The Latest from Iran (23 April): "We Were First"
Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 14:51
1730 GMT: A Matter of Intelligence. Ali Akbar Javenfekr, the managing director of the State news agency IRNA, has effectively apologised for his newspaper's handling of the Supreme Leader's message to the people of Shiraz, saying that IRNA "devoted its efforts to the goals of revolutionary ideals and the Islamic system".
IRNA had altered the official release from the Supreme Leader's office, omitting Ayatollah Khamenei's support for the Ministry of Intelligence and implicit slap-down of President Ahmadinejad and his advisors for trying to force out the head of the Ministry, Heydar Moslehi. Khamenei's office then told media not to rely on reports from IRNA.
While apologising, Javanfekr made no reference to the Moslehi affair.
Meanwhile, the conservative stie Alef has removed its story about President Ahmadinejad's refusal to work with Moslehi.