The column ‘Persian Press Review’ features the headlines and leading articles carried by Farsi dailies.

Wednesday’s headlines:
AFARINESH: MPs don’t approve privatization of health and education
IRAN: President appears in Majlis to defend subsidy reform bill; administration’s proposed $40b revenue from subsidy cut savings will decrease inflation rate
ETELAAT: Supreme leader calls for preservation of natural resources
TAFAHOM: Government to offer facilities for New Year holidaymakers
TEHRAN-E EMROOZ: Speculations about Rafsanjani’s return as Friday prayer leader
PUL: Clients’ default in repayment of loans has started to rise, announces deputy economy minister
JAM-E JAM: Trial of Kahrizak prisoner abuse suspects commences
JOMHURI-E ESLAMI: 111 MPs voted against administration’s proposal to gain $40b revenues from subsidy cut savings
JAHAN-E EQTESAD: I have presented my proposals (to settle post-election disputes) and I still hold them, says Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani
HEMAYAT: Surface-to-surface missile system successfully tested from destroyer Jamaran
KHORASAN: Everyone should help create calm in society, Rafsanjani suggests
FARHANG-E ASHTI: President tells MPs: I don’t believe in inflation (to be caused by implementation of subsidy reform plan)
KAR-O KARGAR: U.S. administration is government of thugs and murderers, says Ali Larijani in response to offensive remarks by commander of American occupiers in the region (David Petraeus)
Leading articles:
‘KAYHAN’ in article entitled “Outrageous Overstatement”, written by Hossein Shariatmadari, has lambasted presidential chief of staff Rahim Mashai, calling his recent remarks as “base,” “hyperbolic” and “pompous”. The writer has opined that Mashai, a close ally of Ahmadinejad, is seeking to undermine the presidency, distort the principle of Velayat-e Faqih (rule of the supreme jurisprudent), and cause rift among the principlists. Mashai has said “I regard Ahmadinejad as the prime example of obedience to Velayat-e Faqih. I believe that the goal is not the only thing that matters, but the path is necessary as well, and Ahmadinejad is the outstanding symbol of the right approach to obedience to Velayat-e Faqih in a divine system!” The writer has commented that the popular president is the honest follower of the Supreme Leader and tries to abide by the Leader’s directives meticulously, but such remarks are extremely outrageous and nonsensical and made with the aim of undermining the system.
‘ETELAAT’ in an article has called on MPs to examine the national budget bill for the next Iranian calendar year precisely. The main problem is that the bill was submitted to the parliament very late and it is hard for MPs to analyze the articles of the budget thoroughly. However, MPs should make their best to examine the bill precisely to prevent likely problems in the future. Elsewhere, the writer says unfortunately, due to the current political situation in which an atmosphere of insulting, slandering, and defaming prominent figures is ripe, criticism has become so costly that the caring experts and elites prefer to remain silent about the various decisions the administration takes. The writer goes on to say it is not logical to regard all policies adopted by the administration as perfect and overlook its faults or its inefficient policies in various areas, even if it is believed that administration’s officials are caring, hardworking, and loyal to the Islamic and revolutionary values.
‘TEHRAN-E EMROOZ’ in an article has analyzed the probability of Rafsanjani’s return as the Tehran Friday prayer leader. A pro-Ahmadinejad website has published an article headlined “Rafsanjani’s Return to Friday Prayer” and has quoted an informed source as saying efforts are underway for Rafsanjani’s return to Friday prayers. However, one of Rafsanjani’s close allies told Tehran-e Emrooz reporter that the news of Rafsanjani’s comeback has not been confirmed yet, calling it a speculation. On the reasons that have resulted in Rafsanjani’s decision not to lead Friday prayers for the time being, he said Rafsanjani believes that the country’s political climate is not yet desirable for his appearance in Friday prayers. He prefers not to lead the prayers because his proposals to settle the post-election disputes aired in Friday prayers on July 17 last year (the last Friday prayer Rafsanjani led) have gone unheeded. For the other reason, Rafsanjani is worried that some people may disturb clam if he returns to Friday prayers.