Editorials
– Ebtikar newspaper handles the Syrian war after the Turkish-Russia-Iranian rapprochement, in addition to the impact of the American elections on the Nuclear Deal.
– Jehan Senaat discusses Zarif’s’ visit to Latin America.
Political
– The arrest of a member of the nuclear negotiations team for spying accusations
– Reformists meeting to support Rouhani
– Rafsanjani’s daughter supports Larijani
– Five killed in a gas pipeline explosion
Economics
– Cutting financial aids off 30 million people
Social
– The arrest of social media networks managers
Sharq Newspaper
“US elections and the nuclear deal”
An editorial in Wednesday’s newspaper discusses the 2015 nuclear deal between the US and Iran and the impact of the upcoming US elections on it, especially in the case of a victory by a candidate opposing the deal. These questions are being asked in the US as much as Iran. In March 2016, 47 senators led by Tom Cotton issued a statement directed at Iranian officials emphasizing that the nuclear deal is not mandatory, with the incoming US president able to revoke it by a single pen stroke. There is, of course, debate in Iran itself surrounding the deal, especially after Zarif’s message to the US State Department and US Law Faculties. The Iranian position is based on the United States’ inability to cancel the deal given its status as an international treaty documented by the UN Security Council, with officials stating that if the deal were canceled, this would hurt the international credibility of the United States, and lead to the world’s questioning the US commitment to international agreements. Many Democrats in the US Congress are determined to maintain the nuclear deal and have stated that they would continue their support for the deal, even under a Republican presidency. November’s presidential election in the US will coincide with the 34-seat Senate elections, with most of these seats expected to go to Democrats, giving the Democrat party a safe majority in the Senate. It is clear that Iran fears the possibility of a Republican President being elected, relying heavily on a Democrat majority in the House of Representatives and US Senate. The editorial ignores the fact that that Democrats’ stance on the nuclear deal is not unified, with the possibility of a cross-party rejection of the deal increasing according to future developments. In general, the US-Iranian relationship will be negatively affected by an incoming US Republican president, with even the Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton unlikely to adopt Obama’s lenient policy towards Iran.
Ebtikar Newspaper
“Syria: one equation and a thousand variables”
The Syrian crisis will be a long-term war with numerous variable factors, according to an editorial in Ebtikar, which stated that the war will not end but will simply move forward in stages. In one side, the editorial stated, armed groups, which receive support from one of the Arab states or Turkey or the West, bring fighters from all over the world to participate in the Syrian war. On the other hand, the Free Syrian Army, ISIS, and Kurdish militants have been able to liberate several cities from ISIS. The recent major change in Turkish foreign policy, especially with Russia, has affected the war in Syria, with attention moving from Aleppo to north-eastern Syria where Kurdish fighters who liberated Manbej city from ISIS enjoy the protection and support of the United States, while Turkey refuses to countenance the establishment of a Kurdish state in Syria. Following successive victories by Kurds and the expulsion of Bashar al-Assad’s forces from Hasaka, the United States has announced the establishment of a small American military base in Hasaka to support the Kurds, which has increased Turkey’s anger. Following the recent developments, Turkey is expected to announce a new official stance on the conflict in Syria shortly. Turkish refusal to form a separate homeland for Kurds is the first priority concerning this issue for Ankara, with Turkey’s administration fearing the possibility of Kurdish separatism given that Turkey’s 25 million Kurds makeup around one-third of the Turkish population and occupy around 40 percent of the country. While Turkey has accepted the existence of Iraqi Kurdistan, therefore, it is difficult for it to tolerate the existence of an independent homeland for Kurds in Syria too.
Jehan Senaat
“Former backyard of the United States,”
An editorial in today’s Jehan Senaat concerning Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif’s current tour to several countries in South America says that the current situation in South America is far from what the US had hoped it might be. After Iran strengthened its relations with South American nations, particularly in the Ahmadinejad era, these relations have gone from strength to strength, particularly wish Venezuela and Cuba, the article continued; pointing out that Ahmadinejad had warm personal friendships with the now-deceased Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and the Bolivian President, Evo Morales. Rouhani is now further enhancing Iran’s relations with South America after a period of cooling when Iranian foreign policy moved away slightly from its ties in the region. Zarif’s tour includes six South American countries, though he seems less keen on Chile and Ecuador since they are felt to have adopted a pro-American stance, while the other four nations, Cuba, Nicaragua, Bolivia, and Venezuela, are felt to be more anti-American and counter the US policies. The editorial in the reformist-leaning newspaper sees Zarif’s tour as having limited economic advantages for Iran given these countries’ limited economic capabilities, warning that it may even lead to harsher American policies towards Tehran. It adds, however, that conservatives have welcomed Zarif’s tour of South American nations; hailing it as a positive diplomatic move in the face of concerns over a possible US cancellation of the nuclear deal should a Republican candidate be elected to the presidency.
♦ Reformists meetings with Rouhani to prepare for elections
Some reformist activists have recently met the Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani to discuss the upcoming presidential elections and other issues that concern the country such as Mohammed Khatami and Mousavi Lari. Other reformists like to convey their messages and demands to the president through Hashemi Rafsanjani and Hassan Khomeini, while other meetings were held with first vice president Isaac Jihangeri
Source: Aftab News
♦ Cutting financial aids off 30 million people
Minister of social affairs, Ali Robei’I announced that the Iranian parliament has approved cutting financial aids off 200 thousand people during the first five months of this year. According to this report, the government is planned to cut aids off 30 million people this year, asserting that such programs were conducted incorrectly and 80% of that denied assistance have not made any complaint so far.
Source: Quds Newspaper
♦ Faiza Hashemi; Some reformists and governmental officials support Larijani
Member of the central committee for “Labor Workers” party Faiza Rafsanjani, in a meeting with the “People’s Will” party, handled the issue of “Parties and the future of reforms,” in addition to the betrayal of some reformists. In reference to the elections of the 26th of last February for the Shura Council and the Assembly of Experts for the Leadership, she said, “Reformists can achieve majority through planning and gathering, but they are divided and some of them support Larijani, which has a negative impact on us”
Source: Jam Jam Newspaper
♦ 15% growth rate in the German exports to Iran
Official trade statistics show that the German exports of machinery and equipment to Iran have increased during the first half of the current year after lifting the sanctions that were imposed on Tehran. The German Statistics administration declared that German exports to Iran have increased 15% in compare with last year that amounted to 1.13 billion Euros. Moreover, Head of Iranian-German chamber of commerce, Michel Tocas, asserted that exportation to Iran will increase during the coming months, and they will achieve 25%-30% growth next year.
Source: Tafahum News
♦ Big change in the Turkish-Iranian trade in light of the Nuclear Deal
Turkish trade counselor and head of Imports Assembly of Tehran discussed the future of trade exchange between the two countries. The Turkish Counselor, Jankiz Corsel, stated that their goal is to eliminate all obstacles facing trade between the two countries, and they are working on transferring money that was banned during sanctions.
Source: Abrar Eghtesadi Newspaper
♦ Iranian soldier commits suicide in Khash city
An Iranian soldier of border guards committed suicide in Khash city in Sistan and Baluchistan province. The source mentioned that the soldier might have psychological and family problems, or borders operations phobia.
Source: Tabnak Site
♦ The arrest of a nuclear negotiator on accusations of financial corruption
Ali Diri Asfahani, a member of the nuclear negotiations team in the government of Rouhani with the six major countries was arrested for accusations of financial corruption. Asfahani was among a team responsible for studying the other party’s commitments in the Nuclear Deal, especially the banking sector. It is noted that this person has a dual nationality and has received the second class service medal from Rouhani. Tehran’s Attorney General, declared the arrest of a dual-nationality person last week, while the information of the arrest of a member of the nuclear Deal team on espionage accusations was denied by the foreign ministry.
Source: Watan Emroz Newspaper
♦ A group of the Iranian external opposition travels secretly to Tel Aviv
Quds center for public affairs (JCPOA) revealed that an Iranian opposition delegation traveled secretly to the occupied land in Palestine last week, and discussed the future of Iran after the Nuclear Deal with experts of this center. Although the identities of this delegation were supposed to remain confidential, two of the Israeli experts they met revealed the conclusions of the session and the need for negotiations between the Israeli experts and the Iranian researchers living abroad. The Israelis sought to discuss the impact of the Nuclear Deal on the Middle East and on the international community. Most participants believe that Iran will violate its commitments as soon as it achieves economic growth, meanwhile, the Iranian opposition believes that Iran will never give up its nuclear ambitions.
Source: Fares Agency
♦ Russia continues advisory cooperation for Bushehr Plant1 Maintenance
Sputnik news agency revealed that one of the governmental company sectors, Russ Atom, will continue its advisory cooperation with Iran to maintain Bushehr Nuclear plant
Source: ISNA Agency
