Iranian press editorials today discuss Zarif’s visits to Turkey, and the bilateral meeting of Rouhani with the Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents, which can pave the way toward a new trend in the Iranian regional policy. They also discussed the challenges that will face the next US President, in addition to a monopoly in the Iranian economy.
In the news, President Rouhani receives a written message from Cuban President and a proposal by Javad Zarif to Erdogan during his visit to Ankara. Economically, the disclosure of the amount of cash flow in the Iran markets, as well as the increase of oil production, achieved by the nuclear deal.
“90 days to go” Etelaat Newspaper handles the positions of the US presidential candidates toward Iran and the Middle East. The editorial says that there are only 90 days left for the elections. According to the US traditions, no major decisions are to be taken during this period of time, which means that the new president will inherit the issues of the ISIS and the Syrian crisis. Therefore, the foreign policy takes a big part in the presidential campaigns of both candidates. Trump always slings mud on Obama and his false policies toward the Middle East. The first mission he took upon himself is the elimination of the ISIS, the Taliban, and the remaining of al-Qaeda, accusing Obama’s false policies of being behind the spread of terrorism. On the contrary, Hilary Clinton considered that Trump knows nothing about foreign policy, adding that Obama was successful in seizing terrorism inside certain territories in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. She also said that Trump wants to take a military action in the Middle East, which is impossible to succeed. Based on those assumptions, the editorial concludes the necessity for winning the battle in Aleppo before the end of the US presidential elections through utilizing the current state of political deadlock in America. Perhaps the Russian focus on victory in Aleppo will direct a knockout for Obama and Democrats, and will be Trump’s Christmas gift. Nevertheless, as much as Iran seeks to storm Aleppo, it does not like Trump to win the elections.
“The art of preserving national interests” Ebtikar Newspaper praised the latest moves in the Iranian foreign ministry. The editorial added that the trilateral summit of Rouhani, Putin and Elham Alief, the Azerbaijani President, which was followed by Zarif’s visit to Ankara, has opened the way for a new trend in the Iranian regional policy. In fact, this can be understood as an attempt to get support from these countries in the conflicts in the Middle East (Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Bahrein), but not what the reformist Ebtikar Newspaper stated as a cultural coexistence and crisis settlement in the Iranian foreign policy. The editorial added that one direct result of the latest political moves is that Bako will not play any role of harm against Iran again. Consequently, Bashar Assad’s regime will become a reality although its advantages and disadvantages. According to the editorial, Turkey seeks to reshape its policies toward Assad after Turkey and Russia have reached a point of no return in hostility toward the Syrian opposition coalition. Turkey had long supported Jabhat Alnosra as a group of resistance until the failed coup, which is now considered, by Turkey a terrorist organization. On the other hand, NATO has become worried about the Turkish- Russian relations, especially the security of the nuclear weapons on Incirlik Base. Finally, The editorial praises the Iranian rejection of the coup in Turkey and its positive impact on the mutual relations between the two countries, which could pave the way for a trilateral coalition between Turkey, Russia, and Iran.
“Monopoly decimates the Iranian economy,” Jehan Sanaat highlighted the negative impact of monopoly on the Iranian economy due to the control of the sovereignty organizations over all aspects of life in Iran. The editorial states that cash flow is very high, and if only a small share of this liquidity is utilized properly, most economic problems will vanish, but the big amount goes for speculation sectors, especially gold and currency markets due to their low risk and high profitability. Although, this leads to the close down of many economic activities and confines them to governmental organizations. The editorial sees that transparency and competitiveness are effective to resolve the economic crisis and encounter monopoly. In fact, the problem in Iran is that political rivalry has a big impact on the economy, and the existence of the powerful organizations of the regime in the economic sectors would eliminate competition and destroy the national economy.
♦ Rouhani receives a letter from the Cuban President
Cuban vice-president Ricardo Cabrisas delivered a written message of President Raul Castro to Hassan Rouhani in which Castro expressed willingness to develop ties with Iran. Thanking the Cuban president for this message, Rouhani said that cultural commonalities of the two revolutionary peoples have led to strengthening ties between the two governments after the revolution, contributing to the two countries support of each other in the international communities. Rouhani also condemned the sanctions imposed by Washington on Iran saying that this is a false tool toward the independent nations of the world.
Cabrisas confirmed Havana’s desire of further development of ties with Tehran by removing the obstacles in the way. Referring to restoration of ties with Washington, Cabrisas said that after 50 years of resistance and Washington confessing of its false policies toward Havana, Cuba has won, stressing that this restoration of ties does not mean that ties are back to their normal state and the revolutionary and resistant people of Cuba very well know that this will not lead to the end of the US hostility.
Source: Sharq Newspaper.
♦ Zarif submits a regional proposal for Erdogan
Presidential Sources revealed information about a three-hour meeting of Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Al-Hayat Newspaper quoted from Iranian sources that Zarif submitted a proposal of a trilateral Turkish-Russian-Iranian meeting to discuss the Syrian crisis. The same sources denied Tehran’s willingness of to join Ankara to a coalition with Moscow and its allies; although, it had suggested the formation of a joint committee to discuss the Syrian problem, stressing that Erdogan will most likely visit Tehran in weeks to come.
Source: Jam News site.
♦ Minister of Communications: “MasterCard” service is activated in Iran
Communications Minister, Mahmoud Waezi said during the celebration of establishing a number of infrastructure projects for the Iranian Mail Company that the ministry has prepared all appropriate ground for IT and communications companies in order to improve e-trade and activate Master Card services.
Waezi said that the Iranian Mail Company has signed an agreement with Master Card Company to facilitate e-trade and traveling abroad, adding that Master Card would be distributed in all mail Company branches.
Source: Mehr Agency.
♦ Exportation of two million barrels of oil: the most important achievements of the nuclear deal
Chairperson of the Economic Committee in the parliament, Mohammad Reza Pour Ebrahimi said that the sixth improvement program is a main concern of the parliament and has been on the agenda of the economic committee for two weeks, stressing that the main priority is to meet people’s needs and solve economic problems. Ebrahimi said that in spite of all achievements, the basic structure of the economy has to be reviewed. He also added that the main challenge is the production and industrial units that are on halt or work with only 20-30% of their capacity, which amounted to 1600 units representing 50% of their total number. On the other hand, Ebrahimi stated that exceeding the barrier of two million barrels of oil is considered one of the economic positive impacts of the nuclear deal.
Source: Abrar Eghtesadi Newspaper.
♦ An Iranian citizen burned himself in front of Tehran municipality
Member of governing the body of Tehran Council, Abo Alfadl Qanaati, stated that an Iranian citizen has burned himself due to the refusal of his request for a loan from the municipality of Tehran. Tehran mayor responded positively, but some officials had rejected his request. Qanaati declared that burns are 20% in chest and hand.
Chief of strategic communications and international affairs Center of the municipality of Tehran, Shahram Giel Abadi has denied allegations of this person, stressing that he has burned himself due to psychological problems. He confirmed that he had requested the loan from the municipality of Tehran, but is is a job of the Committee of Solidarity and Rescue.
Source: Asr Iran site.
♦ Calling Ahmad Montazeri to court due to the release of the 1988 audio file of executions
After the release of the audio file of Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri and members of executions committee in 1988, Ahmed Montazeri has been called to court for investigation. Montazeri stated that he responded to all questions for three hours at Qum Court for clerics.
The audio file has been taken out from Montazeri’s website upon a request from the Ministry of Intelligence. He added that one of the accusations was the disclosure of regime secrets regarding that he was deputy commander at that time. Montazeri responded to the court saying that this document was published twenty years ago in his diaries, and rejected charges of assisting the MEK through the publication of this file. Montazeri has also confirmed another session at the clergy special court within the next two weeks.
Source: BBC Persian site.
