Iran News Round Up August 19, 2011

Politics

* Ya-Lisarat al-Hossein demands that Ahmadinejad distance himself from Iran because it has "ridiculed the hijab."
* Hojjat al-Eslam Mohammad Saidi, Qom Friday prayer leader, warns "non-experts" not to discuss religious issues.
* Rafsanjani receiving former prisoners of war says "with the great oil revenues achieved, we should not witness economic problems today."
* According to Fararu News, the reformist camp is "not inclined to participate in [the parliamentary] election."

Diplomacy

* Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, temporary Tehran Friday prayer leader, says unrest in Britain is the result of the Islamic awakening and Quds [Jerusalem] Day, adds Britain "managed to suppress the unrest with the help of the United States and the army," and promised that protests "against the Zionist regime are prelude to establishment of the reign of injustice and force by the Imam of the Era..."
* [E] Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is due to pay a visit to Tehran in September to discuss ways of expanding mutual cooperation.
* [E] Somali officials lauded the humanitarian aids provided by the Islamic Republic of Iran for the drought-stricken people of Somalia.

Military and Security

* Aziz Nasirzadeh, Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force coordination deputy, denies previous reports that the planned air show will be with "international participation," says only "domestic forces" will participate.
* Mohammad Shahrokhi, Lorestan Abolfazl Revolutionary Guards unit chief, says the "Revolutionary Guards have no limits when it comes to defense of the values and achievements of the Islamic revolution..."
* The Intelligence Ministry says it has dissolved "an anti-religious website" which is "connected with foreign embassies."

Religion, Society and Culture

* Hojjat al-Eslam Mohsen Qera'ati defends the right of women to wear "halal makeup."
* Iran Cultural Heritage Organization warns against decay of more than 30 Sassanid-era buildings.
* Aftab News releases an interview with actor Saman Arastou who was known as Farzaneh prior to her sex change operation.

Source: http://www.irantracker.org/roundup/iran-news-round-august-19-2011