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

Thursday’s headlines:
AFARINESH: Iran is ready to swap nuclear fuel, says (Iran’s nuclear chief) Ali-Akbar Salehi
IRAN: Ahmadinejad’s firm response to Obama’s empty threat
ABRAR: (Iran’s) Car market stagnant
EBTEKAR: We can not be both religious and secular, says Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi
ETELAAT: Iran backs nuclear disarmament, says Manouchehr Mottaki
TAFAHOM: Gold price rises in international markets
TEHRAN-E EMROOZ: China joins 5+1 group; Mottaki says sanctions are ineffective
PUL: First vice president’s response to allegations made against him by MP Naderan (accusing vice president of involvement in financial corruption cases): biased and imprudent figures attempt to defame others
KHORASAN: Iran has produced a few kilos of 20 % enriched uranium, announces Salehi
DONYA-E EQTESAD: Foreign minister explains goals of Tehran conference (on nuclear disarmament)
FARHIKHTEGAN: Central Bank’s policies package just ahead of implementation of the subsidy reform plan; floating inflation, fixed interest rate
KAR-O KARGAR: Referendum on subsidy reform plan is people’s right, says MP Mahjub
GOSTARESH: Excessive importation has hindered industries’ leap
HAMSHAHRI: Despite sanctions, Total continues buying Iran’s crude oil
Leading articles:
TEHRAN-E EMROOZ in its editorial has praised the Judiciary for starting to deal with financially corrupt officials and figures. The new Judiciary chief’s main slogan was dealing firmly with corruption. Although Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani couldn’t fulfill his pledge during the first six-month of his term in office due to the post-election turbulent political atmosphere, the Judiciary has started a praiseworthy and diligent bid to deal with financial corruption over the past month. Over the past few years, the common practice has been accusing some political figures and their families of involvement in financial corruption without presenting any solid evidence, and this practice did not yield any palpable result. The writer has also asked the Judiciary chief to give the press more freedom to make independent inquiry about the financial corruption cases and to disclose those involved in the questionable deals.
JAHAN-E SANAAT in a report has examined the issue of high inflation rate in the country. According to the reliable international sources (such as IMF), Iran was ranked seventh among 222 countries with the highest inflation rate in 2009. It means that only six countries experienced higher inflation rate than Iran. In the region, among 24 countries only Afghanistan had higher inflation than Iran. Iraq which had the highest inflation rate in 2008 succeeded to reduce the inflation rate to 6.8 for the year 2009, which was a significant economic success. The writer criticizes the administration’s officials for hiding the truth about the high inflation in Iran. While Iran is suffering from rampant inflation compared to other countries, the administration’s officials accuse the critics of overstating the issue.
EBTEKAR in an article has deplored the improper methods used by some politicians to defeat their rivals. These days, most of the political figures have launched websites publishing reports and news items against their rivals and try to win in the political competition even by adopting unfair approaches. Today, making allegation, defaming, and slandering are common practices. On the other hand, those who come under bitter attacks do their utmost to counterattack by disclosing the attacker’s involvement in dubious deals!
BAHAR editorial entitled “Pharaohs’ Land in Dream of Change” has analyzed the political situation in Egypt. Mohamed ElBaradei, in a interview with Al-Arabiya TV, has announced his conditions for entering the presidential race next year. ElBaradei has proposed that all political parties be allowed to participate in the election, a proposal that is strongly opposed by the ruling system. The ruling system only allows the official parties and the ruling party to contest the election and ElBaradei is not a party official. ElBaradei and his mostly young sympathizers have started their campaigns and protests to bring about change, a development that has challenged the 29-year-old ruling system in Egypt.