Politics
- The second round of televised presidential election debates occurred. The topic of the debates was cultural issues and censorship. Candidatepositionsregarding censorship are as follows:
- Former Vice-PresidentMohammad Reza Arefcriticized the limitation of political activities in universities, elimination of newspapers and the closure of movie theaters. He added: Changing [our] outlook and view toward culture, art and the constitution is very important; Government policing in cultural, artistic and social issues must reach a minimum. The countrys cultural affairs must be given to culture and art.
- Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Supreme Leader Ali Akbar Velayati: There is a cultural invasion but its cure is not censorship, rather immunity is created by strengthening family foundations, and prevention is better than treatment.
- Former chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani: We must open the field in cultural affairs and expand the space so activities can be done well, because the current situation is such that the 'brain drain' [concept] is becoming fulfilled.
- Former Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf: We all know that government policing of cultural issues is an incorrect and mistaken act, and we also know that the government must [withdraw its tentacles] from peoples lives.
- Former Speaker of Parliament Gholam Ali Haddad Adel: [Presidential candidate] Mr. Rohani pointed out in his statements that he is concerned with cultural beliefs and has expressed concerns regarding cultural censorship. I am not a defender of censorship, butif in a cultural work, which can include movies, books, music, etc., our religious culture is insulted, will the government allow this cultural and artistic work to enter the family [environment] or not?
- Supreme National Security Council Secretary (SNSC)Said Jalili: If we consider this point to be important, [then] the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council must be more important than the SNSC because it is the foundation of other areasA president must know the cultural arenas hardware and software capacities well, and [he should] free them and use them as important [tools].
- Former IRGC Commander Mohsen Rezai tied the state of the economy to cultural issues and added, Unemployment affects culture and so long as we do not solve this problem, it will [negate future solutions]."
- Parliamentary Councils and Domestic Affairs Commission member Dakhil Abbas Zarezadehsaid, With the beginning of [city] council [race] advertisements, we will observe that the peoples presence and excitement for the presidential elections will also be increased.
- According to the latest Mehr News Agencysurvey, almost half of the Iranian population is undecided about the presidential candidates.
Regional Developments
- The Syrian army hascapturedthe city of al-Qusayr after three weeks of heavy fighting. Hours after the announcement by the Syrian government, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad congratulated Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
- [E] Iranian mediaattributethe continuing protests in Turkey to a popular backlash against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogans anti-Syria policies.
- Head of Lebanese Hezbollah's Loyalty to Resistance parliamentary faction Mohammad Ra'adsaid, Hezbollah battles against terrorist groups in Syria and Lebanon border areas will continue and, added, Hezbollah does not interfere in Syrias internal affairs, rather it has entered the field against the enemies of Resistance in Syria only to defend and support the Resistance and Lebanon.
- The Arab Leaguecalledfor an emergency meeting following the Syrian armys victory in al-Qusayr.
- ABNA reported that Hamas has announced it prefers Iran and Hezbollah to Arab monies andadded, Hamas military wing Martyr Azaeddin al-Qesam brigades are faithful to their position in continuing the cooperation with Iran and Hezbollah and relying on armed resistance to liberate all of Palestine from Zionist occupation.
- In Iraq, armed individuals ambushed andexecutedfourteen travelers in the southern desert of Anbar province.
- Asaib Ahl al Haq Secretary Qais Khazalistatedthat Sunni jihadists have joined the Shia organization in defending the Zeynabiyyeh shrine in Syria and that seven of them have been killed thus far.
Diplomacy
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs Middle East and African Affairs Deputy Hossein Amir AbdollahiancongratulatedSyrian governments capture of al-Qusayr.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Abbas Eraghchideniedany Islamic Republic involvement in recent Turkish instabilities after reports about the arrest of an Iranian national in Ankara, Turkey.
Military and Security
- Head of the Basij Organization BG Mohammad Reza Naghdi described indicators to assess the fitness of presidential candidates andadded, Those who [paint a bleak picture] to acquire votes and the peoples attention and ignore the hard work of previous administrations and only view the negative parts are not fit [to lead].
Economy
- Following reports of a new round of sanctions against eight petrochemical companies, Stocks and Stock Markets Oversight Director Mahmoud Reza Khajeh Nasir reassured investors andstated, Experience has shown that sanctions may cause problems for industries, but even if this matter occurs a solution will replace it, and it is doubtful that sanctions on petrochemical companies will have a broad effect on their stock performance.
- Central Bank Economic Director Abolfazl Akramisaidincreased bank activities in a competitive environment, which includes market oriented policies, will set the ground work for increased economic efficiency.
- Deputy Oil Minister Abdolhossein Bayatannouncedthat foreign-financed petrochemical project loan repayments are between $500 million and $1 billion per year and that they will be repaid in full earlier than the 2020 deadline. He added, Sanctions will have no effect on loan repayments.
- National Animal Affairs Support Company Managing Director Mosayeb Mohammadian Shomaliannounced,Red meat reserves will be sufficient for national demand for the next three months, and the trend of building reserves and importing will continue until the end of the year.
By Iran Tracker
The Iran Project is not responsible for the content of quoted articles.
