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

JAM-E JAM: Iran, Saudi Arabia are like two brothers, Ahmadinejad says

TEHRAN-E EMROOZ: Water prices will increase

HAMSHAHRI: Iran’s new agreement with 5+1 group 

EGHTESAD POOYA: Tripling cash subsidies is a legal duty, says Mir-Tajeddini (vice president for parliamentary affairs)

JAVAN: Students hold demo outside Swiss Embassy in solidarity with Occupy Wall St. 

KHORASAN: Jamaran destroyer saves Iranian tanker from pirates  

FARHIKHTEGAN: Saudi Arabia's crown prince dies

QODS: Construction of Iran-Iraq gas pipeline starts 

TEHRAN-E EMROOZ, in a news report, says after the death of the Zayandeh Rud River and the shrinkage of the Lake Urmia, the death knell is ringing for the Karoun River as the level of water in the river has greatly decreased. Despite this water shrinkage, the director of the Environment Protection Organization has been defending plans drawn up by the Energy Ministry to transfer water from the Karoun River to other cities. The government also plans to transfer water from Karoun to save the Zayandeh Rud which itself fell victim of steel industry. 

HAMSHAHRI, in a news report, has said that Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has revealed that while in New York Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa requested to hold a meeting with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in September. However, Mehmanparast said that the meeting was not held as the president was too busy. The spokesman added that after the meeting with Ahmadinejad was not held, Bahraini Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa requested a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and this provided an opportunity for Tehran to unequivocally express his stance toward pro-democracy uprisings in Bahrain. In the meeting the Iranian foreign minister insisted that Bahrain should exercise restraint in handling the protests and refrain from using violence against the people who are calling for the restoration of their rights. 

MELATEMA, in a news report, has quoted MP Hamidreza Katouzian as saying that questioning president should be considered as a “normal and simple” move in the country. However, he said, in the current political system president thinks that his status is higher than what has been stated in the Constitution and that is why the Majlis is facing a great challenge as certain lawmakers have signed a motion to ask questions from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Katouzian, who was the first lawmaker who announced that parliamentary system has superiority over the current presidential system, said that in a parliamentary system lawmakers can easily unseat prime minister if he flouts the law. “But,” he said, “In the current situation if we want to fire the president it may cause political crises and tension in the country.” He added, “If prime minister is elected by the Majlis, like mayor who is elected by the city council” lawmakers can easily dismiss him if they are not content with his performance.