TEHRAN - This column ‘Persian Press Review’ features the headlines and leading articles carried by Farsi dailies. We are going to keep you informed on the latest top stories covered by the Iranian newspapers.

Thursday’s headlines:
Arman: Ali Motahhari writes to the Judiciary chief about former Tehran prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi
Abrar: The Zionist regime is going downhill, says Ahmadinejad
Abrar-e Eghtesadi: Iran’s trade deficit hits $19 billion
Etelaat: Quake devastates capital of Haiti
Iran: subsidy reform goes into effect in three months
Bahar: Mortazavi’s case should be heard earlier than usual
Tehran-e Emrooz: Economy on full alert for implementation of the subsidy reform plan
Jomhuri-e Eslami: Sanctions does not contribute to the settlement of Iran’s nuclear issue
Resalat: The administration is determined to root out poverty and deprivation, says Ahmadinejad
Asr-e Eghtesad: The Guardian Council confirms the subsidy reform bill
Kar-o Kargar: $3 billion allocated for employment in the next (Iranian) year
Farhikhtegan: Demands to reduce diplomatic ties with countries which meddle in Iran’s internal affairs
Mardomsalari: Hottest (televised) debate after (presidential) election
Vatan-e Emrooz: The most powerful quake over the past 200 years hit Central America
Leading articles:
‘Keyhan’ in its editorial has criticized the recent televised debates over the post-election incidents. In these programs some MPs and political figures are trying to understate the role of leaders of “sedition” in the post-election unrest. Some of these politicians who have appeared in the programs are affiliated with the reformists and it is not surprising that they try to save their political group from “political death.” But why other figures who are not related to this group are contributing to the project to “water down” the blames on leaders of “sedition.” Now that the nation has called for sever punishment of the rioters and the leaders of “sedition,” the judiciary officials are obligated to deal with them.
‘Donya-e Eghtesad’ in a commentary has called the simultaneous examination of two major economic bills (fifth development plan and annual budget bill) by the Majlis (parliament) illogical, impractical, and hasty. It is impossible to do what should be done in five months just in two months. The decision-making capacity of the country has been wasted over the inefficient examination of the subsidy reform bill. Subsidy reform bill could have been examined simultaneously with the fifth development plan, since two plans should operate consistently. The subsidy reform bill has a transitional nature and it didn’t need a permanent law, and could have been brought up within the five-year development plans. In the limited remaining time to the (Iranian) New Year, it seems advisable to give priority to the annual budget bill otherwise it seems funny to have a ratified development plan for the next five years, while the budget plan for the next year is incomplete.
‘Jomhuri-e Eslami’ in its editorial has criticized the extremist movements in the country. Today, any extremist movement which tries to ignore social strata whose views are in contrast with the administration is not following the path set by the Leadership. Certainly it should not be considered as a success to alienate those who are critical of the executive body’s performance from the whole establishment and to cause them to join the enemies of the revolution. This approach will only make the situation more complicated. Today, everyone who wants to serve the system should act according to the Supreme Leader’s directives calling for consolidating the national unity. Today, it is the time to give the opportunity to those considerate figures who seek to establish unity among all loyalists to the Islamic Revolution. Every unwise extremist act will damage the establishment and will help enemies attain their goals.
‘Khorasan’ in a report has pointed to the alarming massive gun trafficking into the country. According to the official statistics, compared to the previous year (March 2008–March 2009), the gun smuggling has risen by %10. According to the statistics published by the national police, most of those who have been arrested on the charges of involvement in the violent crimes have claimed that they have obtained their guns form country’s western cities.