This column features excerpts from news articles, editorials, commentaries, and interviews of the leading Iranian newspapers and websites. 

TAFAHOM: Caviar exports decrease 

QODS: Arab countries should not play in enemies’ plan, president warns certain Arab rulers 

KHORASAN: Society of Anesthesiology director dismisses news of death of some patients due to treatment with Chinese anesthetic drugs   

HEMAYAT: Value of imports decrease, says Ghazanfari (industries, mines, and commerce minister) 

JAME JAM: Qods day demonstrations held from Tehran to Cairo

HAMSHAHRI: Zionist regime surrounded by Islamic awakening 

KAYHAN: 338 industrial, mining projects to be inaugurated during Government Week

IRAN: Value of (Iran’s) non-oil exports during two years amount to $61 billion

DONYA EGHTESAD: Hope and expectation in Iran’s stock market 

SHARQ: Military conflicts end in Kurds-inhabited border areas, Iraqi Kurdistan’s representative announces

FARHIKHTEGAN: Declaring more holidays on occasion of Eid ul-Fitr is illegal without Majlis approval

JAVAN, in a news report, quotes Mohammad Hossein Saffar Harandi as saying that charges of financial corruption made against the associates of the deviant current have their roots in the current’s connection with reformists and Servants of Construction Party. Saffar Harandi - a former culture and Islamic guidance minister who currently acts as cultural advisor to IRGC commander - said values were undermined in the era of reformism.    

JAVAN, in a news report, has quoted Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi as saying that the oil industry can be developed only if some problems are resolved. Qasemi stated that one of the problems facing the oil industry is the lack investment in this area. He added that according to the Fifth Development Plan, about 50 billion dollars should be invested in oil industry annually. Iran’s Fifth Five-Year Development Plan (2010-2015) is part of the 20-Year Outlook Plan (2005-2025), which is the country’s main blueprint for long-term sustainable growth. Qasemi stated that this amount is about 2.5 times more than the annual development budget. He went on to say that Iran plans to increase oil production by 30 percent in joint oil fields with Iraq in the future while Iraq has planned to increase the production by 2 or 2.5 percent. He added that the Oil Ministry will spare no effort to help develop joint and gas oil fields, saying prompt measures should be taken to this end. 

TEHRAN-E EMROOZ, in a news story, entitled “Multi-Billion-Dollar Embezzlement in Tehran Governor General’s Office Confirmed” says State Inspectorate Organization Director Mostafa Pourmohammadi has confirmed the reports saying that some officials at Tehran Governor General’s Office have embezzled several billion tomans (each toman is equal to 10 rials). The news story stated that officials at Tehran Governor General’s Office have dismissed the reports and announced that the issue of embezzlement antedates the current Tehran governor general. However, despite the government officials’ remarks, Pourmohammadi, in a press conference, announced that the cases of embezzlement have been filed against some current and former officials at Tehran Governor General’s Office.