No compensation for low-quality gas in Iran!
The editorial of Ghanoon daily addresses the issue of low-quality gas that is produced and distributed in Iran.
The editorial asserts that in Iran, there is no penalty or compensation for selling low-quality gas to people. Currently, three are very few countries in the world where the distribution of fuel is done by the government and Iran is one of them. That is why low-quality, subsidized oil is supplied to people in Iran without any penalty. If Iran’s Oil Ministry wants to give free oil to Iranians in compensation for the low-quality gas that has been supplied to them, it means that Iranians will have free gas for the rest of their lives! And that is because there is no standard for gas in Iran.
The editorial continues, “along with standardizing automobiles, the issue of standard road and fuel too must be dealt with. For example, the Standards Organization of Iran has announced that since January, automobiles must have line Radar Detector. But what is it good for when the roads don’t have lines? Therefore, first the roads must become standard, and then line Radar Detectors must be installed on cars.”
The editorial continues that there are annually 480,000 accidents in Iran, apart from those that are not recorded. That is the police’s statistic in this regard, which means 1 million cars collide with each other. The culture of driving, standardizing automobiles, fuel and roads are parts and parcels of a chain. If we only standardize only one part, the rest will remain substandard. All parts must become standard.
The editorial concludes that standards must be observed in all fields – the most important of which is the fuel standard. But since 2000-2001, Iranian Oil Ministry hasn’t produced any standard gas in the country.
An editorial in Ghanoon daily on October 31, 2018
Iranian parliament: the voice of people or the government?
The editorial of Sedaye Eslahat newspaper questions the performance of Iranian parliament, asking if it represents the interests of the people or the government. Recently Iranian President Hassan Rouhani proposed four candidates for four ministries that were without ministers; all four gained votes of confidence from the parliament.
The editorial points to recent ‘surprising events’ that took place in the Iranian parliament. The MPs who upon their entrance to the parliament took an oath to defend the interests of the people, the constitution and Islam, changed their views overnight with regard to MPs that were proposed by the government.
The editorial then asks, “What can be expected from lawmakers who announced their disagreements one day and defend the minister who was impeached in another position the day after? Do they really defend the national interests of people? Do they really represent the people or are they representatives of the government?”
The editorial continues that a sad tragedy is taking place in the parliament. Some MPs first disagreed with the government’s proposed candidates for four ministries; then the day after, the same MPs gave speeches in defense of those ministers’ performances. What happened that these candidates gained the highest votes so suddenly?
The editorial concludes that such a parliament cannot be called the voice of the people, but representative of the government.
An editorial in Sedaye Eslahat on October 29, 2018
Respecting property rights
The editorial of Etemaad deals with violation of property rights in Iran.
The editorial starts with highlighting the significance of rule law for property rights and implementing the signed contracts. Today in Iranian society, the law of individuals’ property is repeatedly violated. For example, if we look at the contracts signed in automobile markets, we can see the violation of the buyers’ property rights. The reason for the violation of buyers’ rights is the sellers’ connection with institutions of power.
The editorial continues, “Under such conditions when the majority of people have no connection to institutions of power, where should they go to follow up their property rights? How much will it cost for ordinary people to do so? Usually the cost of following up such is so high that ordinary people will give it up. One of the basic laws for the market is that the rule of law is a requirement. But today we can witness that people’s rights are openly violated by centers of power.”
The editorial adds that at the same time, we see the violation of people’s property rights by the government. One of the cases of violation of people’s property rights by the government is when it reduces the value of the national currency.
The editorial concludes that in a healthy economy, the most import thing is to create public trust in the economic structure. The public trust must be both in the structure and the officials. This social capital has been severely damaged in the past three decades due to wrong economic policies.
An editorial in Etemaad on October 28, 2018
End of honeymoon with reformists
The editorial of Jahan Sanat focuses on how the relationship between Iranian reformists and Hassan Rouhani has come to an end.
The editorial asserts that last week, Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri made some remarks that were shocking – remarks that point to his real– as well as reformists’ – place in Rouhani’s government. Jahangiri said that he cannot even change his own secretary. This remark was the end of the bitter honeymoon of Hassan Rouhani and the reformists.
The editorial continues, “The pessimists will probably say that reformists and their social body were from the beginning just a tool for Rouhani and his team -just a tactical coalition in the time of destitute. Jahangiri’s remark also contains a regret – not a regret about a coalition with Rouhani, but about why this coalition was so imprudent and without any practical guarantee. All eggs were put in Rouhani’s basket.”
The editorial adds that some will probably say that the reformists had no other choice, they were not allowed to enter the power, and they had to do something. But taking a look at the conditions in Iran’s society and reformists’ condition will show to what extent not entering this coalition and distancing themselves from the power could have be to their advantage.
The editorial concludes: now the reformists are remorseful at the time when they have reached a deadlock, and their social capital has been eroded. Their influential figures have lost their credibility. It is hard to believe that they are capable of mobilizing their social body for another election. Today Rouhani’s government is desperate, and reformists are in crisis.
An editorial in Jahan Sanat on October 28, 2018
Khamenei: passive defense against enemies’ invasion must be scientific, serious, comprehensive
Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, in meeting with head and officials of Passive Defense Organization, urged on the increasing importance of passive defense in confronting the ‘renewing threats of the enemies’. He stressed that ‘against the complicated invasive methods of the enemies, the passive defense must be completely alert, serious, scientific, accurate, up-to-date and comprehensive.’
Shoma news
Lawmaker: Iranian diplomacy must be more active to free Assadi
120 days after the arrest of Iranian diplomat Assadollah Assadi in Europe, MP Mansour Haghighatpour, aide to the Parliament’s Speaker, advised Iran’s diplomacy apparatus to be more active and use the international capacities to free Assadi. Haghighatpour added that diplomats have immunity, which cannot be easily violated.
Assadi, along with others, is accused of plotting to bomb the rally of MEK which was held in the suburb of Paris. German prosecution has alleged that Assadi had ordered the attack against MEK’s rally and had given explosive to others in Luxemburg in June.
Mehr news
Mohammad Khatami warns about a possible eruption of protests in Iran
Former president Mohammad Khatami warned about a possible eruption of widespread protests in Iran if Iranian establishment keeps making the same mistakes. In remarks published on his internet page, Khatami added that ‘if the society sees that the reformation will not come to fruition, it will go towards those who are after regime change in Iran, and then it isn’t clear what will happen to the country.’
Peik Iran
Lawmaker criticizes silence over the probe into MPs’ foreign trips
MP Mohammad Ali Pourmokhtar criticized parliament’s board of directors for silence over the probe into lawmakers’ foreign trips. He added that this plan was offered to the board of directors last year, but hasn’t been referred to the respective commission and hasn’t been put in the parliament’s agenda. Pointing out to the fact that designers of the plan have criticisms with regard to some foreign trips of lawmakers, Pourmokhtari said they believe this plan must be probed in the parliament and there must be transparency with respect to lawmakers’ foreign trips.
Tasnim
Lawmakers object to Rouhani’s employment statistics
Iranian MPs shouted in opposition to Hassan Rouhani when he claimed that in the past five years, 275,000 jobs have been created. Even though Parliament’s Speaker Ali Larijani asked the lawmakers to keep quiet and allow Rouhani to continue his speech in defense of his proposed candidates for four ministries, they kept objecting against the statistics presented by the president with regard to created jobs.
SNN
Larijani: impeachment is lawmakers’ right
In response to MP Nader Ghazipour, Parliament’s Speaker Ali Larijani urged on the fact that it is the lawmakers’ right to impeach. He added that if there are any demands for impeachment, commissions must review them so that in the coming week the necessary measures are taken according to regulations.
ISNA
Detained environmental activist acquitted of an espionage charge
Lawyer of Sam Rajabi, one of the detained environmental activists, said that his client has been exonerated from the charge of espionage. Mohammad Hossein Aghasi added the Sam Rajabi, one of eight environmental activists arrested on the charge of espionage, has been acquitted of this charge and is currently charged with ‘collusion for committing a crime against national security’.
Isa Kalantari, head of Department of Environment, had earlier criticized announcement of charge of ‘corruption on earth’ against some of the environmental activists.
In January, Kavoos Seyyed Emami along with 9 other environmental activists were arrested by IRGC’s intelligence organization. Later the prison’s officials announced that Kavoos Seyyed Emami had committed suicide in the prison, but human rights organizations considered his death suspicious.
Iran international
Zarif: international community standing against US sanctions
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that the international community has stood up against the US sanctions, and neighboring and European countries have resisted Washington’s unilateral measures very well. He added that Americans have not attained their predicted goals by ‘illegally sanctioning Iran’, urging that today ‘the international community is facing a choice which is not about JCPOA and Iran, but a choice about backing a legal method against an illegal, bullying one.’
ISNA
Lawmaker calls announcing new sanctions as Iran-phobia
Alaeddin Boroujerdi, member of Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, pointed out to the US sanctions against two Iranians on excuse of backing Taliban, saying it must be mentioned that Iranians have been hurt by the Taliban, and the world won’t forget that Iranian diplomats were ‘martyred in Mazar Sharif by Taliban terrorist group’. Boroujerdi added that putting sanctions on different Iranian sectors on the excuse of backing terrorists is merely in line with Iran-phobia, saying that following ‘this measure by the United States, Saudis, and Bahrain too put IRGC and General Soleimani in their terrorist lists, which shows a pre-meditated plan’.
Jam-e-jam online
Jahangiri invites Iraqi president to go to Iran
Iran’s First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri who has gone to Iraq to take part in Arbaeen ceremony talked to Iraqi President Barham Salih over the phone. Jahangiri pointed out to deep political, economic, cultural, scientific relations between the two countries, expressing hope that Iran-Iraq relationship will expand more and more. He also invited Barham Salih to go to Iran, which was welcomed by Iraqi president.
ISNA
Oman not to let go of Iran for Israel says Mousavi Khalkhali
Following Israeli PM Netanyahu’s trip to Oman, Morteza Mousavi Khalkhali, expert of Arab world, holds that Netanyahu cannot get any concessions from Oman’s king against Iran or any other Islamic countries. According to Mousavi Khalkhali, Iran and Oman — that are located on both sides of Hormuz Strait — have had the best relationship together, and ‘perhaps Oman is the only country in the Arab world that has never harmed Iran and has always stood by Iran’.
Khabar Dagh
Vice president: Iran appreciates Iraqi people and government for hosting Arbaeen’s pilgrims
Iranian Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, in a phone call, congratulated Adel Abdollahi for being appointed as Iraqi prime minister. He urged that Iran will stand by the Iraqi government and people to surmount all challenges. Jahangari thanked the prime minister, government and people of Iraq for hosting Arbaeen’s pilgrims well, announcing his own trip to the city of Najaf on the day of Arbaeen.
Jahangiri also said that Tehran-Baghdad relations are expanding, adding that increase in pilgrimage trips between the two nations tells the officials of both countries that the existing relationship is expanding more and more.
IRIB news
Lawmaker: we shouldn’t blame foreigners for all economic issues in Iran
Bushehr MP Abdullah Sameri said what has happened today in the currency market isn’t worthy of the country, adding that all economic issues mustn’t be attributed to foreigners; some issues go back to those who are in charge. Sameri asserted that today the country’s economy is under pressure, and people – particularly the educated– are dissatisfied with these conditions. He urged that the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has had a good performance so far.
ICANA
Lawmaker European banks will work with Iran outside SWIFT code
Morteza Safari Natanzi, head of Parliament’s Foreign Relation Commission, pointed out to the participation of European banks with Iran for transferring money independent of the United States, saying that the mechanism for transferring money between Iran and Europe will be launched before the oil sanction. He added that launching the mechanism for transferring money is one of European Union’s obligation, urging that they proposed a mechanism independent of the United States for transferring money to preserve the nuclear deal.
ICANA
Zarif: financial mechanism of the European Union to become operative in coming days
Iranian FM Mohammad Javad Zarif said that the financial mechanism of the European Union to continue financial and trade activities with Iran will become operative in next few days. He added that it might take longer before this mechanism can be used, asserting that due to the US pressures and sabotages, some of these measures might take more time.
ISNA
Iranians’ bank accounts frozen in Oman
According to some news recently, it has been about 20 days that Iranians’ money has been frozen in Oman, and Oman government had warned that the rest of the accounts too will be soon closed. It was said that meanwhile, the efforts of Iranian ambassador have not been fruitful. The Iran-Oman Chamber of Commerce denied this news, saying that during past weeks, this chamber has been able to create the ground for increasing the economic relationship of private sectors in both countries, ‘but some are trying to make Iranian businessmen and investors, as well as Iranians living in Oman, worried, despite the good relationship between the two countries’.
Donya-e-eqtesad
Principlist political activist: we need a change in the attitude of economic officials
Mohammad Hosseini, the member of the central committee of Popular Front of Islamic Revolution, criticized passivity in implementing resistance economy, calling for a change in the attitude of economic officials of the country. He said that exact, correct implementation of resistance economy will not be compatible with a westernized group whose economic patterns are based on the capitalist economy. Hosseini urged that there must be a change in the attitude of economic officials in the country so ‘we can see the result in implementing policies of resistance economy’.
Young Journalists Club
Denmark recalls ambassador from Tehran, accuses Iran of a terror plot
Denmark accused Iran of attempting a terrorist plot in this country, calling it ‘unacceptable’ and recalled its ambassador from Iran. Denmark’s Foreign Minister Anders Samuelson said that in addition to recalling the Danish ambassador from Iran, he intends to ask the European Union to consider new sanctions against Tehran. Samuelson added that ‘Denmark can by no means accept that Iranian intelligence forces would want to target anybody in Denmark’s soil.’ Danish Foreign Minister has said that he believes Iranian regime has been behind the terror plot in Denmark – an accusation that is strongly denied by Tehran.
Earlier, Denmark’s intelligence service had announced that this country’s police has arrested an Iranian born individual on the suspicion of cooperating with Iranian intelligence services and attempting the attack. Head of Denmark’s intelligence service said: ‘this individual who has a Norwegian passport is suspicious of trying to attack one of the leaders of Al-Ahwaz movement in Denmark.’
BBC Persian
Radio Farda
Lawmaker: Iran to receive Europe’s incentive package next week
Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, head of Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said Europe’s incentive package for increasing cooperation with Iran during sanctions has been formulated and it will be registered next week. He pointed out to special financial mechanisms between Iran and Europe before the US sanctions in November, urging that Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif ‘must ready himself for swimming in turbulent waters as Iran’s foreign policy requires resolve and determination to provide the national interests.’
Falahatpisheh said he believes that Europeans are determined to cooperate with Iran because they are well aware of the issue of security and insecurity, adding that Europeans have come to believe that the security making policies they are following is to the advantage of European countries and they too want to cooperate with Iran. But, he added, it isn’t clear to what extent they have the capacity to do so. According to Falahatpisheh, Europeans think of Iran as the island of stability in the region, knowing that Iran can stop the deterioration of the conditions there.
Entekhab
ICANA
Iran and Armenia after expanding relationship in Eurasia
Ambassador of Islamic Republic to Yerevan and deputy prime minister of Armenia discussed the expansion of relations between the two countries and Iran’s active presence in Eurasia’s economic field. Kazem Sajadi pointed out to the long-standing and historical relationship between the two countries and welcomed the increase in trades between Tehran and Yerevan, urging that accepting Iran in Eurasia Union, as well as creating a free economic zone in Moghry, can play a significant role in expanding commercial trades of these two countries with other regional countries.
IRNA
Foreign ministry spokesperson reacts to recent remarks of Trump, Bolton
Following the recent remarks of the US President Trump and his National Security Advisor John Bolton accusing Iran of backing terrorism and destabilizing western Asia, Bahram Ghassemi, a foreign ministry spokesperson, dismissed these accusations. He said ‘such remarks and proposing baseless accusations which have recently intensified in US officials’ remarks – particularly the US president and people close to him – are due to recent consecutive failures of this country in recent months and in different fields against the resolve, resistance, and prudence of Iran and Iranians.’
Jam-e-jam
Foreign ministry spokesperson: Trump’s advisors give him wrong information
Bahram Ghassemi, the foreign ministry spokesperson, said it seems that Trump is not adequately aware of regional and historical conditions in the region, as well as its people’s characteristics and developments through recent years. He added that Trump’s well-known advisors, regardless of the US people’s interests and by giving wrong information to him, ruin his reputation and American people’s interests. Ghassemi asserted that the US president has gotten used to saying ‘repetitious, incorrect, baseless stories’ against Iran.
ISNA
Zibakalam: Rouhani doesn’t know US diplomacy
Political reformist and academic Sadegh Zibakalam wrote in his twitter with regard to Rouhani’s remarks about the death of Saudi’s journalist: ‘Three weeks after the death of Khashoggi, Mr. Rouhani repeated anti-Americanism, claiming that this couldn’t have happened without the US. support. Of course, the Americans have always stressed selling arms to Saudi Arabia. But Mr. Rouhani doesn’t seem to know that incidentally, it is the westerners who wouldn’t let go of the issue.’
Bartarinha
Iranian boats get close to shipping carrying US high-ranking commander
An American news agency claimed that Iranian fast boats approached a ship carrying a senior high-ranking commander of the United States in the Gulf. According to Associated Press, soon after the top US commander in the Middle East, General Joseph Votel boarded the USS Essex in the Gulf, he could see one Iranian fast boat race across in front of the ship, while another shadowed it from the side.
The small boats, which were armed, came within about 300 yards of the Essex, and their radio chatter questioned what a US aircraft from the ship was doing.
Fars news
