Press Roundup provides a selected summary of news from the Iranian press, and excerpts where the source is in English. Click on the link to the story to read it in full. Tehran Bureau has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. Please refer to the Media Guide to help put the stories in perspective. You can follow other news stories through our Twitter feed.

Ayatollah Jannati Reelected Guardian Council Chief

Mehr | July 20, 2010

Ahmadinejad supporter and hardliner Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati was reelected as the secretary of the Guardian Council on Wednesday. The Guardian Council is composed of six Islamic jurists who are directly appointed by the Supreme Leader and six lawyers who are elected by parliament.

Four Iranian MPs to Visit Gaza Next Week

Mehr | July 21, 2010

Four Iranian MPs plan to enter Gaza at the Rafah border crossing next Monday or Tuesday in an attempt to highlight the Israeli blockade of Gaza.

Iranian Conservatives Unite In Bid To Undermine Ahmadinejad

RFE/RL | July 20, 2010

Conservative opponents of Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have launched a rearguard action aimed at weakening him and preventing one of his hard-line followers from succeeding him in the next presidential election. The offensive, analysts say, has been undertaken by a united front of leading "principlist" figures including the speaker of Iran's parliament, Ali Larijani; a leading member of parliament, Ahmad Tavakoli; and Mohsen Rezai, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and a defeated candidate in last year's presidential election.

A key aim is to weaken the support for Ahmadinejad from the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, by persuading him that the president's radical policies and divisive approach threatens the Islamic republic's stability.

Official: Iran Faces Rise In HIV/AIDS Cases

RFE/RL | July 21, 2010

Iranian Health Minister Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi says the spread of HIV/AIDS is increasingly being spread in Iran through sexual contact. HIV/AIDS in Iran used to be transmitted primarily through contaminated blood transfusions and the use of dirty needles by drug addicts. Prostitution in Iran, at least in Tehran, had increased and is not controlled. Since prostitution was prohibited in Iran, either providing HIV/AIDS education to prostitutes or placing them under medical control is unlikely to occur.

Meanwhile, Iran's two leading specialists in HIV/AIDS, brothers Arash and Kamiar Alaei, remain in prison, where they have been since June 2008. They were found guilty of involvement in a U.S. plot to overthrow the Iranian government.

Iran Pledges To Support Zimbabwe Tourism

The Herald Online | July 21, 2010

The Zimbabwe tourism marketing, development and promotion delegation started its week-long working visit in Tehran yesterday, with Iranian government officials pledging technical support for the country's quest to rebrand and repackage its tourism offerings in line with changing global trends.

Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Mr Hassan Ghashgavi said that "Like Zimbabwe, we are on sanctions and we have no access to international cards such as the Master Card, but we have devised our own electronic card that burst the sanctions in that a tourist can bring cash up to the port of entry and then open an account, on which he can use the card throughout his or her stay instead of moving with cash. The card can be used in all our banks, hotels and shops and Zimbabwe can do the same."

Zimbabwe's Tourism and Hospitality Minister Walter Mzembi said Zimbabwe was willing to learn from the Iranian experience since the two countries have common enemies and common friends.

Iran Releases Another Computer Game Based on Shahnameh

Tehran Times | July 21, 2010

The game, entitled "Invincibility", is a sequel to "The Age of Heroes", which was released in Iran in 2008. The game was financed by Iran's National Foundation for Computer Games and produced at the Resaneh Afzar-e Sharif Studio. "The Age of Heroes" was about Atar, who is the son of Pishdad, Sistan's wise and honorable commander. Zabol, the capital of Sistan, has been captured by demons and Atar is invited by other Iranian heroes to fight against the demons.