With nuclear talks in Vienna extended yet again in pursuit of a comprehensive agreement, Iran’s regime grabbed headlines on Friday with rallies upholding the defense of Palestinians and denouncing Israel.
The Islamic Republic’s leaders, including President Rouhani, marched in the annual commemoration of al-Quds (Jersulem) Day. The regime’s statement said “the liberation of al-Quds from the clutches of the Israeli regime as the top priority of the Muslim world” and warned of “any scheme meant to distract the Muslims’ public opinion from the Palestinian cause. The Tehran Friday Prayer, by the hardline Ahmad Khatami, was delivered from a podium with the slogan — in English as well as Farsi and Arabic — “Israel Should Be Wiped from the Page of Time”.
However, with Iran and the 5+1 Powers (US, Britain, France, Germany, China, and Russia) continuing their nuclear negotiations and announcing a new target of July 13 for resolution, there is a telling split in Iranian media coverage.
The Revolutionary Guards outlet Fars News carries a series of stories denouncing the Israelis, including a summary of Khatami’s speech and headlining a statement from Iran’s top military commander, “Zionists’ Attack against Iran Ends in Razing Israel“.
In contrast, the regime’s English-language outlet, Press TV, ran only one story at the start of Friday. It ignored developments during the day, including the Tehran Friday Prayer.
Talks in Vienna resumed on Saturday with another meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry.
