Newspapers Captured by Single-Digit Inflation and Reactions to Soleimani

The newspaper Shargh has highlighted Mohammad Javad Zarif's explanation regarding changes in the Foreign Ministry, quoting the Iranian Foreign Minister as saying, "The resistance axis is stronger than to be tied to specific individuals." Zarif commented on the reactions following changes in the ministry, including the dismissal of Hossein Amir-Abdollahian from the position of Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, stating, "Decisions regarding changes in some senior managers of the Foreign Ministry were made based on the plans and priorities of the country's foreign relations long before the New Year, but these changes were delayed to maintain decorum." Shargh noted that "some hardline media" described the recent shifts in the Foreign Ministry, including the dismissal of Amir-Abdollahian, as the "removal of the diplomat of resistance," with the newspaper Vatan-e-Emruz, close to the Front of Steadfastness, writing that "the news of Amir-Abdollahian's change should be interpreted as a sign of the Foreign Ministry's efforts for a different entry into regional issues, while the Foreign Ministry is not structurally responsible for some regional issues." The newspaper Resalat, while publishing a photo of Qassem Soleimani on its front page, referred to Soleimani's "unprecedented warning" to the Bahraini government and its royal family, the Al Khalifa, quoting him as saying, "Any aggression against Sheikh Isa Qassem will lead to armed resistance and the fall of the Bahraini regime." The newspaper stated, "If the rulers of Bahrain use their political wisdom, they should take this seriously," as it "signals a leap in Iran's regional strategy" and "doubles the rhythm of this warning." Resalat pointed out that "the revocation of Sheikh Isa Qassem's citizenship has caused reactions both inside Bahrain and in Islamic countries," noting that "even the U.S. has called this action by the Bahraini regime illegal." The newspaper emphasized that "the people of Bahrain have been following a peaceful path for five years to achieve their basic rights, but during this time, they have received nothing but brutal repression, imprisonment, and torture." It stressed that "the Al Khalifa has reached a catastrophic level, but there is no listening ear in Manama, and this ear only responds to the sound of gunfire." Kayhan, in its editorial on Wednesday titled "Bahrain and the Alert of General Soleimani," wrote: "In his statement, which was cryptically not very long, Qassem Soleimani spoke of the beginning of a potential change in the struggle of the people in Bahrain, while the Al Khalifa regime, believing that the people of Bahrain have no choice but to submit to any conditions set by the regime due to the lack of land connection to Iran and the world, kept increasing its pressure on the people of Bahrain." Saadollah Zare'i, in Kayhan's editorial, emphasized that Soleimani's statement "disrupted two concepts," writing: This statement "showed that firstly, the people of Bahrain can turn their peaceful approach into a revolutionary one and instead of clenched fists of protest, can pull the trigger, and secondly, it is not the case that the people of Bahrain will not receive any effective help from abroad and will remain helpless." The newspaper pointed out that what was stated in Soleimani's statement and "was later echoed in the Iranian Foreign Ministry's statement in a different way" indicates that "the Islamic Republic still considers the people of Bahrain as part of itself" and "in the new situation, the political considerations of the people of Bahrain and the Islamic Republic will be sidelined, and the revolutionary method of overthrowing the criminal Bahraini regime will be put on the agenda unless this regime abandons its warlike approach against its people and respects their rights and sovereignty and freedoms in practice, which is very unlikely to happen." Kayhan emphasized that "the people of Bahrain, who were previously discontented with the Islamic Republic due to its restrictions, are now organizing in new formations and operationally changing the security balance in their favor." It wrote: "Iran, and especially General Soleimani, have proven that when they enter a case, they do not abandon it halfway and do not leave a task unfinished." However, Shargh dedicated its front page to "the consequences of unprecedented criticism of the Bahraini government" and reviewed "global reactions to General Soleimani's warning to the Bahraini government," writing that after the publication of Soleimani's letter, Nabil Yaqoub Al-Hamr, advisor to Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain, reacted by saying, "It is quite obvious that Sheikh Isa Qassem is connected with Iran's project in Bahrain and also with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps," and "what is heard from Hezbollah in Lebanon, Qassem Soleimani, and Sheikh Isa Qassem also confirms this statement." According to this newspaper, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, in a press conference, condemned the revocation of Sheikh Isa's citizenship and accused Iran of issuing insulting statements against the Bahraini regime. The newspaper Iran reported in its Wednesday edition that "the inflation rate has turned single-digit" and wrote: "According to the report of the Statistical Center of Iran, which was announced in the open session of the parliament by Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, head of the Management and Planning Organization, the inflation rate in the 12 months ending in Khordad this year has reached 9.5 percent in urban areas." This government-aligned newspaper emphasized that "in Khordad this year, one of the other promises of the government has been realized," reminding that "the government had declared one of its main priorities to be the single-digit inflation, and finally, after years, this important event has occurred to logically impact the livelihood and lives of the people." Saeed Leilaz, an economic expert, in an editorial for Iran with the title "In Praise of Single-Digit Inflation," wrote: "While after the mid-80s, we have always witnessed explosive growth of rampant inflation in the country, and in some years, this rate even reached 50 percent, the trend of single-digit inflation has stabilized and continued over the past three years, reaching 9.5 percent, which is considered a very important achievement." The editorial writer of Iran, rejecting "the argument of those who say the government should move towards expansionary and monetary policies by letting inflation rates go," defended the government's policy for reducing inflation, emphasizing that "those who have a real understanding of the Iranian economy can understand that single-digit inflation is a very significant achievement because Iranian society has experienced a disastrous situation in terms of purchasing power in recent years." The newspaper Etemad also headlined, "Single-Digit Inflation After 25 Years," stating that the inflation rate "has gone below ten for the third time in the years after the revolution. The first time was in 1985 with a rate of 6.9 percent, the second time in 1990, and the year after the end of the Iran-Iraq war when inflation was reported at 9 percent, and the third time after 25 years in 2016, we again witnessed single-digit inflation." According to this newspaper, on Tuesday, the Statistical Center also reported a 9.5 percent inflation rate for Khordad, and the head of this center stated in an interview that the inflation rate has turned single-digit after 25 years and "has reached 9.5 percent." Etemad also noted that on Tuesday, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, while discussing the "good news" of the reduction in inflation in the parliament, "no report on the economic performance of 2015 has yet been provided, and it is still unclear what the country's economic growth record for that year is," although "Nobakht promised that soon the report on the economic performance of 2015 will also be unveiled." The newspaper Jahane San'at, however, wrote in its front page that despite "the realization of one of Rouhani's promises with single-digit inflation," "recession is still persistent" and continues to cast a shadow over the Iranian economy, leaving no investment opportunities. This newspaper expressed hope that "the government, instead of focusing solely on reducing inflation, will also strive to restore growth to the economy and at least bring various economic sectors to a relative yield." Gholam Abbas Tosuli, a university professor, in a note titled "Difficult Days for the Government and Parliament" in the newspaper Arman wrote: "As weeks and months pass, and gradually as we approach the twelfth presidential election, Mr. Hassan Rouhani finds himself in a very challenging situation that makes the time and necessity for him to respond to public opinion more difficult than any other period, as this time the trust of the Iranian people in President Rouhani is at stake." The columnist of Arman emphasized the need for reforms and changes in the cabinet, writing: "The government knows well where changes are felt in which ministries and will act accordingly to be able to respond to its promises to the people for the 2017 elections and have a winning card, especially in the economic issue," as in the upcoming presidential election, "the realization of the demands of Iranian society and the executive record of the eleventh government will be on one side of the scale and on the other side, his ability and power to perform his role as president will be on the other side." Gholam Abbas Tosuli advised the government to "activate quick results actions because for the people, securing livelihoods and employment is of utmost importance," and wrote: "Although the results of the JCPOA, as a long-term measure, can address many problems, now is not the time to lose and the government should test its luck in other matters and utilize other methods to solve economic and livelihood problems." At the same time, Shargh reported on Ahmad Khorshidi, the father of Mehdi Khorshidi, the son-in-law of Ahmadinejad, stating that some prominent conservative figures have been visiting Ahmadinejad's office and he "not only speaks of the possibility of the former president's candidacy but also believes that a repeat of the 2005 situation is likely." Mahsa Jazini, in a report for Shargh, reviewed Ahmad Khorshidi's support for his son-in-law Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the 2005 elections and the differences that arose between them in later years, writing: Now Ahmad Khorshidi, who "is clearly a critic of Rouhani's government, has stated that the majority of people have a completely negative view of his performance, saying: 'Mr. Rouhani will certainly not win in 2017.'" Mohammad Ansari Rad, a representative of the sixth parliament, also emphasized in an interview with the newspaper Hamdeli that Hassan Rouhani is now standing between "demands" and "obstacles." The newspaper Shahre Vahdat reported from Mohammad Baqer Alfat, the Deputy for Social Affairs and Crime Prevention of the Judiciary, stating that to reduce suicides among students, "we have a very serious program in collaboration with 13 ministries and institutions underway," noting that in 2015, "the National Student Care Coalition document was also signed by the stakeholders of this issue." This senior judiciary official emphasized that "the causes of suicide among students is a very important issue that must be prevented through proactive measures." The newspaper Shahre Vahdat also dedicated its front page to a report about "wedding ceremonies under the sword," stating that the wedding ceremony of a groom sentenced to death and a young girl was held in Rajai Shahr prison. The headline of the newspaper Vaghaye Ettefaghieh reads "The Stuttering of the Government's Platform," stating that "the government, with the stuttering of its media team, cannot counter the populist slogans of its opponents." Abdollah Naseri, a reformist figure, also told this newspaper: "In the media system of the eleventh government, we see that Mr. Rouhani bears all the burden himself, and ministers and even the first vice president are less involved in this area, while some have remained completely silent." "The salaries of 300 workers in the pocket of one manager" is the headline of a report in the newspaper Jahane San'at, emphasizing that "while some receive millions of tomans in monthly salaries, at least 9 million people are minimum wage earners in the country, meaning individuals whose income ultimately amounts to 812,000 tomans, and if they are insured, they must also pay an amount for insurance." According to this newspaper, "workers say the government must respond to this great injustice of how, in the absence of oversight, a high-ranking manager can receive a month's salary for every hour of work."