A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on Feb 23

Abrar:

1. Threadbare poses against doctors
2. Parliament Speaker: No whips needed in politics
3. Clinton supports Palestinians’ right to have own country
4. President stresses continuation of administration’s healthcare plan
5. Chinese banks freeze North Korean accounts: Report
6. US dismisses N. Korea’s call for peace
7. Italian premier to visit Tehran in spring
8. UN Warns of Nuclear Material Falling into Terrorist Hands

Abrar Eqtesadi:

1. Spain’s first post-sanctions petrochemical finance deal in Iran
2. 200 foreign investors enter Iran’s capital market
3. Iran proposes commencement of German joint oil parts production

Afkar:

1. US dismisses Pyongyang’s call for peace
2. Iran endorses Syrian ceasefire

Arman-e Emrouz:

1. Rafsanjani: Calling lists British is an insult to nation’s intelligence
2. Intelligence Minister: Stop calling others British [agents]
3. Friday’s election is life and death for moderates: Activist

Asrar:

1. FM voices Iranian support for Syrian truce
2. UK invites Iran’s youth football team
3. Siemens to unblock equipment for Iran
4. Spokesman: Adel al-Jubeir’s remarks are a joke

Asia:

1. US, UK investors in Tehran stock market
2. Iranian firms offer stocks in Istanbul market
3. 121 foreign, 311 Iranian expatriate experts heading to Tehran car conference

Ebtekar:

1. Ayatollah praises electoral “List of Hope”
2. Real and virtual election campaigns
3. Zarif skewers Saudis in EU parliament

Ettela’at:

1. Turkey says that Riyadh sending ground troops to Syria is unlikely
2. World’s major automotive executives heading to Tehran

Tehran is to host the biggest international car-manufacturing meeting next week.

3. Clerics urge people to have the highest turnout
4. FM Zarif: Iran supports any measure to save Syria
5. BBC: Saudi Coalition, Al-Qaeda fighting Ansarollah in Yemen
6. Remains of 68 Sacred Defense martyrs return to Iran

Etemad:

1. Hashemi endorses “List of hope”
2. Aref asks nation to vote for 30+16 list

The electoral list is comprised of moderate and reformist candidates for the February 26 elections.

3. Reformists call on nation for maximum election turnout

“Everybody to the ballot boxes”

Emtiaz:

1. Tehran air still polluted; dust keeps blanketing Tehran
2. 36,000 kids back to school
3. EU, US firms line up to partner with Iran petrochemical projects
4. Iran railway transit up 123%

Iran:

1. Presidential Advisor forbids candidates from distorting economic facts in election campaigns
2. Iranian artists sign off on elections
3. Iran, Siemens restore oil ties
4. FM: High election turnout safeguards diplomatic victories

Payam Zaman:

1. Swift and LCs yet to open for Iranian banks
2. German car-makers heading to Iran
3. Iran crude oil refinery in Romania
4. Iran shows strength in Asian Champions League
5. Chief of Staff calls on candidates to adopt strategic approaches

Jomhouri Islami:

1. Sheikh Al-Azhar: Shiites, Sunnis wings of Islam
2. Turkey retreats from sending ground troops to Syria
3. Iran’s internal issues no business of foreigners: Spokesman

Javan:

1. US, Russia truce initiative on the table for Iran
2. Campaigns become 3D

Principalists, reformists and Ali Motahhari’s lists make the election campaigns three-dimensional in Iran.

Rah-e Mardom:

1. Remembering the capture of Abdolmalek Rigi
2. Leader’s view about the top candidates
3. IRR200m virtual casinos [in Iran]

Resalat:

1. Views of 8 candidates about major principalist coalition
2. UN silence regarding Zeynabiyeh, Homs blasts

Rooyesh Mellat:

1. Spokesman calls on Riyadh to stop meddling with general consensus

Keyhan:

1. Syrian army frees 31 villages in eastern Aleppo
2. 11 million workers still waiting for realization of promises after 2½ years
3. Traces of dirty money in reformists’ election campaigns
4. The life of the people missing from government supporters’ electoral lists
5. New York Post: Obama hopes Hashemi, Rouhani lists win in elections