[Thanks to Ali Alfoneh for his compilation; (E) signifies an English-language link]
Military and Security
- The Revolutionary Guards Navy stages war games in the Persian Gulf. More here.
- The Revolutionary Guards tests its latest military acquisitions in war games in the Persian Gulf.
- Speaking in Malaysia, Ahmadinejad claims Iran will soon launch a domestic-made satellite into space with an Iranian-made delivery system.
- Ahmadinejad’s speech.
- Kayhan publishes quotes by founder of the Islamic Republic Grand Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini stressing the necessity of the Revolutionary Guards involvement in disarming the “counterrevolutionaries.”
- Revolutionary Guards to be supplied with “intelligent” armaments and cluster bombs.
- Seyyed Mahmoud Alavi, representative of the Supreme Leader and head of the Ideological-Political Bureau of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, appoints Morteza Maddah and Mohammad-Ali Salajegheh Ansari respectively as heads of the Ideological-Political Bureau of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, and Islamic Republic of Iran Navy.
- Seyyed Mohammad-Reza Vahedi appointed deputy chief of Cultural and Public Relation office of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army.
- Amir-Ataollah Moghaddami is appointed senior technological-information advisor of the Ideological-Political Bureau of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army.
- Mrs. Khod-Khorouj, head of the Women’s Basij of Tangestan, explains the activities of her group. Revolutionary Guards commander Col. Mad-Malil, chief of Reconstruction Jihad of Khuzestan province, explains the latest activities of his organization.
- Revolutionary Guards Commander Hossein Hamedani, who is also deputy chief of the Basij, delivers a speech at Ghamar-e Bani-Hashem Division of Chahar-Mahal and Bakhtiari province.
- Mehdi Jamshidi, deputy chief of the Ghamar-e Bani-Hashem Army of Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari province, talks to the local Basij militia members.
- Revolutionary Guards commander Colonel Alavi, chief of Cultural Basij of Khuzestan Basij Resistance Zone says his organization has attracted 20,000 members.
- One hundred members of the Administrative Basij of Chahr Mahal va Bakhtiari province visit the war zone from the Iran/Iraq war era.
- Hojjat al-Eslam Shoushtari, representative of the Supreme Leader in Shushtar [Biblical Susa], convenes a Quran reading class at the Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini Basij Base of Shushtar.
- Commander Saffari, chief of the Revolutionary Guards Navy, says the largest part of his headquarters has been relocated to the Persian Gulf region coastal areas.
- (E) Iran says U.S. naval ship fled Persian Gulf, relocated to Arabian Sea, as a result of Iranian threats.
Politics
- Kargozaran analyzes rumors on changes in the cabinet.
- Abrar: Acting minister of interior Hashemi to be appointed minister of interior?
- Tabnak: Rouhollah Hosseinian is the candidate to interior ministry.
- Director General of the Ministry of Roads refutes rumors of his minister’s resignation.
- Rahmati, Minister of Roads, resigns.
- Provincial governor of Kerman says he has not been informed of his own dismissal.
- Provincial governor of Markazi province says he does not know if he has been dismissed.
- Ghanimi-Fard, head of petroleum sales in petroleum ministry, is dismissed.
- According to Raja News, sources of emulation Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi and Ayatollah Sobhani support the values of the Ahmadinejad government.
- According to E’temad-e Melli, Rahmani-Fazli who is to be appointed as head of Supreme Audit Court, is a Larijani ally.
- Public Relations Bureau of the Expediency Council refutes rumors of Ayatollah Rafsanjani having supported any presidential candidate.
- According to Alef News Agency, former president Mohammad Khatami has activated his campaign headquarters for presidential elections.
- Former reformist parliamentarian Asgharzadeh is potential presidential candidate.
- Legislative proposal for lowering the age of voters for presidential elections ignored.
- Shahrvand-e Emrooz interviews the former Basij activist Bazrpash, who also is the youngest executive director in the Islamic Republic.
- Hojjat al-Eslam Do’a-Gou says the entire Palizdar affair was a conspiracy to marginalize the clergy from politics in Iran.
Diplomacy
- Ahmadinejad declares his readiness to participate in an open debate with U.S. presidential candidates.
- In an open letter to the G8, Ahmadinejad says the global power of the United States is decreasing.
- Ahmadinejad: Israel and America don’t have the capability to attack Iran.
- Ahmadinejad says Bush’s threats are like funny jokes.
- Ahmadinejad: “Israel is destructible…we don’t need to attack them, they are doomed and they know it themselves…Zionists are not Jews. The fact that they call themselves Jews is a big lie.”
- (E) Condoleezza Rice interviews with Radio Farda
- Ahmadinejad suggests creation of a common Islamic currency.
- A number of individuals involved in selling of the residence of the Somali ambassador to Tehran without the knowledge of the ambassador, are arrested.
- A foreign ministry official of Afghanistan refutes the espionage allegation against an Iranian citizen.
- Italian foreign minister: “Italian authorities’ failure to meet Ahmadinejad at the FAO meeting was the reason behind the Islamic Republic’s recall of its ambassador to Rome.”
- Foreign ministry says “Execution of the Pharaoh,” film celebrating assassination of former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, does not express the official stance of the Islamic Republic.
- Islamic Republic authorities try to avoid crisis in Iran-Egypt relations after release of a film attacking former Egyptian president Sadat.
- According to Aftab-e Yazd, Iran’s share of the Iraqi market is decreasing.
- Diplomasi-ye Irani’s Mahnaz Zahirnezhad says Iran should consider Iraq as both an opportunity and also a potential rival.
- Raja News character assassinates Iranian exiles in the United States who cooperated with the Islamic Republic.
- (E) Alleged Israeli spy talks about Mossad methods.
Terrorism
- Mehr News claims Mojahedin-e Khalq leader Masoud Rajavi has been arrested in Amman, Jordan.
- Tabnak News claims the British government’s threats of extradition of Nasrollah Tajik to the United States are revenge for taking British sailors hostage.
- (E) Former Pakistan General says U.S. supports Baluchi terrorists to destabilize Iran.
Nuclear Issue
- Naser Khadem: “I’m not saying one should not defend the interests of the nation, but playing with the destiny of the country in the nuclear issue is not wise…I also believe the government is hiding its incompetence in the shadow of the nuclear crisis.”
- Ahmadinejad says Iran will not stop enrichment of uranium.
- In an interview to a Japanese newspaper, Ahmadinejad says he is ready to negotiate but only if the circumstances are just.
- (E) Proposes nuclear disarmament of the United States.
- Kayhan editor Shariatmadari says there is no reason not to negotiate with the 5+1 Group.
- Foreign minister Mottaki says he is more optimistic about prospects for nuclear negotiations.
- Jalali, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, discusses the nuclear issue with his Russian counterpart.
- Putin has phone conversation with Ahmadinejad and expresses hope that the nuclear negotiations bear fruit.
Religion, Culture, and Society
- As a part of a new Islamic propagation scheme, theological seminaries of Qom send out un-turbaned students to propagate Islam among youth.
- Davoud Ranjbaran, cultural advisor of the Supreme Leader’s office, says 66 percent of university students participate in group prayers.
- Executive director of Mehr-e Emam Reza Charity Foundation says 1.6 million Iranians have been provided marriage loans.
- Ghara-Kelisa Armenian church included in UNESCO list of historical sites in Iran.
- (E) More, in English.
- Deputy of Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance says censorship of books guarantees the cultural health of the society.
- E’temad-e Melli discusses censorship in Iran.
- Kayhan praises the societal security scheme of the Law Enforcement Forces
- Ayatollah Moqtadayee demands active and direct presence of theological seminaries in cultural affairs.
- Ayatollah Khaz’ali, who has been criticized by Palizdar, explains the wealth of his nephew.
- Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) to be introduced in Iran.
Trade
- U.S. exports to Iran have grown during the presidency of George W. Bush.
- Provincial governor of Khuzestan says that, under current circumstances, there is no electricity at all to export to Iraq.
- Seyyed Mahmoud Abtahi appointed chief of Iranian Tobacco Company.
- Malaysian businessmen invest in Chabahar.
- A member of the executive board of the National Iranian Oil Company says in case there are no investments in Iranian oil infrastructure, production will decrease 300,000 barrels per year.
- Russia, China and a number of European firms declare their readiness to participate in electrification of Iran’s railroad.
Economy
- Abrar News publishes prices of daily food products in the Iranian market.
- E’temad-e Melli reports weekly increase of prices.
- According to World Bank, Iran’s economic growth is 5.5 percent.
- E’temad-e Melli urges the authorities to do something about increasing liquidity in the Iranian market.
- Minister of trade claims withdrawals from the foreign exchange reserve will not increase liquidity in the Iranian market.
- Mehr-e Reza Charitable Foundation says it will not grant loans for housing.
- Alef News Agency wonders why no documentation on the economic reform schemes of the Iranian president has been published.
- Vanayee, member of the Economics Committee of the Iranian parliament, praises the courage of the Iranian president because of his plans to reform the economy.
- Acting Finance Minister Semsami presents his economic program.
- Elias Naderan evaluates the Islamic Republic’s reactions to economic sanctions against Iran.
- Alef News Agency discloses that Ahmadinejad’s proposals to transform subsidies into direct transfer of cash to all citizens was a recommendation by the World Bank in 2003.
Human Rights and Labor
- Kayhan tries to assassinate the character exiled student activist Ahmad Batebi.
Media
- After banning of Tehran-e Emrooz, the entire editorial team of the newspaper will be transferred to a new newspaper with an unannounced name.
Photo of the Day
[Errata: In July 7’s Iran News Round Up, I referred to Sadeq Kharrazi as Kamal Kharrazi’s brother. Another Washington-based analyst writes in to say he is the nephew].