Authorities issued new guidelines to censor media and news coverage. The Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) has ordered the media to refrain from publishing news regarding the referral of Iran to the Security Council which would imply that "it is all over and that the Islamic Republic has lost the case.”
The SNSC Secretariat has warned that violating the ban would be considered as "contrary to the State’s interests." All members of the media have been warned in writing and in person and told that, “under no circumstances should they violate this guideline or their license will be revoked.”
The SNSC has ordered the media to take note of the following when covering the news on the nuclear dossier:
1- Refrain from fomenting anxiety and fear among the public,
2- Refrain from implying that the regime has reached an impasse on this issue,
3- Refrain from characterizing the issue as a diplomatic failure
Yesterday, Jamshid Edalatian, Vice President of the Trade and Industries Chamber of Commerce, admitted in an interview with official news agency ILNA that, “If Iran’s nuclear dossier in the UN Security Council would result in sanctions, imports and exports would face difficulties and economic growth will stop. Many industries in need of equipment and raw material would stop operating. Therefore, distribution of goods in the country would be faced with problems." He added, “The country will be in confusion and face a dangerous and unstable future until it is clear whether or not there will be sanctions,. This is the worst enemy for the economy and will cause chaos and confusion in investment.”
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
February 25, 2006