally asks representatives and the media to track and go after those prosperous governmental officials.
“Why all this pleasure”, Aftab Yazd Newspaper, in its editorial is wondering about the reason behind the Iranian joy of the British withdrawal from the European Union. The Guardian, a British newspaper, stated that the Iranians find it difficult to hide their contentment of the British withdrawal from the European Union. The editorial says that most newscasters, journalists and writers on websites in Iran considered the British withdrawal from the EU is an introduction to the breakdown of the entire Union, perhaps, the motivation could be the British policies toward Iran throughout history, but this analysis is considered nothing more than a childish opinion comes out of the lack of knowledge and irrational desires. The editorial also ridiculed the daily reports on the Iranian official television that talk about recession and inflation in Western European in a way that this situation would help the Iranians withstand their economic problems, in addition to the relationship between the British withdrawal and the severe economic conditions in Europe. The editorial reports a state of deception in the Iranian media toward people, and condemns the unjustified contentment that prevailed in Iran the last two days because of the British withdrawal from the European Union.
Prominent News
♦ Selling a million barrels of oil to Spain
In a continuation of the process of raising the Iranian exports to Europe, which began after the implementation of the nuclear agreement, the Spanish company “Repsol” signed a contract to import one million oil barrels from Iran, which will increase the size of the Iranian exports to Europe next month, Knowing that exports amount to approximately 600 thousand barrels at the present, and are expected to rise up to 700 thousand barrels per day.
Source: Abrar Eghtesadi Newspaper.
♦ Rising of the Iranian oil production at the Arab Gulf
Head of Operations of Falat Ghareh Oil Company in Bahrkan territory announced that the capacity of Iranian raw oil production in the Arab Gulf rose six thousand barrels per day after drilling new wells. He added that there is a project of three phases after the nuclear deal that aims to raise oil production in the Arab Gulf. Abbas Recep Khani assured that in the first phase, production increased up to thirty two thousand barrels per day. In the second phase, the increase was 130 thousand barrels, while it is scheduled on the agenda of Falat Ghareh Oil Company that production will raise in the Arab Gulf in the third phase up to more than 800 thousand barrels per day on the long-run.
Source: Abrar Eghtesadi Newspaper.
♦ The establishment of Swedish commerce office in Iran
Swedish ambassador in Iran announced the establishment of a commerce office at the Swedish Embassy in Tehran. According to public relations in the Chamber of Commerce in Tehran, the Swedish Ambassador Peter Tyler, who finishes his four-year term nowadays, met with head of Tehran’s Chamber of Commerce, Massoud Khouansarai, and expressed his appreciation to Tehran Chamber of Commerce for its cooperation recently, and calling for continuous cooperation with the Swedish embassy. He also hoped that the new ambassador, that will be appointed soon to work on improving cooperation in the economic fields between the two countries through Tehran Chamber of Commerce.
Source: Abrar Eghtesadi Newspaper.
♦ The arrest of seven Iranians in Turkey
Anatolia News Agency published a report Saturday, declaring the arrest of a twenty-year old Iranian citizen who was trying to travel to London using a Hungarian counterfeit passport from the international airport of Adnan Menderes Izmir.The agency did not disclose the name of this Iranian citizen, but mentioned his initials (H.V.S). After he was arrested, he disclosed his Iranian identity and confessed to security forces at the airport that he got this passport from Istanbul in exchange of money.
Recently, the Turkish police arrested another two Iranians with a large number of counterfeit passports of European countries in addition to visa printing equipment and took them to jail. Anatolia News Agency stated that the anti-smuggling and organized crime officers in the bordering city of Wan arrested twenty-one people including four Iranians. These people had large quantities of medications and wanted to export them to the outside of Turkey, in addition to smuggling 2358 mobile phones, one kilo and 700 grams of gold bars, and 57 thousand packs of cigarettes.Police forces of wan also arrested two Iranians who were trying to get to Istanbul, with a smuggled kilo and 700 grams of gold bars.
Source: IRNA.
♦ Burmukhtar: the economic team of the government is inconsistent
Member of the Judiciary Committee in the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Ali Burmukhtar stated in his interview with the Mehr News Agency on the economic performance of the government, that the government does not have a consistent economic team and program.
This member stressed that the economic ministers should give solutions to the economic problems in the country through coordination and compatibility in accordance with the overall policies and development programs. These programs should be supported in the form of an economic joint venture between the economic ministries of the government.
He added, “Unfortunately, there is some kind of divergence between the economic ministries to the point that four of them sent letters to the president criticizing severity of recession.”
Source: Mehr News Agency.
♦ Ayzadi: Iran should have stopped the nuclear agreement
The expert of political issues, Fouad Ayzadi during a television interview, referred to the terms of the US department of Treasury to lift sanctions. He considered these terms a clear violation of the nuclear agreement, saying: “According to the message of the Leader to the President, Iran should have stopped the nuclear agreement.”
He added that America is using sanction to eliminate the centers of power in Iranian, although according to Geneva agreement, Iran should limit its nuclear program in order to lift the sanctions.
The expert also said that the nuclear deal has been implemented, and according to US officials, Iran has been committed to all its obligations, but the questions related to sanctions haven’t been resolved yet.
Source: Mehr News Agency.
♦ Broujerdi: Important political developments in the Green Continent with the British withdrawal from the European Union.
Head of the Committee of National Security and Foreign Policy in the tenth parliament, Alaeddin Broujerdi stated during his interview with the correspondent of Jam-e Jam Online Newspaper that with the withdrawal of Britain from the European Union, we should expect domestic developments to occur, including the possibility of Scottish separation and other possible future developments in this country.Broujerdi referred to the future relations between Iran and England after seceding from the European Union. He said, “Britain’s negative approach toward Iran before and after the revolution will never be erased from the memory of the Iranian people”.
Source: Jam-e Jam.
♦ Zarif: we do not want to become a market for foreign goods
Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif said in the French Academic Diplomatic Institution during a gathering of senior diplomats, analysts and researchers in the international affairs that if the focus of the Syrian crisis is only on Assad’s future, then there won’t be any political solution to the crises. He added that the focus should be on the structure and legal arrangements of the future of Syria, insisting that the creation of a federal structure is not the solution of this crisis.
Zarif responded to a question that Iran does not pursue rapprochement with the international community, referring to the aids of Western and Eastern countries to Saddam Hussein, meanwhile Iran was self-dependent during the eight-year war. He said, “Iran has learned to rely on itself, therefore on the economic level, Iran is seeking to build a resistant economy that can’t be influenced by any outsider economic pressure.” He added, “Resistant economy is self-reliant and seeks international relations, mainly exportation, which can’t be characterizes by isolation”. Head of the Iranian diplomatic system stressed that Iran does not want to be a marketplace for foreign goods. Nevertheless, it wants to grow into an exporting country through investment and attracting technologies from other countries.
Source: Etelaat.
♦ America demands Iran to cut off its relationship with North Korea
US Assistant Secretary of State for International Security Affairs, Thomas Countryman demanded to cut off the Iranian and Syrian military relations with North Korea, claiming that both Damascus and Tehran are the major customers of military technology for Pyongyang. He also added that Washington is cooperating with governments that respect the international commitments and cut off military ties with North Korea, so, urging Iran and Syria to cut off ties is a priority.
Source: Iran Newspaper.
♦Government approval of the signing of Chabahar agreement between Iran, Afghanistan and India
First deputy of Iranian President, Isaac Jhangeri reported the government’s approval of signing the Chabahar Agreement between Iran, Afghanistan and India, to the Ministry of Roads and Construction, and Foreign Ministry for implementation.
With the reorganization of the ministerial body, it has been allowed for the Ministry of Roads and Construction to carry out agreements that have already been signed. In addition to temporarily signing of the establishment of an international transport corridors and border passage between Iran, Afghanistan and India, known as Chabahar Agreement.
According to IRNA, the text adopted by the Council of Ministers, reads as follows, “Allowing the Ministry of Roads and Construction in coordination with the Vice President for Legal Affairs (affairs of international agreements) and the Foreign Ministry to implement the negotiations. Moreover, initial temporary signing on the establishment of transport corridors and an international passage between Iran, Afghanistan and India as explained in the Appendix, which was endorsed by the government within three years from the date of notification of this approval, including follow up of implementation and legal stages until issuance of the final approval.
Source: IRNA.
