Iran News Round Up

[Thanks to Ali Alfoneh for his compilation; (E) signifies English link]

Political

Friday prayers leader of Shiraz praises the Iranian president’s stance on interest rates in the banking system as usury and likens Ahmadinejad with the child in Hans Christian Andersen fairly tale character who shouted “the Emperor has no clothes.”
Newly appointed provincial governor of Kerman Habibollah Dah-Mardeh: “When ever I’m provided with an official position in the Islamic Republic, as my first deed, I sacrifice a camel.”
Dah-Mardeh added: “In the system of the Lord, I am nothing but an insect.”
Dismissed provincial governor of Kerman, Raoufi-Nezhad says that rumors on his leaving office predated his appointment.
Raoufi-Nezhad said it was because of “order of the Supreme Leader,” that he abandoned his duties in the Revolutionary Guards and took the responsibility of governorship of Kerman.
Answering the question if he will run for presidency former president Mohammad Khatami answers: “Despite my decision being clear for me, the future will show the answer.”
Khatami theoretician Aghajari explains the obstacles to of the reform movement.
Presidential advisor Mojtaba Hashemi Samareh says Ahmadinejad will appoint new ministers after the Ramadan holidays.
The Iranian parliament warns the president that the Ministry of Economy and Finance can no longer be run by an acting minister and that he must appoint a minister.
Parliamentarian Mousa Ghorbani says acting economy minister Semsami’s signature is no longer valid and a new minister must be appointed.
Rumors of first vice president Davoudi being appointed as Minister of Economy and Finance.
Appointment of new director-generals in Ministry of Interior.
Salman Khodadadi whose election to the parliament has been declared invalid, says he will never say anything which would make the enemies of the Supreme Leader happy.
Iran Freedom Movement accuses Voice of America Persian of revising history of the Islamic Republic and especially the role of Ebrahim Yazdi, one time confidante of Khomeini and foreign minister of the Islamic Republic.
Mardomsalari’s Ravanbakhsh ridicules the latest television interview of the Iranian president.
Ansar News Agency publishes comments of Iranian blogger activist Hossein Derakhshan attacking Iranian student activist Ahmad Batebi.

Religion, Culture, and Society

Source of Emulation Grand Ayatollah Eshagh al-Fayyaz issues a fatwa allowing surgeries “restoring virginity of girls” in case of illicit sex prior to marriage. The edict aims to preserve the honor and dignity of the family and clans involved.
Masjed-Jame’i, former minister of culture and Islamic guidance and now a member of Tehran Islamic City Council, proposes a day believed to be the anniversary of the eighth Imam of the Shi’as Reza’s passing through the city Yazd as the “national day of Yazd.”
The former minister also stresses the necessity of the Islamization of the arts in order to adjust them into the beliefs of the Iranian society.
Tourist merchandise vendors attack municipality authorities with knives at Ganjnameh near Hamadan after the authorities attempt to clean up the place.
According to the latest HIV/AIDS statistics 17,815 Iranians are infected and 2,636 Iranians have died of the disease.

Diplomacy

(E) John Kerry and Joe Biden welcome contact with Iran.
Ansar News Agency, mouthpiece of the Ansar-e Hezbollah vigilante organization, republishes the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s words that it is the Iranian president who presides over the nuclear portfolio.
(E) Geneva talks to resume in two weeks.
Member of the Expediency Council and Rafsanjani protégé Rowhani says U.S. participation in negotiations is a sign of withdrawal from earlier U.S. positions.
Alef News publishes a translation of a Financial Times article in which Iranian Ministry of Interior guarantees the security of U.S. diplomats should they establish an Interest Section in Tehran.
Vice president Esfandiyar Rahim-Mashayi head of the Cultural Heritage Organization says: “We are not engaged in war with anyone in the world. We have defended our country for 8 years, but did not wage war for a single day.”
“Today, Iran is friends with
the people of America and Israel. No nation in the world is our enemy…” Ending his speech Mashayi expressed hope to see a day when no one needs a visa to visit Iran.
Alef News wonders how and why Syria desires to mediate between the U.S. and Iran in a situation when the country is alienating Iran by its openings towards Israel.
Foreign minister Mottaki welcomes Syria’s mediation offer between Iran and the U.S., Turkey offers to mediate in the nuclear issue.
(E) Iran loses basketball match with Dallas Mavericks.

Economy

Former parliamentarian and economist Sobhani warns against cash transfer of oil revenue to private bank accounts, the basis of the government’s proposed reform of the subsidy system; says it will cause more inflation.
Head of the Islamic Republic’s Statistics announces census as a part of economic reform plan of the government.
Special Ramadan bonus packages to public servants.
Pensioners covered by the Social Welfare Organization to receive a monthly 200,000 rial ration cards.

Trade