Editorials
– Ebticar newspaper criticized Rouhani’s government, saying that it was formed under unusual circumstances.
– Etimad supports Zarif’s tough response to MPs.
News Roundup
– Iran starts exporting oil to Britain
– Iran sells 32 tons of heavy water to America
– The Assembly of Experts for the Leadership warns of negotiating with America
Etimad Newspaper
Foreign policy and fleeting domestic observations
An editorial in Monday’s Etimad newspaper endorsed the strong response in parliament by Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif to criticism by some MPs, asserting that his historic rebuttal of the parliamentarians’ complaints would decisively shut the door on disturbing disagreements between government officials who are increasingly classifying themselves into two pro-Western and pro-Russian groupings.
The editorial quoted parts of what they said was a blistering speech by Zarif, in which he said, “I ask you not to maim the revolutionary face of Iranian foreign policy for the sake of fleeting and insignificant observations in domestic politics. If there are any supporters of Iran’s enemies, they are those who are cynical about the regime’s policies. I am glad that those responsible for the resistance are the ones thanking me rather than you [directed at an unnamed MP]. I’m happy because the mature brothers Qassem Suleimani, Hassan Nasrallah, and Ramadan Abdullah call me every day to thank me for the path taken by Iranian foreign policy.”
Zarif emphasized that it is beyond doubt that the Iranian Foreign Ministry is implementing the policies of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, the government, and the Supreme Council for National Security, which is responsible for drawing up the operational plans to implement these policies.
The editorial said that the policies in question, including the negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group, Iran’s support of and coordination with other ‘revolutionary’ movements, and the strengthening of the country’s military capabilities, particularly its missiles, along with Tehran’s strategic cooperation with Russia, do not mean that any conciliatory approach has been adopted towards America and Europe, adding that nor does Russia’s use of the Hamedan airbase indicate a move towards the East.
Zarif’s words have, in fact, eradicated any illusions over the existence of a conflict or any difference between the government and Khamenei in the direction of Iran’s foreign policy, with his words clarifying that the roles are evenly distributed among them, the editorial asserted. It added that the development of Iran’s missile program is as much a pillar of reformists’ policy as of the conservatives.
Ebtikar newspaper
The structure of Government is out of context
An editorial in Monday’s Ebtikar newspaper criticized the government reshuffle, which Rouhani stated had taken place due to special circumstances. The editorialist suggested that the main objective of the reshuffle was to distribute power to favorites without considering their competence or experience for the positions in question.
The economic team of Rouhani’s government sees the new economic minister as having been selected unwisely, despite lacking any previous executive experience, the editorialist stated, adding that some ministers view their contribution as being more valuable than their cabinet colleagues and wish to take unilateral decisions without consulting the government coordination body in the belief that doing so would resolve part of the government crisis. However, the editorial states, monitoring of these ministers’ actions and statements show that their behavior is not consistent with the government’s proclaimed policy of opening the door to public criticism of its policies.
One of these ministers, said the editorialist, is the Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh who, despite working in government for many years, still acts in a manner befitting the state policies of the 1980s and ‘90s. Having been approved by the government coordination body to introduced currency controls which would regulate increases in cash flow to reduce inflation rates, Nematzadeh instead put pressure on banks to offer credit in coordination with a number of the would-be borrowers, including a number of individuals hostile to the government, the editorial stated. Given this move, the government will find it difficult to implement its project to provide $4.5 billion in monetary support to faltering and troubled manufacturers in Iran, with 7,500 businesses already approved for this funding. The same minister has signed a contract with the French Renault car manufacturers giving the Iranian state a 40 percent share in a car-manufacturing plant which Renault is set to build in Iran as a way to boost the country’s automotive industry. This is contrary to Article 44 of the Iranian constitution, which prevents the government from entering into private sector economic activities, the editorialist points out, adding that this constitutional article also contradicts the privatization policies of the current government.
Nematzadeh’s economic policy depends primarily on leaning heavily on bank resources and the general budget to provide cash liquidity to any institution requiring it, the editorialist states, asserting that the minister should avoid such policies. Meanwhile, the editorial continues, at a time when the government is seeking to avoid internecine strife between ministers, Nematzadeh continues his altercations with the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of Economic Affairs and the president’s advisor on economic affairs, and the head of Iran’s Central Bank.
It’s clear from the tone and content that the editorial is targeting Nematzadeh largely because of party affiliation and the newspaper’s own political ties. It is, after all, natural that the Iranian government would be keen to establish an automobile manufacturing partnership with a globally renowned vehicle manufacturer like Renault, especially since the automotive industry in Iran is state-owned. Meanwhile, there is no vehicle manufacturer with sufficient experience in the Iranian private sector to take the French company’s place, let alone one with sufficient capital and resources, although should such a company arise in the next few years, then Nematzadeh’s actions have dashed their hopes. It should also be noted that massive state investment is a key feature of the Iranian economy, particularly in partnership with foreign investors. As for pressure on banks to provide direct support to manufacturers, this is surely greatly preferable to expanding direct government borrowing, which led to unprecedented levels of domestic debt previously. In conclusion, the editorial reflects the state of partisan conflict in Iran, not due to different political visions or orientations, but simply because of conflicting interests and personal ambitions to profit at the expense of the state’s interests.
Shargh newspaper
Global concern over the choice between Clinton and Trump.
An editorial in Monday’s Sharq newspaper discusses global concerns over the results of the upcoming US presidential election, asking which of the candidates will help to resolve global issues.
The editorial states that Clinton has more political experience than Trump, with last week’s debate between the two candidates leaving Republicans expecting to face a major crisis in the upcoming election. The Republicans are already dividing into two teams, the editorialist adds, with one group apparently feeling unable to continue with the support of Trump as the party’s presidential candidate, while the other is searching for strategies to escape from the current impasse. Even Republicans believe that Trump lacks the primary requirements for the position of president, which are rationality and consistency in decision-making, including decisions which affect the USA’s domestic and international security, and an ability to avoid leadership decisions based on emotion.
This being the case, the editorial continues, Hillary should be trusted as the better of the two both by the American people and by the peoples of the rest of the world, especially given Trump’s great naivety, which makes him vulnerable to any external political machinations. The main one of these, the editorialist suggests, is the Zionist lobby, which could control Trump as easily as it wishes, as well as the Arab lobby, which has a strong presence in the US (from Iran’s perspective), with the editorial excluding the impact of the Obama administration on both groups since Obama came to power without the support of the Zionist lobby’s services or Arab support.
The editorialist asserts that Hillary Clinton will also enjoy the support of the Zionist lobby, as well as of Arabs, but suggests that she will not have a positive view of Iran’s domestic and foreign policies; despite this, however, she is at least unlikely to take decisions based on momentary emotions as with Trump.
The editorial further condemns Trump’s intransigent character, as well as his rude and provocative statements on important domestic and global issues, along his with his arrogant self-confidence, which meant that he was unprepared for the presidential debate and refused to listen to his advisors’ advice, making him seem neurotic and leading to his losing the debate.
While the Republicans understand the need to place their overall focus on Hillary Clinton’s weak points concerning US foreign policy, the editorial concluded, her election would be welcomed far more internationally than that of Trump.
♦ Iran starts exporting oil to Britain
Head of the International affairs in the national oil company, Muhsin Qamsari said that Iran has begun to sell oil to British companies, saying that the first shipment amounted to one million barrels of liquefied gas. He also said that Iran has exported two shipments of crude oil and liquefied gas to British companies after lifting the sanctions.
Source: Mehr Agency
♦ 3 thousand AIDS cases in Iran
Head of AIDS and venereal diseases prevention administration in the ministry of health said that 3195 cases have been detected in Iran since the beginning of the year, adding that there are 70% of the infected do not know they have the disease.
Source: Arman Amroz Newspaper
♦ Meeting between the Iranian Minister of Industry and the French Minister of Economics
During his visit to a car exhibition in Paris, Iran’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Metals, Mohammed Riza Ni’mat Zadeh has met the French Minister of Economics Michael Sabin. They discussed the trade and industrial relations and ways of strengthening them between the two countries.
Source: Tijarat Newspaper
♦ Iran sells 32 tons of heavy water to America
Head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Agency, Ali Akbar Salehi stated that 32 tons of heavy water have been sold to America and another 38 tons to Russia. He added that French and German companies are willing to buy the Iranian heavy water and have made requests concerning that. Iran can produce 20 tons of heavy water every year, and according to the joint work plan, Iran can have up to 130 tons of heavy water as strategic reserves, he said. In the next 50 years the Iranian consumption of heavy water in the industrial field will be 250 tons, Salihi concluded.
Source: Etilaat Newspaper
♦ Economic meeting between Iran and Germany in Tehran
The trade and economic meeting between Iran and Germany have started today. The German delegation consisted of 160 persons accompany the German Minister of Economy and Energy, Seigmar Gabriel. President of the Iranian-German chamber of trade and industry, Ranah Aeron said that trade exchange between Iran and Germany amounted to 2.5 billion Euros in 2015 and is expected to increase in 2017.
It is noted that Germany is ranked fifth after China, The UAE, South Korea, and Turkey in exportation to Iran.
Source: IRNA Agency
♦ Mutahari rejects the inappropriate treatment of Zarif to an MP
“Language that undermines the parliament should not be used,” Deputy speaker of the Iranian parliament, Ali Mutahari said. He added that the statements of the foreign minister and MP Javad Karim Qudousi during Sunday’s session are inappropriate and should not be used in the Parliament, asserting that any MP has the right to discuss all public and governmental affairs, in response to the Foreign Minister’s statement of not responding to the MPs questions. Finally, Mutahari considered Zarif’s statement as a slip of the tongue and did not mean it.
Source: Mashrigh Site
♦ The Iranian navy has the highest level of combat readiness
Commander of group 43 of the Iranian navy, Brigadier Mustafa Tajaldini said that the Iranian navy has the highest level of combat readiness to defend the Iranian lands. He added that Iran has benefitted from the friendly countries to enhance its fighting capabilities.
The Iranian army, group 43 includes the heavy “Laon” ship for transporting military forces, the military support ship Kanark, two missile ships Khanjar and Flakhin that docked at Karachi port in Pakistan last Tuesday and left after holding a military exercise with the Pakistani navy.
Source: Tin News Site
♦ Assembly of Experts for the Leadership warns of negotiations with the U.S.
The joint session of the Presidential Commission and Assembly of Experts for the Leadership committees has ended up with a final announcement criticizing the American failure to meet its nuclear deal commitments, calling for a decisive action by the Iranian government toward this issue.
Source: Shargh Newspaper
♦ America has failed to meet its nuclear deal obligations
Member of the nuclear deal supervisory board, Ali Akbar Vilayeti said that this committee holds regular meetings with the presence of President Rouhani. He added that the President referred to the American violation of its commitments in his speech in the United Nations, asserting that Tehran always sticks to its commitments but the U.S. has a history of breaking its commitments such as the cases of Afghanistan and Iraq, which led to its de defeat in these two countries.
Source: Arman Amroz Newspaper
