This column features excerpts from news articles, editorials, commentaries, and interviews of the leading Iranian newspapers and websites.

Sunday’s headlines
IRAN: People’s vote on June 11 (2009) insured the revolution (a reference to the anniversary of the presidential vote on June 11, 2009)
HEMAYAT: Justice minister advises to avoid stirring up differences
JAVAN: 6 leading Western diplomats express support for Iran’s nuclear program
TEHRAN-E EMROOZ: Hamid Sajjadi is the main option for sports and youth ministry
JAME JAM: We do not sacrifice environment for policy, Department of Environment director says
KAYHAN: The Guardian Council rejects merger of Communication Ministry with Transport and Housing Ministry
MELLATEMA: Impeachment of interior minister, a new game by the deviant current
QODS: President says price of handicrafts should be decreased to the extent possible
TAFAHOM: House price increases by 7%, the Statistical Center of Iran (SCI) announces
KHORASAN: Imports of agricultural products have increased two-and-half times in 5 years
Leading articles
HAMSHAHRI printed a satellite image on its front page comparing the Urmia Lake in Iran with Turkey’s Van Lake. The newspaper says the satellite picture shows a white color around the Urmia Lake which shows the shrinkage of the lake and that the area is turning into a salt land. However, the newspaper says the darkness of the Van Lake indicates that it has become deeper. The deputy director of the dry and semi-dry regions, Parviz Garshasbi in an interview says about 80.000 to 100.000 hectares of land in West Azarbaijan have been turned into desert over the last two years. Garshasbi said natural resource officials in West Azarbaijan have suggested that the province be classified among desert provinces in the country. (The Urmia Lake is a salt lake lying in the northwestern Iran and is home to various migratory birds. The lake is located between the provinces of East Azarbaijan and West Azarbaijan. It is the third largest salt water lake on earth with a surface area of approximately 5,200 square kilometers.)
JAVAN in a news report quotes Ali Akbar Velayati, foreign policy advisor to the Supreme Leader, as saying enemies are seeking to ignite sectarian conflicts in the Islamic world. “The Islamic awakening is faced with the danger of sectarian strife by enemies” Velayati said. However, the Islamic awakening, inspired by the Islamic Republic of Iran, came as a frustration to the hegemonic powers, said Velayati, a former foreign minister. He added the enemies of Muslims, including the U.S., are trying to halt the progress of Muslims by breaking up Muslim countries, imposing war on them, toppling popular governments in these countries, and putting political, military and economic pressure on them.