Editorials
– Jahan Sanaat handles the sentence of whipping former Attorney General of Tehran, Saied Mortazavi for charges of neglecting prisoners in Kahrizek.
– Kayhan criticizes Rouhani’s supporters in the US toward loitering in implementing the nuclear deal commitments.
Iranian News Roundup
– Hundreds of Thousands of Iranians Live in Random Houses in Kurdistan.
– 1100 Iranian Scholars to be Dispatched to Participate in the Religious (40 days) Celebrations in Iraq.
– MP Attacks Rouhani for Covering up Corruption.
– Slovenia to Open an Embassy in Iran.
– Spokesperson of the Government Handles the Nuclear Deal.
Shargh Newspaper: Business Performance Index, according to World Bank
In its editorial, Shargh Newspaper deals with the Business Performance Index (BPI) in Iran, which are steps and actions that both domestic and foreign investors must take to invest in Iran. According to Shargh, World Bank report on BPI for 2016 –Published on October 25, 2016—had ranked Iran as 120 among 190 countries, which shows that Iran had fallen two spots, compared to last year when it ranked as 118. BPI includes those factors that have an impact on the activity of economic institutions, yet they cannot be controlled or improved by individuals that are active in economic sector. These factors are linked to laws and business rules that are set and implemented by the government, related to economic problems such as insecurity of fluctuation of the exchange rate in countries, or tied with administrative corruption and miracle rule in the judiciary system. Typically the private sector is after creating wealth and job by establishing production units. Nevertheless, a significant number of venture capitalists are fleeing from Iran due to risks of investment, especially now that they can easily invest in America or Australia. As a result, it is necessary to examine BPI in Iran based on 10 factors: beginning of investment, getting building permit, conducting electricity, registering property, having access to banking facilities, providing protection for small shareholders in joint stock market, ease of paying taxes, foreign trade, ease of implementation of agreements, bankruptcy and paying debts. Based on these factors, New Zealand occupies the first place in BPI, followed by Singapore and Denmark. At the bottom of the list are Eritrea, Libya, and Somalia. Hypothetically speaking, let’s say we have two individuals who want to open and operate two bakeries – one in New Zealand and the other in Iran. According to World Bank report, it takes only half a day to obtain all permits and deliver all necessary services to start a bakery in New Zealand, with the cost of 3% annual income tax. Meanwhile, the same project takes 15 days and cost of 10% of annual income tax in Iran. Ironically, many developing countries create numerous obstacles on the path of starting a business. In 2010, Iranian Parliament Research Center prepared a report on BPI in Iran and named the most important obstacles in starting a business in Iran: getting bank facilities, investment market weakness in the financial insurance of production, lack of commitment by state-owned companies in paying their debts to contractors, and corruption in government agencies that deal with investment. Iran has made progress only in indicators of building permits, registration of ownership and ease of paying taxes. Compared to other countries in the region, Iran ranks as 11 among 20 countries, with the United Arab Emirates coming on top, followed by Bahrain and Oman.
Jahan Sanaat: It is such a Relief!
In its editorial, Jahan Sanat wrote about lashing verdict for Saeed Mortazavi, former Prosecutor- General of Tehran. Mortazavi was the cause of detainees’ deaths in Kahrizak Detention Center and was involved in some crimes. In an apology letter to Khamenei, he confessed to his crimes. The editorial says that ten years ago, Mortazavi was the man for all tasks in the regime, and was moving between important positions in judicially, economically, and socially. He started his life as a young judge in a remote court but was suddenly promoted to the post of Tehran Prosecutor, thus becoming Deputy Prosecutor of Iran who was supposed to defend and protect Iranian people. However, in his letter asking for a pardon for the disaster, which took place in Kahrizak, he confessed to his crime. After the letter, the court verdict was 135 lashes, with the possibility to appeal against the tribunal ruling. After the position of Tehran’s Prosecutor, he took over anti-smuggling Committee and Social Security Organization. The sentence against Mortazavi is not commensurate with the committed crimes, especially in a state where in the past, more severe sentences were issued for crimes lesser than Mortazavi’s. The editorialist says that he will stop talking if Mortazavi is exempted from his punishment.
Kayhan Newspaper: Show Determination, rather than Anger!
Kayhan’s editorial today criticizes US Secretary of State John Kerry for the remarks that he made at the University of Chicago about the nuclear agreement. It also attacks pro-Rouhani mainstream for trying to stop publication of these statements and ignoring to respond to them. According to the editorial, John Kerry who had gone to the University of Chicago to encourage students to vote for Democrats in the upcoming presidential elections delivered a speech in which he exceeded the U.S. foreign policy limits to talk about Iran. Some paragraphs of his speech were deleted before publishing. It stated that the United States needed to reach an agreement with Iran because the imposed sanctions were about to collapse due to lack of the world’s commitment to them. Therefore, the U.S. had to make the nuclear deal more than Iran did. He also said that he believes that the sanctions will continue and escalate– with the possibility of a military attack on Iran. Kerry further added that Iran had been practically able to break the economic embargo that was imposed on it and could obtain its basic needs. The editorial demands that Iranian government must show more determination than anger: the government should act more decisively and take serious action against U.S. reluctance in implementing on what they have agreed upon.
♦ 326 Thousand Iranians Live in Random Houses in Kurdistan
“326 thousand Iranians live in random houses in the Iranian Kurdistan Province,” Health Affairs Manager in the Medical Science University, Farzam Bidabour said. “The university has appointed some specialists to follow up on this issue and list the names of families that amount to more than 92 thousand families that live in 46 districts in the Iranian Kurdistan province,” Bidabour added.
Watan Amroz Newspaper
♦ Iran Opens (Salam) Tunnel with no Safety Measures
Iran has opened Salam (peace) tunnel in the Iranian city of Bardis with no safety measures, signage or paving works, which threatens the lives of people.
Arman Amroz Newspaper
♦ 1100 Scholars to be Dispatched to Participate in the Arba’een (40 days of Ashura) Celebrations
Cultural Affairs Assistant in the Iranian religious Endowments department, Ahmed Sharaf Khani said that 1100 Iranian scholars will be dispatched to participate in the Arba’een (40th) anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein. “Scholars coming from the cities of Qum, Esfahan, Khurasan, Khozistan, and Ahwaz who speak Arabic will go to Iraq through the Iranian-Iraqi borders to participate in the celebrations,” Khani added.
Afkar Newspaper
♦ The Iranian Economy Suffers Continuous Recession
Member of the industrial and mineral committee in the Iranian parliament, Hamid Riza Foladgar said that the Iranian Economy suffers continuous recession, especially in the production, medium and macroeconomics sectors that registered 60% rate. Foladgar also stressed the importance of the implementation of Article 44 with serious desire from the government and officials to get out of economic recession and remove production obstacles.
Abrar Eghtisadi Newspaper
♦ MPs call for Change up the Government’s Economic Team
20 Iranian MPs have submitted a memorandum to President Rouhani, asking for the necessity to change up the economic team. MPs insisted on improving living conditions of people and solving the unemployment problem.
MPs that signed the memo were Saied Mohammed Baqer, Mohammed Mahdi Zahidi, Saied Javad Husseini Kia, Akbar Turkey, Saied Hussein Taqawi Husseini, Riza Shiran Khurasani, Mohammed Ismael Sa’idi, Muhsin Kohkin, Shahbaz Hassan Bour, Mahmoud Shukri and Hussein Ali Hajji.
Tijarat Newspaper
♦ Burial of Six “Mudafei Alharam” in Qum City
Qum city has buried 6 Iranians that were killed in Syria by the Syrian opposition forces. Defendants of Haram as being called by Iran; Mohammed Sadiq Sadiqi Zadeh, Mustafah Karimi, Ali Jan Najafi, Saied Ibrahim Husseini, Wasfat Ali Husseini belong to the Fatimioun Army and Zahid Ali to the Zainabieen Army.
Tasnim Agency
♦ Reformist MP: Ghalibaf should be called to the Parliament
Tehran’s MP, Mahmoud Sadiqi said that he is not satisfied with the report prepared by Tehran’s Municipality about land distribution and handing over collaborative projects and asked for calling up Mayer Mohammed Baqir Ghalibaf to the parliament. Sadiqi noted that MPs who called for investigating Tehran’s Mayer held a session yesterday and rejected the report presented by Tehran’s Municipality. Finally, they concluded to call up the Mayer to the special committee projects.
Arman Amroz Newspaper
♦ Rouhani-Omid Coalition’s Presidential Committee Meets Today
On the sideline of the parliamentary public committee’s session yesterday, Head of Omid coalition, Mohammed Riza Aref said that the vote of confidence on the three nominated ministers was exceptional and gave an important message of harmony between MPs and the government.
“Unemployment and economic problems are the most critical problems in Iran,” Aref said. “We hope that these problems be solved through the latest cabinet reshuffle,”
Aref added, “President Rouhani and Omid Coalition are highly cooperative and can handle the components of the sixth program for development.”
Head of Omid coalition continued, “Our primary concern is the economy. Iran suffers recession and unemployment. If the government’s economic team makes a quantum leap, we will stand by them; otherwise, the only solution will be change up of the economic team of the government.”
Shargh Newspaper
♦ Naqavi Husseini: Why does the President Say no for Fighting Corruption?
MP of Waramin city, Hussein Naqavi Husseini has criticized the statements of President Hassan Rouhani in the parliament on Tuesday. Earlier, Rouhani said, “We must not make a big deal of corruption or deal with it in more than it deserves.”
Naqavi added, “Rouhani’s statements remind us of the saying ‘Death is good for neighbors,’ while one of his main duties is to fight corruption. If dealing with corruption something wrong, why do officials accuse the current government and the former of corruption, and if it is good, why does the president say we must not deal with it?”
Mashriq Website
♦ Nobakht: the New Sanctions have Nothing to do with the Nuclear Case File
Spokesperson of the Iranian government, Nobakht said that the new sanctions on Iran are not related to the nuclear case file. He added that Iran has passed through hard times but never counted on the American commitments.
During his meeting with representative of the Supreme Leader in Kerman province Yahya Ja’fari, Nobakht said that all problems could be solved through balance between choices and responsibilities, noting that the government has passed the nuclear case file successfully, and sanctions related to the archive have been lifted, which is evident in oil sells that jumped from one million and 200 barrels to 2 million and 800 thousand barrels per day.
Nobakht added, “World tyrants stood against the Islamic rule and Iran has trusted neither American promises nor any other country. Some nuclear deal commitments have not been implemented yet, and the new sanctions have nothing to do with the nuclear case file.”
Asr Iran Website
♦ Slovenian Embassy to Open in Iran
Slovenian Deputy Foreign Minister, Daria Badfaj Kourt has met her Iranian counterpart in Tehran Mohammed Javad Zarif. Kourt pointed that the Slovenian president will be visiting Tehran shortly to sign many MOU between the two countries and open a Slovenian embassy in Tehran.
On the other hand, Zarif stressed on enhancing bilateral relations, exchanging views between both countries, and the necessity of sending humanitarian aids to the Syrian and Yemeni people.
Fares Agency
