The attempt of the coup against the legitimate authority in Ankara made an impact on the press editorials of the Iranian newspapers on Sunday, July 17th, 2016. some newspapers considered that this coup was planned earlier, and what stepped it up, is reshaping the Turkish foreign relations, and the crowd’s support to Erdogan, which played a major role in the overturn of the military coup, while other newspapers linked the increase in oil prices and events in Ankara.
In the news, the focus was mainly on economic issues. The Iranian newspapers handled the President’s acknowledgment of unemployment problems and economic recession, in addition to the halt of trade between Turkey and Iran in particular, and with neighboring countries as a result of the Turkish military coup.
Politically, Newspapers covered Zarif’s visit to the Shura Council, and his report on the nuclear deal. They also discussed the attempt of the military coup in Turkey and stressed that the situation after the nuclear deal has become worse.
“Democracy helps democracy,” in its editorial, Iran Newspaper presents an analysis for the military coup in Turkey; its reasons and how Erdogan quashed it. The editorial says that the nature of the coup and its results supports the belief that this it was planned to implement at another time, but its leaders got information that made them carry it out immediately without finishing all arrangements, resulting to what has happened. One of those factors was Erdogan’s intention to discharge a large number of military commanders, as well as reshaping Turkey’s foreign relations, and the resumption of relations with both Russia and Israel, which will positively impact the Turkish economy, leading to more popularity of Erdogan. Coup leaders felt that the clock was ticking and it was not on their side in light of Erdogan’s preventative actions, nor the progress of the Turkish government on the external and internal levels, which made them carry out their plans ahead of time. However, the big question here is whether Fethullah Gulen who lives in Pennsylvania was behind this coup or not? So far, there is no clear evidence of his involvement. The editorial writer, a former Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan, presents an optimistic vision about the post-coup Turkey and Erdogan. He is expecting Erdogan to continue renouncing the violence and tension policy on both internal and external levels. The Turkish policy toward Iran will be positive and based on mutual- benefit relationships. The Turkish people will play a key role in the Turkish politics after their effective and decisive participation in foiling the coup. Afshar Soleimani’s vision was too optimistic and coincides with his diplomatic qualities, but it is expected that Erdogan will settle accounts with the army and the Turkish judiciary, and carry out a course of executions against coup performers. After that, he can make a truce with the Kurdish opposition that did not drift behind the coup, but will practice more dictatorship with secular parties, and may seek the implementation of new constitutional amendments to trim down the secular character of the state.
“Failed coup in Turkey,” Resalat Newspaper presented the viewpoint of the Iranian conservative current concerning the failure coup in Turkey. The newspaper said that had the coup succeeded, the Turkish tourism sector would have fallen down for years, and stressed the Iranian official position of non-welcome this coup. What drew the attention of the conservative newspaper is the agreement of the Turkish parties on rejecting the military coup and standing next to Erdogan and legitimacy regardless of supporting or opposing him and his policies, which means to advocate democracy over partisan interests; a matter Iran is missing at the present time. The editorial also said that countries exposed to coups and rebellion should not intervene in the affairs of its neighboring countries like Iraq and Syria. One result of the Turkish army uprising is that the Turkish officials will be more concerned about their interior affairs. As if, the editorial implies that intervention in the affairs of neighboring countries, is only limited to stable countries like Iran. The editorial couldn’t hide the Iranian welcome of the internal chaos in Turkey that would lead to a reduction of the Turkish regional role that competes with Iran’s role.
“Oil markets shift following of coup in Turkish,” Jehan Sanat Newspaper discussed the impact of the military coup in Turkey on oil prices. The editorial said that after the news release about the coup in Turkey, oil prices jumped, since instability in West Asia, in general, lead to an increase in oil prices. Despite the fact that Turkey is not a major oil producer, many oil pipelines pass through its territories; consequently, Brent crude oil prices increased 1.1%. The events in Turkey also coincided with the Chinese economic growth indicators in the last three months, which amounted to 6.7%, leading to enforce the increase of oil prices. This has raised the total increase in the price of Brent crude oil since the beginning of 2016 to 7.27%. The editorial stressed that instability in Turkey hurt the Iranian oil market since it is a vital importer of this oil, which explains the reason why Iran rejected the coup and supported Erdogan. The editorial expects oil prices to continue to go upward with the effects of the Chinese growth indicators.
♦ “Mellat” bank has no branches in the Arab Gulf States
Iranian Mellat Bank denied any branches in the Arab Gulf countries, especially in the United Arab Emirates.
On the other hand, the bank confirmed, according to IRNA News Agency that the government’s share of the bank is currently 19%, and the bank manager is the only representative of the government among the five members of the board of directors of the bank. The other four members represent all shareholders of the private sector and other shareholders.
Source: Abrar Eghtesadi Newspaper.
♦ Rouhani: We have problems in unemployment and economic recession
During his visit to the province of Kermanshah, President Hassan Rouhani stated that the country is suffering unemployment as one of the most important problems that must be resolved. He added that there are other problems in this regard such as water, environment, recession, and the lack of a suitable environment for business, in addition to other regional and international problems Iran is facing.
On the political level, Rouhani said that the time of coups is over and cannot overthrow democratically elected governments with such failed attempts, stressing that ballot is the only way to resolve regional problems.
Source: Fares News Agency.
♦ Negotiations with three or four countries to sell heavy water
The spokesperson of the Atomic Energy Organization, Behrouz Kamalondi, stated that heavy water, which has been sold, is currently on the way and will arrive in America in about a month. He explained that heavy water is used for multiple purposes such as research and reactors. In addition to that, he declared that there are negotiations with three or four countries to sell this water, and a shipment of thirty-two tons of heavy water is on its way to America. He also added that because of non-compliance with their obligations and the Iranian concerns, heavy water has been shipped to Washington after receipt of the money by Iran.
Source: Mehr.
♦ Halt of the Iranian trade with Turkey
Head of the Iranian Union of Exports, Mohammed Lahouti stated that the exchange of commercial goods between Turkey and its neighbors including Iran has been halted because of the abnormal security situations. He pointed out that Ankara is the main trade partner among neighboring countries, in addition to a passage of the Iranian goods exported to the European countries. He considered that the sea borders with the UAE and land borders with Turkey are the most important borders of Iran for trade exchange.
Lahouti also acknowledged the high cost of an alternative passage for the transit of goods in a short time.
Source: Etelaat Newspaper.
♦ Journalists complain of threatening letters
Sara Najimi, the lawyer of journalists and reporters who received threatening letters, said that it is possible that some of the opposition groups and departments have sent these messages in order to terrorize those journalists and confuse the public opinion at the threshold of the presidential elections. She added that these claims have been registered in the Culture and Media Court and was deposited to Division “2” for investigation.
Source: Etemad.
♦ Yazdi: the situation after the nuclear deal is worse
The international affairs analyst, Fouad Yazdi said that the fact that the Iranian situation after the nuclear deal has become worse must be rejected. Restrictions on visas for businessmen invalidate Article 29 of the nuclear deal, referring to the new US Congress procedures concerning currency issues. He added that the Iranian objections should not be powerless and constrained so as to get to the point that the nuclear deal is useless, and then turn it down.
Yazdi explained that Iran should use the financial systems for currency exchange same as all other countries, which is to exchange it first for Dollar and then for any other currency.
Source: Mehr news agency.
♦ Zarif submits a report to the house of representative on the actions taken to implement the Joint Action Plan
Member of the Governing Body of the Committee of National Security and Foreign Policy in the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Javad Jamali stated, in his interview with IRNA News Agency that the Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, submitted a report on Sunday, Jul, 17th, 2016 in a closed and non-public session of the Iranian parliament about the actions that have been taken in implementing a Join Action Plan concerning the latest developments in Turkey, and the terrorist actions in Nice-French.
He confirmed that Zarif condemned the coup in Turkey, and Iran was the first country to condemn it and support the legitimate and democratic government.
Jamali also added that the Foreign Minister presented an explanation about the recent terrorist attacks on France to the parliament and condemned them, but at the same time, he stated that those events are taking place in France due to racism and discrimination in the French society.
Source: IRNA.
