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

Sunday’s headlines:
AFARINESH: U.S. hopeful to win China’s support against Iran
IRAN: 80 countries to attend Tehran Book Fair
ABRAR: There is no guarantee for a change in Iran’s behavior by imposing sanctions, says Barack Obama
EBTEKAR: Expediency Council approves a bill for simultaneous presidential and council elections
ASRAR: (IAEA Director General) Amano, (UN Secretary General) Ban Ki-moon invited to Tehran’s international conference on nuclear disarmament, announces Foreign Ministry spokesman
ETELAAT: Polish president killed in plane crash
TAFAHOM: Home price to decline, promises housing minister
PUL: Central Bank approves establishment of another bank affiliated with armed forces; banking license issued for army-owned Bank Iranian
JOMHURI-E ESLAMI: Iran’s deterrent power is at the highest level, says army chief
KAR-O KARGAR: Mass production of weapons applicable in asymmetrical wars, announces army commander
GOSTARESH: Brazilian commercial-industrial delegation to arrive in Tehran
VATAN-E EMROOZ: Senior members of Jundullah (terrorist) group seek pardon, announces deputy interior minister for security affairs
HAMSHAHRI: Priorities for implementation of subsidy reform plan have been neglected, warn economic experts
HADAF-O EQTESAD: Private sector relatively satisfied with Central Bank’s policies package, says the Tehran Chamber of Commerce chairman
Leading articles:
MARDOMSALARI in its editorial has commented on Ahmadinejad’s recent remarks in which he has promised a grant of $1000 for every Iranian newborn child. In general, the step can be regarded as a positive move because it shows that the administration cares about the future of its citizens. But how can the administration allocate the needed funds for the implementation of this plan? Taking the current birthrate into account, the administration which is already grappling with the budget deficit, needs large sums of money to finance the plan. In conclusion, the writer touches on the issue of growing population and asks how the administration can guarantee that the move will not aggravate the rising birthrate.
ARMAN in its editorial entitled “What is the Need for Rise in Population” has voiced concern about Ahmadinejad’s plan for supporting newborn babies and has said that the move is in direct contradiction to the birth control policy. In his first year in office, Ahmadinejad made it clear that he is an advocate of a historical view that says a higher population makes a country more powerful. The writer has raised a question: Which problem can be resolved by a rise in the number of births? Is the country’s per capita income so high that existing population can share it with new baby boomers?
KAYHAN in its editorial has criticized those MPs who have made allegations that the first vice president was involved in corrupt financial dealings. We should be aware that the enemies seek to hinder economic reforms by turning officials against each other and by undermining the public confidence in the government’s efficiency and integrity. Undoubtedly, the Judiciary should take firm action against corruption, fraudulent activities, embezzlement, and irregularities, but officials should avoid falling into the enemies’ trap and their actions should not help the enemies achieve their evil intent. The enemies’ plot is aimed at presenting a distorted image of the country’s ruling system which is tarnished with corruption, fraud, lie, inefficiency, and so on.
RESALAT in an article has responded to the American officials’ recent remarks who have claimed that there are evil intentions behind Iran’s nuclear programs. Americans know that Iran is the standard-bearer of nuclear disarmament in the world and know well that Iran does not seek to produce nuclear arsenals, but they still accuse Iran of having evil purposes. They try to distort the truth about Iran’s nuclear activities. In fact, they are angry that Iran is not seeking atomic bombs. India and Pakistan produced nuclear weapons, but the world powers did not oppose their actions. However, Iran has come under pressure by bullying powers just because it is pushing for a world free of nuclear weapons. The writer maintains that the world powers should attend the Tehran conference on nuclear disarmament to prove their honesty in the campaign for the abolition of nuclear arms.