A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by AEI Critical Threats Project Iran Analyst Mehrdad Moarefian with contributors Chris Rawlins and Diana Timmerman.

Official Statements

• National Security and Foreign Policy Parliamentary (NSFP) Commission Chairman and MP Alaeddin Boroujerdi addressed a gathering in Lorestan:
  
  
  
  • “Iran is now among the world’s top seven countries in the field of nanotechnology.”
  
  
  • “Iran’s determination in achieving nuclear technology triumphs America’s and its allies’ attempts at circumventing this goal.”
  
  
  • “Despite sanctions imposed on Iran in recent decades it has a large quantity of science degrees and is part of the top countries in the world…at the height of sanctions and political pressure Iran has been very successful.”
  
  
  • “Iran is the only country that has been able to maintain its stability and that is because of the depth of our Islamic culture and guardianship.” (ISNA)
  
  
  
  

• NSFP Commission Spokesman Hossein Naghvi Hosseini spoke concerning Wednesday night’s attacks in Saravan, which left four Iranian officers dead:
  
  
  
  • “The National Security Commission has sent a special commission to investigate the terrorist attack.”
  
  
  • “In the wake of the terrorist attack in Saravan and with the deaths of four police officers it was decided to quickly dispatch a special mission of this Commission to the scene.” (Tasnim News Agency)
  
  
  
  

• Burial services for two of the four officers killed in Saravan, Morteza Maliki and Parviz Keykhaei, were held after Friday prayers in the Sistan region. (Fars News Agency)

• Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy Commander Brig. Gen. Ali Fadavi stated that the nature of the enmity between America and Iran is the same as the nature between right and wrong, and that American actions have backfired:
  
  
  
  • “In the years 87 and 88 when America realized that Iraq and other countries could not defeat Iran, they entered the Persian Gulf with their dollars and men to fight against Iranians. In those years Iran did not have the means to go to war with America, however, due to the strengths of a man of God, when a man becomes bound with God his strength is limitless.” (Sepah News)
  
  
  
  

• Arab and African Affairs Deputy to the Foreign Minister Hoseein Amir Abdollahian said the US airstrikes in Syria are politically motivated, adding:
  
  
  
  • “The illegal and maddened airstrikes by America in Syria will have no other result other than strengthening extremists in the region.”
  
  
  • “If America is honest, instead of targeting the center of Syria’s oil and gas infrastructure, they would use the international financial system to create obstacles for ISIL [funding].” (ISNA)
  
  
  
  

• Deputy Foreign Minister Abdollahian also discussed Iran’s ongoing talks with Turkey with regards to ISIL and military operations in Syria. Abdollahian said:
  
  
  
  • “Negotiations over the situation in Syria are going on with Tehran and Ankara trying to find a solution to the crisis in Kobani.”
  
  
  • “The Islamic Republic of Iran will work within the same international legal framework that it did in aiding Syrians in their fight against terrorists, to provide any necessary support to the Kurds of Kobani.”
  
  
  • “During our preliminary consultations with Turkey, we have found out that this country does not seek escalation of crisis in the region and we hope it would play a positive role in this regard.”
  
  
  •  “Regional talks are underway over this issue and we hope a serious measure will be taken.” (IRNA)
  
  
  
  

• Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei went on his first hike since he underwent surgery for his prostate in September. Khamenei, who reportedly likes to hike in the mountains of Northern Tehran, said: “This Friday hike was recommended by my physician who said physical exercise could help the recovery process.” (Press TV)

• Tehran Interim Friday Prayer Leader Kazem Sadighi spoke of American Islam and stated that the American coalition against ISIL is an “obvious deception” and clumsy:
  
  
  
  • “Pure Mohammadian Islam is distinct from American Islam, this is what the Supreme Leader has said along with his initiatives, in this Islam there is service and commitment, while American Islam and that of the big powers is unhealthy, isolated, and lacks commitment.”
  
  
  • “Our Revolutionary Islam and guardianship show the line of authority for Islam.”
  
  
  • “The Coalition of America and several Arab countries in the guise of combating terrorism is an obvious and clumsy deception.
  
  
  • “The city of Kobani has been ravaged and they want to show that Islam is a religion of cruelty, this is the work of America.” (Fars News Agency)
  
  
  
  

• Sistan va Baluchistan Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) Commander Brig. Gen. Hossein Rahimi announced that 14 people have been arrested in connection with the Saravan attacks. (Tasnim News Agency)

• LEF Commander Brig. Gen. Esmail Ahmadi Moghaddam spoke at a ceremony commemorating the Police Forces week:
  
  
  
  • “Police jihad efforts, authority, and effectiveness are the themes of this week.”
  
  
  • “There has been an overall reduction in crime and terrorist acts including murder, rape, kidnapping, and armed robbery.”
  
  
  • “Countries that support terrorism have already expressed their frustration with grand gestures…we stand ready to confront terrorism.” (Fars News Agency)
  
  
  
  

• Artesh Khatam ol-Anbia Air Base Commander Brig. Gen. Amir Farzad Esmaili spoke at an assembly of commanders, officers and workers of Tehran’s Traffic Police about Iran’s air defense and passing the airspace of nuclear sites, said:
  
  
  
  •  “This year we have had 1,600 aircraft warnings.”
  
  
  • “The air defenses surrounding the nuclear regions are sensitive, and whoever wants to go to these places will face hard repercussions.” (Tasnim News Agency)
  
  
  
  

• International and Legal Affairs Deputy to the Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke about the trilateral meetings that will take place October 15 between Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Secretary of State John Kerry, and EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton:
  
  
  
  • “Nuclear talks will resume in Vienna next week on Tuesday and Wednesday…these talks will cover topics such as how to fix the boycotts and sanctions and nuclear enrichment, and we hope to solve the problems between the P5+1.”
  
  
  • “The opportunity to complete the negotiations is until November 24.”
  
  
  • “The time is rapidly passing, and still it is not hopeless until we get to the 24 of November, and if this next round is not enough to get results, we will definitely not reach a final result by [the deadline].”
  
  
  • “There is still a possibility of renewed talks.”  (Fars News Agency)
  
  
  
  

• The Statistical Center of Iran reported that the unemployment rate this summer was down 1.2% compared to last season and is at 9.5%. The Center reported that women have a lower rate of economic participation than men, and economic participation in rural areas is lower than in urban areas. The Center reported that the unemployment rate among young people aged 15 to 21 is 22.9%. (ISNA)