Iran News Round Up

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

Diplomacy

• (F) Le Monde publishes notes from the Jalili-Burns meeting (h/t: Noah Pollak)
• (E) Iran denies U.S., West gave any deadline.
• (E) Turkey’s mediation rejected.
• Japan’s ambassador to Tehran suggests establishment of a Japanese garden in Tehran and a Persian garden in Tokyo.
• Diplomasi-ye Irani’s Karim Ja’fari says Syria’s proposal to mediate between Iran and the United States is indicative of Syria’s grand ambitions in the region.

Terrorism

• Lebanese Hezbollah’s number two man, Sheikh Nabil Ghavough, says Iran is the “Vatican of the Shi’as of the world” and says Hezbollah is not ashamed of the support it receives from Iran and Syria.
• Two members of Jundallah terrorist organization hanged in Zahedan.

Trade

• The Islamic Republic’s trade deficit has reached $10 billion.

Economy

• According to the Central Bank, 14 million Iranians live under the poverty line.
• Khatam al-Anbia Construction Base chief Commander Rostam Qasemi says the contracting arm of the Revolutionary Guards will soon engage in “industrial housing projects” to satisfy housing needs in the Iranian market. More here.
• (E) No change likely for exchange rate.

Politics

• Assadollah Badamchian, Mo’etalefeh faction member within the Iranian parliament, says governmental financial support for presidential candidates is unacceptable.
• Khatami social welfare minister Sharif-Zadegan criticizes the Ahmadinejad government’s scheme to distribute money among Iranian citizens.
• Former intelligence minister Younesi suggests a national unity government, criticizes incompetence of Ahmadinejad government ministers.
• Mo’talefeh’s Mohammad-Nabi Habibi says his faction supports the government in general, but preserves itself the right to criticize it.
• Speculation on Abdollah Nouri’s candidacy for president continues.
• Blackouts diminish parliamentary confidence in Minister of Energy.
• Minister of Communication risks a vote of no confidence.
• Former foreign minister Ebrahim Yazdi summoned to prison. More here.
• (E) Parliament mulling vote of confidence in Ahmadinejad’s nominees to be minister.
• A number of parliamentarians claim one of the three ministers presented by Ahmadinejad to the parliament has a U.S. Green Card.

Religion, Culture, and Society

• Alef News reports distribution of Bahai religious propaganda in Iran.

Military and Security

• Ayoub Soleymani, coordination chief of Basij, dismissed; Mohammad Farhadi takes his place.
• Presenting an allegedly “hitherto unknown submarine rocket” commander in chief of the Revolutionary Guards says Iran can close the Hormuz Strait for a very long time.
• (E) More.

Media

• Iranian journalist Isa Saharkhiz says there is only one reason why he gives interviews to BBC Persian: “There is no free tribune in Iran.”
• The Islamic Republic to launch a national intranet.

Photo of the Day

• Ahmadinejad speaks in parliament.