A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on August 5

The comments of Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Foreign Minister Zarif in defense of the nuclear accord Iran and P5+1 struck in Vienna last month dominated the front pages of Iranian newspapers on Wednesday.

Ettela’at: “The arrival in Iran of foreign economic delegations serves as a guarantor of the nuclear accord,” said Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

The top diplomat further said the so-called snap-back of sanctions won’t be acceptable [to the world community].

Abrar: “The hardliners in parliament do not care about the establishment or about the nation,” said a member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly.

Abrar: “Neighboring countries will be given priority for investment in Iran,” President Rouhani said.

Abrar-e Eghtesadi: The Iranian oil minister has warned of another plunge in oil prices.

But Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said Iran has worked out a mechanism under which its oil revenues won’t drop.

Abrar-e Eghtesadi: Spain’s largest oil company will return to Iran’s market.

Afarinesh: “We are not overjoyed at the flurry of visits by foreign officials; these contacts, though, serve as a guarantor of the Vienna deal,” Foreign Minister Zarif said.

His comments came in response to claims by the opponents of the nuclear deal that the Rouhani administration and its supporters are overjoyed to see the arrival of Western officials in Tehran.

Afkar: “Iran has made remarkable progress as far as scientific development is concerned,” said Ali Akbar Velayati, the chairman of the Center for Strategic Studies.

Aftab-e Yazd: “The sloganeering of the previous government nipped harmony in the bud,” said the chairman of the Expediency Council.

“The taboo of holding talks with the US has been shattered; some are still flailing, though,” Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said.

Arman-e Emrooz: The governors who do not act in line with the policies of the government will be replaced.

Will the recommendation Arman-e Emrooz first made a year ago be acted on?!

Asrar: “Six of the historical artifacts which have been sent back to Iran by Italy are not genuine,” said the deputy director of the Cultural Heritage Organization.

Asrar: “The public should safeguard the developments of 2013 [a reference to the election of Hassan Rouhani as president],” said the chairman of the Expediency Council.

Ebtekar: “Let the public breathe easily in the new atmosphere created by the 11^th government,” Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said.

Ebtekar: “Maybe in his dreams, Zakani has seen me say, ‘Pray for the nuclear deal to fall apart,'” the director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said.

[The sarcastic comment of Ali Akbar Salehi came after the hardline MP quoted the nuclear chief as saying that the nuclear deal is a bad one and everyone should pray for it not to come into effect.]

Etemad: Shiraz pressure groups on trial

After six months of media pressures, those who attacked Tehran MP Ali Motahari in the southern city of Shiraz have eventually appeared in court.

Etemad: Foreign Minister Zarif has attended a special meeting of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations to offer explanations about the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and UN Resolution [2231].

At the meeting, the top diplomat said he does not seek to manage the world [a sarcastic reference to the former president who kept saying that he had plans for the management of the world].

Hambastegi: “The agreement with P5+1 was a great achievement for Iran,” said top Shiite cleric Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi.

Hemayat: The controversial activity of the BBC in Iran

Iran: There has been a change in the way Arabs view Iran.

The chairman of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council has said that the Vienna accord will promote regional stability.

Iran: Diplomacy flourishing in Tehran

[The president, his foreign minister and the deputy foreign minister have held meetings with visiting foreign officials.]

Kayhan: The BBC got a permit for activity in Iran; Kayhan received an admonition!

Kayhan: Some 84 percent of Turkish people are opposed to the military intervention of their country in Syria.

Resalat: “Presence in Iraq and resistance in Syria are a strategic decision,” said Kamal Kharrazi [a former foreign minister].

Resalat: “Iran will respond with a vengeance to any hostile act by the US,” said Brigadier General Fadavi [the commander of the naval forces of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps].

Sepid: Sexual dissatisfaction is to blame for 40 percent of drug addiction cases.

Setareh Sobh: “The trees of a 6.5 hectare garden have been cut down in Mashhad,” Khorasan provincial Environment Protection Department reported.

Sharq: An Iran-US house of trade has been formed.