Iran Today: The "Defending Shrines in Syria" Line

Saturday's Iran Today: "Supreme Leader is the Ultimate Decision-Maker"

---

Foreign Affairs Watch (Syrian Front)

General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan, the head of Iran's ground forces, has restated Tehran's line on assistance to the Syrian regime.

Pourdastan said the Islamic Republic i"would help train" the Syrian army if Damascus seeks such assistance, "but [we] won't have any active involvement in the operations".

The General repeated the comment of the head of the Revolutionary Guards, Mohammad Ali Jafari, from last autumn, "The Syrian army has accumulated experience during years of conflict with the Zionist regime (Israel) and is able to defend itself and doesn't need foreign assistance."

Literature Watch

Rah-e Sabz reports that many important publishers have been blocked again from appearing at the Tehran International Book Fair, including Cheshmeh, Roshangaran & Women Studies, Rowzaneh, Tarh-e Nou, Rasm, Omid-e Farda, Hayan, and Aya Saleh.

Economy Watch

The Ministry of Education has said that 76% of jobless Iranians have Bachelor's and/or postgraduate degrees.

Election Watch

Iran Inspector General and Presidential candidate Mostafa Pourmohammadi has declared that "even Superman" would be unable to overcome corruption in the Islamic Republic.

Pourmohammadi also criticised engagement with the US, saying talks with Washington will not help the Islamic Republic's position.

Election Watch

Fars News, close to the Revolutionary Guards, devotes space to report that Tehran mayor --- and presidential hopeful --- Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf visited its offices. An indication that Fars is leaning toward supporting Qalibaf in the presidential race?

Foreign Affairs Watch (Syrian Front)

On Saturday, EA's Joanna Paraszczuk noted the emergence of the Iranian line --- echoing that of Hezbolah leader Hassan Nasrullah earlier in the week --- explaining support for the Syrian regime: Tehran is helping defend the country's shrines against attacks by "terrorists".

Nasrullah used the argument to explain Hezbollah's direct involvement in the Syrian conflict, including an increasing number of fighters alongside Syrian forces. While Iranian officials did not tie their comments to specific military steps, the message was clear: Tehran Friday Prayer leader Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami condemned the destruction of the tomb of a Shia Muslim figure, Hujr ibn Adi, outside Damascus, and Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani said the attack was a "crime" by "terrorists" and an "indication of their disbelief in Islam and in Muslim values".

Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi called on international organisations to "condemn the inhuman and unethical act and take practical and serious measures to restore the dignity of the site".

The regime message continues this morning with the announcement that Iranian students will gather in front of the United Nations office in Tehran on Monday.