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

Thursday’s headlines:
ARMAN: Former President Mohammad Khatami not banned from leaving Iran, says intelligence minister
AFTAB-E YAZD: Using (being a viewer of) satellite TVs is an example of soft war, says police chief
MARDOMSALARI: Those loyal to the revolution’s ideals should not be isolated, says Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi
AFARINESH: Nation will defeat those who threaten Iran, says Supreme Leader
IRAN: Iran displays its military capability in Strait of Hormuz
ASRAR: Insulting the country’s prominent figures goes against the interests of the system and the revolution, says Hashemi Rafsanjani
ETTELAAT: Iranian nation will not give in to threats, says Supreme Leader
PUL: Iran seeks conquering markets of “rampant inflation land” (Zimbabwe)
TEHRAN-E EMROOZ: U.S. implicit threat of nuclear attack on Iran is a disgrace to the Americans, says Supreme Leader
KHORASAN: The commencement date for implementing subsidy reform plan will be announced soon, says economy minister
FARHANG-E ASHTI: Mehdi Hashemi’s arrest warrant in hands of intelligence minister (Mehdi Hashemi is Rafsanjani’s son who is accused of involvement in corrupt financial dealings)
FARHIKHTEGAN: Turkey says it is ready to mediate between Iran and the West
KAR-O KARGAR: Number of laid-off workers who live on unemployment benefits has risen by 50%
Leading articles:
MARDOMSALARI in its editorial has analyzed the recent developments in Kyrgyzstan. The writer believes that Russia has played a major role in the developments. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said what happened in Kyrgyzstan may happen in other countries in the region, and has supported Kyrgyzstan’s interim leaders. Earlier, Medvedev had called on President Kurmanbek Bakiyev to leave his country to prevent Kyrgyzstan from plunging into the same situation that currently faces Afghanistan. Most experts know that Russia had given the green light to the transfer of power in Kyrgyzstan, since Russia seeks to revive its dominance over the former Soviet republics.
PUL in an article has commented on Ahmadinejad’s recent visit to Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe suffers from a severely ailing and weak economy and is currently the record-holder of the highest inflation and unemployment rates in the world. Over the recent years, Iran’s balance of trade with Zimbabwe has always been in deficit, so Ahmadinejad has traveled to this country to prepare the ground for boosting exportation to this African state. But an important point should be taken into consideration: Zimbabwe’s economy is extremely weak and Zimbabweans’ purchasing power has drastically declined. Now this question comes to mind: what is Ahmadinejad’s purpose for visiting Zimbabwe? Is he going to help Zimbabwe’s economy to recover or he is seeking to conquer the markets of one the poorest countries in the world?
DONYA-E EQTESAD in a commentary has analyzed the root of overpopulation in Tehran. Tehran has many attractions such as leisure facilities, advanced medical centers, major universities and so on. But what has largely prompted people to leave their cities or villages and migrate to Tehran is the higher chances of finding jobs in the metropolis. If the administration builds residential settlements equipped with the best utilities and facilities in the remote areas but with no job-finding opportunity, Tehranis will not leave the alluring capital to live there? The writer holds the view that increasing the cost of living in Tehran by imposing higher taxes is not the solution either, because by higher tax revenues, the municipality will raise spending in construction projects which in turn creates more job opportunities in Tehran which is the main cause behind inflow of population into Tehran. So the solution is scaling down investment in Tehran and stimulating investment in other cities.
KAYHAN in its editorial has bitterly reproved the UAE foreign minister for likening Iran’s control of its three islands in the Persian Gulf to Israel’s occupation of Arab territories. This sheikh (Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan) is consciously talking utter nonsense. The foreign minister of this tiny country had also said that his country welcomes sanctions against Iran and claimed that Iran’s nuclear program is not transparent! The writer believes some reactionary Arab sheikhs are afraid of Iran not because of its military or scientific capabilities; rather they are afraid of Iran’s influence to wake up nations to rise against their puppet governments.