Editorials
– Siasat Rouz handled the American-Iranian nuclear deal objectives, asserting that the deal is a success for America and a failure for Iran
– Ebticar discussed the choices available for hard-liners concerning the presidential elections after excluding Ahmadinejad
News Roundup
– Iran and India to increase port cooperation
– Gas exports in South Pars field exceed 70 million barrels
– Banking talks between Iran and Greece
– 30% increase in the number of the arrested addicts in Iran
– Execution sentences cannot be repealed
– Iranian MPs take pride in supporting the Lebanese Hezbollah
Ebtikar newspaper
Scenarios facing the fundamentalists after Ahmadinejad exclusion
An editorial in today’s Ebtikar newspaper suggests several strategies which it said fundamentalists may use following the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei’s declaration that he has recommended that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a favorite of the fundamentalist lobby, should not run in next May’s presidential elections.
The editorial said that after the announcement of Khamenei’s recommendation, all doubts about Ahmadinejad’s possible candidacy were dispelled, and it was confirmed that he will not be standing for the next presidential elections. Without Ahmadinejad, fundamentalists face several possible scenarios, the editorial stated; while members of the ‘Steadfastness Front’, which Ahmad could introduce a new face as a nominee, Ahmadinejad’s absence would make a big difference to another candidate’s possible success. It is also possible that moderates, fundamentalists, and opponents of Ahmadinejad would join President Rouhani’s team to confront the fundamentalist hardliners and members of the ‘Steadfastness Front’.
A second possible scenario would see Ahmadinejad abandoning his own hopes of candidacy in order to support another candidate put forward by the ‘Steadfastness Front’. In this case, fundamentalist movements would be frozen, and their effectiveness reduced, with a likelihood that Ahmadinejad would focus his attention on local elections until he could return via holding local office at a future presidential election.
A third scenario is that fundamentalist hardliners would align themselves politically with Rouhani in return for his distancing himself from the reformist lobby, forcing reformists to seek a new candidate. The editorialist asserts that this is improbable, suggesting that the second scenario is more likely, but adding that Ahmadinejad and his team are unlikely to succeed in local elections since a large part of his popularity is linked to his former presidential status.
Indeed, a probable scenario is a combination of the first two scenarios put forward by the editorial, with fundamentalists backing an alternative candidate to Ahmadinejad, who is expected to stand in local elections. This scenario would be compatible with Ahmadinejad’s rhetoric, with the former president representing himself in one recent speech as a simple foot soldier for Iran, ready to serve his country in any location, and asserting that he does not mind whether he does so as president or mayor of Tehran (his former post). This statement alone is likely to win him millions of votes in Iran, where he routinely deploys similarly deceptive populist rhetoric to great effect.
Jahan sanaat newspaper
Ambiguity in credit cards
An editorial in Saturday’s Jahan sanaat newspaper discuss the introduction of state ‘credit cards’, a policy which the Rouhani government recently began to implement, with the Iranian government distributing these cards to enable Iranian citizens to shop for staple goods, with the government meeting the costs and the debt incurred to be paid off without interest after a specified period.
The editorial says that according to a statement by the Governor of Iran’s Central Bank, the goal of the project is to encourage greater demand for goods in the domestic market, and stimulate the economy to some extent.
The editorial asserts, however, that it seems that the government has been under pressure concerning this project and has failed to think it through properly, failing to offer a strong justification for the introduction of the cards or specifying a particular purpose for them, as well as failing to announce the resources available to cover this project or to consider the impact of the cards on the movement of imports.
If the government’s goal is to support the production process, the editorial suggested, and then it should first direct its attention to supporting domestic manufacturing, warning that if large numbers of these cards are used abroad, this could mean the entry of elements of capitalism into Iranian society.
The editorial failed to take into account the possible benefits to Iran in reducing Iranians’ reliance on smuggled goods, with the cards requiring stores to submit bills and certificates of origin for items sold using them. Only a limited number of locally produced items may be purchased with the new cards, which it is hoped will both stimulate domestic manufacturing and help to reduce the stockpiled goods which are currently being neglected in favor of foreign imports. There is an argument that the new project may require better organization and monitoring, but the cards seem to be a positive means of stimulating Iran’s economy and, if successful, could be rolled out to other countries facing similar economic recession.
Siasat Rouz newspaper
Has the nuclear agreement opened the way for Iran or America?
An editorial in Saturday’s Siasat Rouz newspaper analyzed the goals of Iran and the USA in the nuclear agreement, evaluating what has been achieved in the year since the deal was signed.
The editorial said that Iran’s primary objective in signing the nuclear deal was to avoid US economic sanctions and the prohibition of banking transactions, ending the ban on the export of oil and reclaiming funds frozen in US banks, as well as restoring international trade to normal levels and encouraging foreign investment. Many of these objectives have still not been reached, the editorialist points out.
Meanwhile, the editorial continues, the US’ objectives in the deal were far greater than what it has achieved to date. While Washington wanted a complete cessation of Iran’s nuclear activities, it is satisfied with what it is obtained from Iran to date.
Overall, the editorial concludes, the nuclear deal has been more successful in opening a path for the USA rather than Iran, though it adds that a large part of this failure should be attributed to Iran itself, as many of the sanctions are still in place due to the obstacles erected by the USA.
Despite the editorial’s claims, nobody can deny that Iran has recovered most of its frozen funds from the USA; these funds, however, have not been directed towards productive ends but to Iran’s military activities in the region or to importing unnecessary goods. Consequently, Iran has not been able to benefit from or brag about its gains from the nuclear deal.
♦ Iran and India to increase port cooperation
The Iranian Energy Minister Abbas Khavandi confirmed information about port and maritime navigation cooperation between Iran and India, adding that shipping lanes between the two countries will be working in the near future. Khavandi also said that he has negotiated the docking of the Iranian ships at Jawahir Lal Nehru port with the port’s staff.
Source: Mehr Agency
♦Economic cooperation between Iran and Oman
Iran and Oman have signed ten joint economic agreements; five with the private sector and another five with the public sector said the head of the representative office in the Iranian trade committee. He added that the Ministers of Trade and Industry in both countries have discussed the bilateral relations and the ways of strengthening them on all levels.
Source: ISNA Agency
♦An Iranian cleric killed in Aleppo
Mizan news agency announced the killing of the Iranian clergy Mohammed Bourhink in Aleppo battles and was buried in the city of Ree in Iran in Zahra’ Bahshat cemetery. Other Iranian news agencies also declared the killing of Revolutionary Guards individuals in the battles in Syria.
Source: Mizan Agency
♦Abdullahian: Proud of supporting Hezbollah
Advisor of the Iranian speaker for international affairs Hussein Amir Abdullahian claimed that Iran has a constructive policy in the region in countering terrorism. He added that Iran is the pillar of maintaining stability and security in the region, adding that his country is proud of supporting Hezbollah for fighting terrorism and Zionism at the same time. He also said that the American interference is behind all regional problems including the ISIS.
Source: Nameh Site
♦The number the arrested publically addicts is 30% up in Iran
During the “Week of security” being held in Iran, the Iranian security forces Commander Hussein Eshtari said that the number of the arrested publically addicts has increased 30% during the first six months of this year, but car accidents have declined 3% during the same period.
Source: Iranian security forces official site
♦Execution sentences cannot be repealed
In his meeting with Attorney Generals, and Revolutionary and military Prosecutors, first deputy of Judiciary Golam Hussein Mohsini Ajayi said that the execution sentences cannot be repealed, and sentences related to drugs smuggling must not be suspended for years after being issued, he added.
Source: Mehr Agency
♦Liquefied gas exports from South Pars field exceeded 70 million barrels
ISNA news agency said that South Pars Company has exported more than 76 million barrels of liquefied gas from March 21 up to now. Earlier, the company’s executive manager Mesut Husni informed Isna agency that the total exports rate of liquefied gas has increased 25%.
Source: ISNA Agency
♦The arrest of two shooters in Sarvan in Iran
Sarvan’s security forces commander Hussein Ali said that two drive-by shooters have been arrested, noting that three people injured in the shooting. 13 machine guns of Kalashnikov and Grinove types were seized from the shooters, he added.
Source: Arman Amroz Newspaper
♦Banking talks between Iran and Greece
During his visit to Greece, Iran’s Central Bank Governor, Waliuallah Saif held talks with his Greek counterpart to develop the economic cooperation between the two countries, especially banking relations. Saif also has met the Greek Prime Minister, Yanis Drakasakis and discussed ways of strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
Source: Abrar Eghtisadi Newspaper
♦The Turkish exports to Iran are 69% up
The Turkish exports to Iran have increased 69% during the past seven months compared with the same period of last year, amounting to $462 million. At the same time, the Iranian exports to Turkey have decreased 1%. On the other hand, statistics showed that trade exchange declined 7% during the first eight months of this year compared with the same period of last year between the two countries.
Source: Abrar Eghtisadi Newspaper
♦The German banking investments in Iran amount to 3 billion Euros
The Iranian Ambassador to Germany Ali Majidi said, on the sidelines of the German deputy counselor Sigmar Gabriel’s visit to Tehran that the German banking investments in Iran amount to 3 billion Euros. Five joint committees have been conducted during this visit and many cooperation agreements have been signed between the two countries, he added.
Source: ILNA Agency
♦Suicide in Caspian city
A young man has committed suicide in one of the Iranian Caspian city’s woods by hanging himself to death. Four thousand and twenty people committed suicide last year and the number is increasing this year, the newspaper revealed.
Source: Arman Amroz Newspaper
