TEHRAN: A reformist daily newspaper called Etemad Melli (National Confidence), published by the party of the same name, appeared on newsstands yesterday, a month after the party’s satellite channel was banned.
The party is headed by Mehdi Karoubi, a former parliament speaker who came third in the first round of last June’s presidential elections.
He protested against the handling of the poll by the ultra-conservatives, which resulted in hardline Mahmoud Ahmadinejad going to the second turn and winning the election.
The 16-page colour daily paper is focused on general information.
Funded by Karoubi, satellite channel Saba TV was shut down on December 22 before even making its first broadcast from Dubai. Iran’s constitution does not allow any radio or television stations to operate outside state control.
