The Latest from Iran (11 July): Enforcing "Morality" in the Summertime

See also The Latest from Iran (10 July): "I Have No Hope, None at All"

---

A Threat to Morality?1823 GMT: Economy Watch. The head of ‪the‬ Administrative Medical Association has said that inflation in the health sector is now 40%.

1512 GMT: Economy Watch. Yadollah Javani, the head of the Revolutionary Guards' Political Bureau, has warned of 50-70% inflation within next six months, calling on the Government to fight the price rises.

1509 GMT: Nuclear Watch. Former Minister of Interior Abdollah Nouri, has called for a referendum on Iran's nuclear programme. Speaking to student activists, he said:

The harms, disadvantages and pressures caused by the Iranian nuclear programme have got out of control and the establishment should make a reasonable and wise decision to find a way out of this deadlock in order to protect the country's national interests.

With regard to the nuclear issue and finding the solution that best serves the country's interests in the current situation, we should ask the opinion of our experts, economists and politicians and all the commentators who wish good will for Iran. Our constitution considers referendum as a solution for such important and crucial issues.

1459 GMT: Sanctions Watch. The Supreme Leader has used a speech to a conference on women and the "Islamic Awakening" to declare:

These days Westerners have been creating hype about the sanctions against Iran but they do not understand that they themselves have vaccinated the Iranian nation against any sanctions with the bans imposed in the past 30 years....

As a result [of these sacrifices] we are now 100 times stronger than we were about 30 years ago.

Ayatollah Khamenei's remarks on Iranian strength came hours after Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hosseini warned media not to publish any news about the impact of sanctions:

Our country is not in a position to allow the media to publish (any) news or analysis which is not compatible with the regime's and national interests. The situation regarding sanctions and other pressures, especially in economy...requires more cooperation by the media so the country is not hurt.

Hosseini continued, "Soon we will hold a meeting with the nation's media and economic officials so they are more informed about the current conditions, especially the sanctions, and so that they function by taking into consideration the country's national interest."

On Saturday, the Expediency Council held an emergency meeting, attending by President Ahmadinejad and his ministers, to discuss a year-long plan to cope with the latest sanctions.

1455 GMT: Opposition Watch. Activist Mojtaba Vahedi, who became a prominent voice as other opposition figures were detained, has said that he may retire from politics. He said he had been attacked by reformists and that there is no hope for change within the Iranian system.

An EA correspondent assesses, "Vahedi may be preparing for a time after regime change, perhaps a new 'reformist' party with a religious foundation but supporting a secular state."

1115 GMT: Revolutionary Guards Watch. A show of concern from the head of Iran’s military police? Speaking at a Government seminar that included managers and representatives of the Supreme Leader involved in selecting new recruits for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, cleric Mohammad Kazem Bahrami said, “The importance of the IRGC is such that the slightest violation or injustice can produce unacceptable consequences. It is important to prevent infiltrations inside the body of the force.”

Bahrami continued, “In addition to prevention, we must also be alert on issues inside the Guards. Good cultural work has been done in the force and this acts as an internal control.”

1107 GMT: Subsidy Cuts Watch. Has the Ahmadinejad Government given way before economic and political difficulties? Shargh, citing Saeed Arbabi, a member of Parliament’s Economic Committee, reports the second phase of subsidy cuts has been postponed beyond 21 March 2013.

1102 GMT: Economy Watch. Aftab reports that the price for chicken in some parts of Tehran is now up to 8000 Toman per kilogramme (about $3 per pound), with people queuing for hours for chicken priced at 4800 Toman.

1055 GMT: Questions About Morality. A 21-year-old woman puts some questions to Grand Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani: "Why hijab is obligatory upon us? Why should we pay for the sick hearts of some men? Is it better if the dress code is optional?"

1045 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. Journalist Nasour Naghipour has been arrested to serve a seven-year sentence.

0955 GMT: Economy Watch. The Central Bank has declared an official rate of inflation of 22.4% for May-June, an increase of 0.2% from April-May.

Analysts and some Iranian officials have said the real rate of inflation is much higher. Earlier this week, MP Gholamreza Kateb put the figure at 33.5%.

0725 GMT: Ahmadinejad Watch. Some grandstanding rhetoric from the President as he meets foreign visitors....

To the Kyrgyzstan Finance Minister, a message of the "historic opportunity to develop a new economic management model for the world": “Today, the economic order and the capitalist administration dominant over the international arena have failed."

To the head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, Ammar Hakim: “The enemies of humanity are pursuing long-term objectives in the Middle East and are currently seeking to change the situation to their own benefit.”

Expect more from Ahmadinejad this morning, as he opens a power plant.

0605 GMT: If it's summer, it must be time for a crackdown --- remember last year's arrests of youths who had a playful water fight in a Tehran garden? --- on dangerous fashion and dangerous behaviour. 

Radio Zameneh summarises this week's news:

The Ahwaz public prosecutor has announced that women will be sentenced to cash fines or imprisonment if they are seen in public disobeying the Islamic dress code.

The prosecutor’s office has reportedly announced that penalties could include up to two months in jail or cash fines of anywhere between 50 and 500,000 rials.

Meanwhile, in Tehran, 53 coffee shops have been shut down as part of the “local security plan."

A Tehran security official told ISNA that the coffee shops have been shut down because they were in violation of Islamic values.

Tehran police announced that Tehran parks will also become subject to security checks.