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

Tuesday’s headlines:
AFARINESH: Majlis calls for immediate and firm response to remarks made by UAE foreign minister
IRAN: Biggest and most well-equipped field hospital opens near Tehran
ABRAR: 54% rise in divorce rate in Iran
ASRAR: Allawi will not accept election result if votes are not recounted in certain areas
ETTELAAT: Privatization of state companies to be accelerated this year (which started March 21)
PUL: Dollar unexpectedly rise against Iranian rial, 1 dollar equals 10,200 rials
TAFAHOM: Today, human being is in need of ethics, says Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
TEHRAN-E EMROOZ: Majlis gives the green light to postponing city councils elections
JAVAN: Debtors to banking system repay their loans by obtaining new loans!
JOMHURI-E ESLAMI: IRGC equipped with advanced ‘Nasr’ and ‘Saeqe’ missiles
JAHAN-E SANAAT: We have turned to China due to economic considerations, says deputy petroleum minister for investment affaires
HEMAYAT: Workforce is most important factor to enhance productivity, says Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani
HEZBOLLAH: Those who misuse public funds should be humiliated and publicly disgraced, says Ahmadinejad
VATAN-E EMROOZ: Massive earthquake in Tehran will be the worst disaster in the history
ARMAN: Privatization organization’s accounts frozen under court order JOMHURI-E ESLAMI in its editorial has expressed dismay over the plan that envisages Ayad Allawi and Nouri Maleki take the post of prime minister in Iraq on a rotating basis and has called the proposal an American plot. If Allawi becomes the prime minister in the first year, he will prepare the ground for the establishment of secularism in Iraq. If he takes the office for the last two years, then he can pave the way for the victory of his group in the next parliamentary election. The Iraq election is not a power struggle between Shias and Sunnis, but is competition between secularists and Islamists. The United States and its allies favor the establishment of a secular government in Iraq and they seek to help Allawi become the prime minister to achieve their evil ends.
EBTEKAR editorialist has complained about the extremely low speed of internet connections and frequent disruptions. The officials cite the damage to undersea cables linking Europe with the Middle East as the cause of the disruptions. Many other countries use the same international optic fiber line to provide access to the internet, but when this line is damaged by ships’ anchors, they use other alternatives like satellite connections to offer internet service to people. But in Iran, the responsible body (Ministry of Information and Communications Technology) has failed to meet its commitments to offer high-speed and reliable internet connections. Elsewhere, the writer says modern communications such as e-commerce and internet banking are a necessity if the government seeks to expand services and stimulate the economy and investment. The lack of appropriate communication infrastructure and imposing strict restrictions on the use of internet will negatively affect the businesses, country’s economy, and scientific studies.
MARDOMSALARI in its editorial has criticized the government for continued excessive imports. While other countries in the region have invested their oil revenues in development plans and energy projects, the government here has missed the opportunity created by rising crude oil revenues to improve its economic infrastructure. Instead, the policies have favored importers resulting in excessive importations. Iranian markets and malls are filled with shoddy Chinese goods and Iranian factories and workshops are going bankrupt and are closing down. As a result, many workers have lost their jobs and if the trend is not halted, it will inflict irrecoverable damages to the country’s economy.
JAHAN-E SANAAT editorial has also warned about misuse of rising oil revenues which would negatively affect unemployment rate. The crude oil price has hit 83 dollars per barrel and it may be good news for administration officials. But, the working class is worried about the repercussions considering their previous experiences. In Iran, the sharp rise in oil revenues have always led to uncontrolled spending, excessive imports, producers’ bankruptcy, higher unemployment rate, and rampant inflation rate.





Leading articles: