PHOTO: Culture Minister Ali Jannati


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Adopting the language of the Supreme Leader, the Rouhani Government has warned that Iran is “facing a media war from the West”.

Culture Minister Ali Jannati made the remarks as he hosted Russia’s Communications Minister Nikolai Nikiforov on Sunday.

In its pursuit of greater political and social openness, as well as the nuclear deal with the US and other powers, the Government had refrained from the “soft war” rhetoric of the Supreme Leader and the Revolutionary Guards.

However, the line appears to have been changed by the escalation of the conflict in Syria, where Iran has joined this month’s regime-Russian offensive seeking a breakthrough across several provinces. As Ayatollah Khamenei has declared that the US is using the nuclear agreement to undermine the Islamic Republic, Iran is pursuing a propaganda campaign alongside Moscow in support of the Assad regime.

On Sunday, Jannati called for further links with Russia’s outlets, while Nikiforov “welcomed bilateral cooperation in cyberspace”.


Foreign Ministry Lashes Out at Saudi Arabia After Maneuvers Over Syria

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has lashed out at Riyadh, denouncing as “worthless” the “anti-Iran allegations of Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir”.

On Saturday, al-Jubeir followed up discussions on Syria with Russia, the US, and Turkey with the comments that Iran would be discredited in any talks because of its support of “terrorism”.

Russia is pressing for Tehran, an ally of the Assad regime, to be included in negotiations which Moscow hopes will keep President Assad in power at least during a “political transition”.

An unnamed Foreign Ministry official advised Jubeir to “make comments that fit his diplomatic weight”. He castigated Saudi Arabia for its aerial intervention since March in Yemen’s civil war, which “has shed the blood of innocent and defenseless people”.

He said “the repeated and valueless allegations of the Saudi minister do not merit a political response or any official reaction”.