Selected Headlines

Press Roundup provides a selected summary of news from the Iranian press, and excerpts where the source is in English. The link to the news organization or blog is provided at the top of each item. Tehran Bureau has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. Please refer to the Media Guide to help put the story in perspective. You can follow other news stories through our Twitter feed.

Cartoon Mocking Mousavi Pulled From Reformist Site

Fars News | RFE/RL | June 17, 2010

A cartoon that mocks opposition leader Mir Hussein Mousavi by exiled Iranian cartoonist Nikahang Kowsar was removed from the reformist site Rooz, but later posted at the IRGC linked Fars News website.

The cartoon, which caused controversy within the Green movement and led some to question Mousavi's leadership, shows the leader sitting at his desk 10 years from now and writing his 300th statement.

Fars news later posted the cartoon, saying that it caused "an interesting atmosphere" in the "anti-revolutionary" camp and showed that greens have lost faith in Mousavi as a leader.

Iran Extracts Terrorist Confessions, Summons British Ambassador

PRESS TV | June 16, 2010

Iran summoned the British Ambassador in Tehran over allegations of UK support for a group of terrorists arrested on Wednesday. Two of the detainees, who stand accused of belonging to the Mojahedin Khalq Organization and attempting to plant bombs in downtown Tehran, have confessed on television to receiving aid and training from female handlers based in Sweden and England.

According to the suspects, they were to detonate bombs between June 10th and June 20th to destabilize Iran during the anniversary of last year's elections. The two also claimed to receive training at MKO camps in Iraq.

Russia Harshly Condemns Unilateral EU and US Sanctions Against Iran

PRIME TASS Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs | June 18, 2010

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on its site on Friday that it "categorically rejects" the path of unilateral sanctions by the US and EU against Iran and said that "we are disappointed with these choices." The statement urged the EU and US to work within the UN framework and accused the effort at unilateral sanctions of going above and around the authority of the security council.

Moscow said the unilateral sanctions are "disrupting the foundations of our dialog" and accused the US and EU of ignoring Russian demands, "every time the same story repeats: when we have finally achieved consensus at the UN Security Council concerning finely calibrated sanctions against Iran, the EU and US don't stop at that and frankly, show political disrespect towards partnering with Russia."

Morality Police Back With a Vengeance in Tehran

Payvand | June 15, 2010

Iranian police recently announced a new crackdown on immoral behavior and clothing, calling it a "new approach to moral security" and raising penalties to $1,300 US. Penalties exist for everything from nail polish, $10 per finger, to fake tans, $300 - 400.

Three different morality patrols have also been introduced: one to scrutinize the color and style of clothing, one to check whether men and women who are out together have the right kind of relationship and one to detain "offenders of honor." The police are also filming people to provide evidence of "bad hejab" in court. The Revolutionary Courts has assigned a special section to hear such cases.

Prominent Iranian Photographer Refuses State Honor

Persian Letters | June 16, 2010

Maryam Zandi, the head of Iran's National Society of Photographers, refused an honor from Iran's Culture Ministry citing the "insecurity" Iranian photographers are facing.