Politics
- Armed Forces General Staff Basij Affairs and Defense Culture Deputy BGMassoud Jazayeriaddressed the issue of some candidates commenting on national security matters: We have previously noted that it is better that the honorable candidates comment within the scope of the presidents authority and avoid entering into the arena of the armed forces, which is directly related to the countrys defense and national security affairs. There is aconstitutional right [for the armed forces] to deal with those candidates that have not adhered to these constraints and have engaged in a diffusion of incorrect information and severe pessimism, and we will defer [deal with them] until after the election.
- 2+1 Coalition memberGholam Ali Haddad Adelannounced his withdrawal from the presidential race. His withdrawal was positively received by Principlist party members who hope thatPrinciplistsare closer to unity.
- ReformistMohammad Reza Arefdenied rumors that he intends to withdraw his candidacy in favor of Hassan Rohani. Less than two hours after this announcement,Rohanicampaign spokesman Hojjat al-Eslam Jafar Fakhr Azar announced Arefs candidacy withdrawal. The head of Arefs election headquarters, Jafar Tofighi, then responded thatArefhas not made a final decision. Subsequently, the Construction Party Secretary Gholam HosseinKarbaschijust announced that that the reformist party has decided to back Rohani.
- 160 MPs endorsed presidential candidateAli Akbar Velayati.
- Kurdish Yaresanmembers, a religious minority, have staged demonstrations against the Kermanshah province governors office demanding equal rights.
Regional Developments
- After launching the Northern Storm operation, the Syrian army has reportedly gained control of Masadeh and Kalib Sour areas in eastern Hamah.
- Hamasspokesman Salah al-Bardavil affirmed the continuation of relations with Iran with the existence of Syrian events and Tehran and [Lebanese] Hezbollahs support of the Syrian government and joining them
- LebaneseHezbollahannounced that it is currently transporting missile and reconnaissance equipment to the Jabal region in southern Lebanon to establish bases in the area.
- Lebanese Hezbollah DeputyNaim Qassemstated, What is happening in Syria is not separate from the conspiracies against Lebanon and the region, and Syria is part of the American design for the Middle East.
- Three bombs exploded in anIraqifruit market in the vicinity of the city of Baquba, leaving fifteen dead and forty-six injured.
Diplomacy
- The Iranian Ambassador to Syria Mahmoud Reza Sajjadi announced that the Toor anti-aircraft system that Russia has proposed to replace the agreed uponS-300anti-aircraft missiles does not have the capability to secure Iranian defense systems.
- Ambassador to SyriaMohammad Reza Raouf Sheibani: Whether Iran does or doesn't participate in the Geneva II conference, it plays the main influential role in regional developments and they (the West) have no choice but to consider Iran's view and stance and the regional people's interests, otherwise their plans will fail.
Military and Security
- Senior Military Adviser to the Supreme Leader MGYahya Rahim Safavidiscussed regional issues:
- The Americans and the Zionist regime and some Arab countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, on behalf of the Americans, have tried to create a substitute Islamic Awakening in Syria. For this purpose they have deployed approximately 40,000 mercenary forces to Syria from the borders of Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan, and provided them political, financial, military, and propaganda support.
- "The victory of the Syrian army in al Quysar is the trump card for Bashar Assad in the Geneva II conference. Assad has had the full support of the Syrian people and [they] are furious with the violence [committed by] Al Qaeda terrorists and some Arab countries, which, by collaborating with the Zionist regime, has destabilized the lawful government of Bashar Assad, damaged the cities, and caused economic losses.
- Americas and the Zionist regimes policies and thebillions of dollars from Saudi Arabia and Qatar have failed in Syria, and now the Turkish government is facing protests in almost all of the countrys provinces. This shows that Turkey's policies toward its neighbor have been a mistake.
- Syria is a confrontation between the strategic policies of the worlds great powers and regional powers. For the world powers, the US is on one side and Russia and China are on the other. Iran is a regional power placed against the money and mercenaries of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
- In 2003, the Americans pursued a war in Iraq to bring to power a secular government hostile to Iran. With the alert [Iraqi] clergy, like Grand Ayatollah Sistani, the jihadi Iraqi people, and the Iraqi intellectuals and revolutionaries they were unable to [do this]. [Instead] a good constitution and parliament, and a good, popular, Muslim government was established in Iraq that has good relations with Iran.... By Gods grace now two great enemies of Iran, the Taliban and Saddam, have been removed, and the effects of victory in Syria are apparent.
- The Supreme Leaders strategic policies related to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria are the reason that Iran has become a regional power in Western Asia. The Americans, Zionists, and some Arab countries are extremely unhappy about this because it has shown the failure of Obamas policies in the region.
- Heretofore Iran has pursued power and influence out to the Mediterranean three times; one time during the era of Cyrus along with the liberation of Jerusalem, another time was during the era of Xerxes and the crossing of the Bosporus Strait and the Greek campaign. The third time is in the present period, during which the power of Lebanese Hezbollah, the long arm of Iranian defensive power, is placed at the head of the Zionist regime and has been formed as the strategic defensive power of Iran to confront a possible Zionist attack against Irans nuclear energy facilities. Just as the Supreme Leader said, If the Zionists make problems for Iran, Haifa and Tel Aviv will be razed to the ground."
- Coordination Deputy for the Supreme Leaders Representation to the IRGCBG Mohammad Hossein Sepehr: In these dangerous conditions, the IRGC and Basij have been given serious responsibilities to confront the enemies conspiracies against the Islamic Revolution, and in this way they must fulfill their duties within the framework of the Supreme Leaders guidance....The Iranian nation will again present its awareness and insight to the world by creating a political epic, which is the requisite for the economic epic, and will select the fittest candidate for the office of the president."
- NationalCyber SpaceCenter Deputy Ali Reza Shah Mirzai announced the cessation of cell phone visual communication capabilities until the time its cultural appendix has been approved.
- Head of theBasijOrganization BG Mohammad Reza Naghdi discussed Western hostility with Iran and stated, This imagination that the enemy is confronting us because of nuclear energy is a mistake. Did we have nuclear energy in 1979 and 1980 when they began the Imposed War [Iran-Iraq war] against the Iranian nation? He added, They have a problem with the Islamic religion. It has been years that the West has deceived public opinion, considered religion as an opium, and was active against the bases of religion by using its degenerate isms. But the Islamic revolution was able to foil their conspiracies, therefore, they fear Islamic Iran and the choosing of Islamic civilization by the worlds people and the entry into a new Islamic civilization.
- In a statement, the Armed Forces General Staff praised theIRGC:
- The IRGCs unique capabilities and determinant advantages in the areas of culture, politics, security, military, science and construction have strengthened the trend of improving the countrys deterrence power. By foiling regional and extra-regional intelligence [services] and controlling and intelligently managing rancorous attempts in the domestic environment, [the IRGC] has continuously made the enemies of the revolution and the system hopeless and unhappy in reaching their Satanic goals.
Economy
- TheGuardian Councilapproved the Parliaments fiscal budget without any alterations.
- Head of the Orchard Labor Union Mojtaba Shadlouannouncedthat fruit prices have reduced and will be stabilized.
By Iran Tracker
The Iran Project is not responsible for the content of quoted articles.
