{"id":11186,"date":"2023-03-22T14:17:59","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T11:17:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/?p=11186"},"modified":"2023-03-22T14:18:44","modified_gmt":"2023-03-22T11:18:44","slug":"tehran-and-baghdad-sign-security-agreement-political-prisoner-from-evin-survival-of-the-iranian-republic-is-against-the-survival-of-the-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/monitoring-and-translation\/iran-in-a-week\/tehran-and-baghdad-sign-security-agreement-political-prisoner-from-evin-survival-of-the-iranian-republic-is-against-the-survival-of-the-country\/","title":{"rendered":"Tehran and Baghdad Sign Security Agreement; Political Prisoner From Evin: Survival of the Iranian Republic Is Against the Survival of the Country<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Changing Direction: From Confrontation to Interaction With the World<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The editorial of Jahan Sanat cites recent developments in Iran\u2019s foreign policy, emphasizing that only through engagement with the world will it be possible to achieve development and economic prosperity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new Iranian year started on Monday. In recent weeks leading to the new year, there were many breakthroughs in Iran\u2019s foreign policy, the results of which might be seen in coming months. Even though Ebrahim Raisi\u2019s record regarding the economy is not acceptable and all the economic decisions taken by his government have failed, the news of Iran and Saudi Arabia resuming relations had positive impacts on Iran\u2019s economy, proving that an interactive foreign policy can be the solution to Iran\u2019s deteriorating economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more than a decade, Iran\u2019s economy has suffered from tough sanctions. The sanctions started under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad\u2019s government when it adopted a confrontational approach against the world. Hassan Rouhani\u2019s government tried to take the path of engagement and peace with the world after signing the nuclear deal. But he failed, and when the deal was suspended, the sanctions were reinstated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of the sanctions, there was a significant drop in investment, an increase in capital flight, skyrocketing inflation, and a shrinkage of people\u2019s tables. Moreover, we could witness a surge in brain drain and a drop in public trust \u2013 an issue that can be seen in its worst possible way these days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent days, there have been big developments in foreign policy. The visit of Iran\u2019s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani to China and the agreement with Saudi Arabia and then his trip to the UAE all indicate diplomatic activities of a security entity. It seems that Shamkhani, as Iran\u2019s representative, will undertake other international visits and his meetings will be of great significance for Iran\u2019s diplomacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If so, does this mean there is a change in Iran\u2019s strategy from confrontation to engagement with the world? Or is this engagement just for the short run to decrease the current pressures on Iran\u2019s economy? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no doubt that now that Iran has limited options under the pressure of the sanctions, this engagement with the world can be promising. But there are many ambiguities in this regard: does this mean a change in the Iranian government\u2019s strategy? And will Ebrahim Raisi\u2019s government go along with these changes?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shamkhani\u2019s mission reveals the fact that any country\u2019s development and welfare depend on its engagement with the world. No country, as a matter of fact, has ever achieved development in isolation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jahan Sanat<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spread of Poverty and Class Disparity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The editorial of Eghtesad Saramad insists that the Iranian government should take measures to stop the widening class disparity, underscoring that if no steps are taken in this regard, it will have irreparable consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is every citizen\u2019s natural right to enjoy social privileges, services and welfare with no worries at all. This is because expansion of social services and welfare will not only satisfy citizens, but also create justice for individuals and social cohesion at different levels of society, enhancing unity between people, the government and the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advancing justice and increasing the level of services will result in a balance which will elevate the level of accountability, commitment and ethical conduct among senior managers and officials. It also strengthens national solidarity among people. If, for some reason (be it political, economic, social, cultural, religious, etc.), the social balance is disrupted, the balance in society will be unsettled which will in turn result in irreparable losses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current social and economic conditions in Iran reveal that with widespread poverty and the widening class disparity, the lack of social balance is turning into an increasingly corrosive problem which will lead to many challenges if it is not resolved swiftly. These challenges will gradually become numerous crises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the factors in increasing social disparity and disrupting the social balance is the monopoly of a certain group over social privileges through rent-seeking, systematic corruption, bribery, factionalism, etc.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a small group allocates a lot of privileges to themselves, their children and relatives, then it is the rest of society that has to pay for it. In all societies, poverty manifests in two forms: relative and absolute. Under these circumstances, society will divide into two groups: a small group which is happy with the status quo and a large group that, lacking the social privileges, is unhappy with the ongoing circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So the Iranian government must opt for scientific, logical and structural changes to stop the spread of the economic crisis and the widening of the class disparity. It must take real objective measures to stop the destruction of the middle class. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eghtesad Saramad<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Balance in Foreign Policy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The editorial of Arman Melli argues that the Iranian government must seek to achieve a balance in its foreign policy and pursuing the country\u2019s economic interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the beginning, Ebrahim Raisi\u2019s government asserted that its regional policy aims to build friendly relations with neighboring countries, intending to create balanced relations with these countries. The government also vowed to opt for the policy known as \u201cLook to the East\u201d which has been fulfilled as Iran\u2019s membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and resuming relations with Saudi Arabia demonstrate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What must be noted here is that the Iranian republic has followed the so-called policy of \u201cNo East, No West\u201d in its agenda from the beginning. That is why the government should not lean too much toward the East and forget the abovementioned slogan in its foreign policy. A balance should exist in engagement with the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking toward the East means that the Eastern bloc can help Iran to stand up against the West\u2019s hegemony. But if the East\u2019s hegemony is going to replace the West\u2019s, then it is going to backfire, which is why the foreign policy apparatus must act carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran must have relations with both the East and the West to boost its domestic development. If the government is only intent on having nominal diplomatic relations with other countries, such a foreign policy cannot have any effect on the country\u2019s economic situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such a diplomatic approach adopted by Iran might be more to the advantage of other countries. For instance, Iraq is taking advantage of Iran\u2019s economic situation, while Tehran is benefitting much less from the Iraqi market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raisi\u2019s government has taken positive steps in establishing relations with other countries and becoming a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and participating in different economic forums, but these steps must earn economic profits for Iran as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arman Melli<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating Jobs With the Participation of the Private Sector<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The editorial of Kasb-o-kar emphasizes the fact that the government must pave the way for the private sector to play a substantial role in creating jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating millions of jobs requires surmounting the existing obstacles. Currently, many big obstacles must be removed from the path of creating jobs, while some of these obstacles are structural and cannot be removed in the short run. So, some fundamental steps must be taken for overcoming these obstacles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, businesses have been seriously damaged by the sanctions. At first, the government must provide technical assistance to entrepreneurs and businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, no plan has been fully implemented. But before implementing any large-scale plan, the government must include the necessary mechanisms in its agenda. To do so, there is no option but to pave the way for the private sector to play an extensive role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most important features in this field is giving the priority to production. It is wrong if the government thinks that it can create jobs without the cooperation of the private sector. To decrease unemployment and enhance long-term job creation, it is essential to enable people to participate in the economic field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating stability in the labor market through long-term employment opportunities requires an increase in production and knowledge-based businesses. If Iran wants to create a real private sector, then entrepreneurs must play a role in the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kasb-o-kar<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Iran and Iraq Sign Security Agreement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 Iran\u2019s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, during his trip to Baghdad, signed a security agreement with his Iraqi counterpart to end the activities of the opposition forces to the Iranian regime in Iraq\u2019s Kurdish region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The deal was signed with Iraq\u2019s National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji in the presence of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran\u2019s Supreme National Security Council reported that the deal between the two countries has been underway for several months and will have a decisive impact on managing security challenges between Iran and Iraq.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Iraqi prime minister\u2019s office issued a statement in this regard, and without mentioning the details, announced that a security agreement has been reached which includes coordination in protecting the joint border between the two countries and boosting cooperation in several security fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Shamkhani, who represents Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Iran\u2019s Supreme National Security Council, this deal, if implemented, will guarantee security and stability along the two countries\u2019 shared border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier, Noor News, a media outlet close to Iran\u2019s Supreme National Security Council, had reported that the activities of anti-Iranian regime groups in Iraq\u2019s Kurdish region were the main issue in this security deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, the IRGC has repeatedly attacked with missiles and drones the positions of Kurdish groups in Iraqi Kurdistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These attacks escalated along with nationwide protests in Iran, particularly because the protests were more extensive in Iran\u2019s Kurdish region. To suppress the protests in its Kurdish region, Iran deployed its military forces and heavy and semi-heavy weapons. According to Kurdish Human Rights Watch, more than 100 protesters were killed in these attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his meeting with his Iraqi counterpart, Shamkhani once again spoke against the United States, alleging that the US presence in the region is \u201cdisrupting the security and stability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Iranian regime has repeated called for the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq but the US Minister of Defense during his recent trip to Iraq underlined Washington\u2019s commitment to maintain its forces in this country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VOA Persian<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Radio Farda<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Political Prisoner From Evin: Survival of the Iranian Republic Is Against the Survival of Iran<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bahareh Hedayat, a political prisoner, has issued a message from Evin Prison on the eve of the new Iranian year (which started on Monday). Honoring those who were killed in the recent protests, she urged the overthrow of the Iranian regime saying, \u201cIf we want freedom, whichever way we go, it will end in ending the clerical regime and removing political Islam from governance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pointing to the names of those killed and executed during the recent nationwide protests, Hedayat writes, \u201cThis is the eighth new year\u2019s eve that I have spent in the prison of the Islamic Republic, but my faith in victory is now more than ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stating that the Iranian regime has transformed into the most unethical aspect of Iranian people\u2019s lives, Hedayat emphasizes that its survival is in contradiction with the survival of Iran and the Iranian people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This former student activist underscored that \u201cI hold my head high and am proud of my compatriots,\u201d adding that in her eighth year of imprisonment, she wishes that what remains of her life can be used to heal the wounds of the people and save the nation of Iran ultimately. She goes on to say that \u201cIf my life is my share in this world, I am ready to give it all, without any complaints, for realizing the Iranian people\u2019s will.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is not the first time that Hedayat has written from the prison to stress the necessity of overthrowing the Iranian regime. In a previous letter from Evin Prison, she considered the recent protests as different from the \u201creformist\u201d movement in Iran, urging that the \u201crevolution\u201d would be victorious and the Iranian regime \u201cmust go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VOA Persian<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran International<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Khamenei\u2019s Representative Wages War Against Women Who Do Not Wear Hijab<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Six months after Iran\u2019s protest movement of \u201cWoman, Life, Freedom,\u201d the authorities are still under the impression that they can stamp it out by re-escalating restrictions on women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the latest case, the editor of Kayhan daily and representative of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has issued threats against women who remove their veils in public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addressing the authorities, Hossein Shariatmadari wrote that if they do not confront women\u2019s unveiling, \u201cpeople\u201d would \u201center the battlefield\u201d to take the matter into their own hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not clarifying who exactly he means by the word \u201cpeople,\u201d Shariatmadari noted, \u201cPeople might think that officials are not capable of confronting some of the women who unveil themselves or, God forbid, not doing their duties thoroughly.\u201d He continued, \u201cso they themselves might confront such deviations which threaten religious beliefs, chastity and morality in society.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Khamenei\u2019s representative added that the \u201cconsequences of such measures would be detrimental.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These threats came after the bloody crackdown of peaceful protests following the killing in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Ahmad Reza Radan, Iran\u2019s police chief, stated that \u201cnumerous\u201d meetings on hijab were recently held in the Interior Ministry, adding that \u201cpeople\u201d would not \u201ctolerate\u201d the opposition to obligatory hijab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to those statements, the closure of 17 tourism centers as well as \u201cissuing warnings\u201d against 258 centers for \u201cnot observing the rules of Islamic hijab\u201d was reported by the deputy to the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Ali Asghar Shalbafian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, the most brazen and insulting proposition in this regard came from Hamshahri daily which said police forces should ask the women who believe in hijab to confront them with \u201cthe naked and lecherous\u201d women in order to \u201cput them right.\u201d The Iranian authorities often consider women who take off their veils as \u201cnaked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an establishment whose supreme leader recurrently encouraged his supporters to \u201cfire at will\u201d when the government \u201ccannot act properly,\u201d such blatant invitations to violence are no surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VOA Persian<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eghtesad News<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only 27 Percent Raise in Workers\u2019 Wages With Inflation Rate at 53 Percent<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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While Iran\u2019s Statistical Center has announced that point-by-point inflation for last month was more than 53 percent, workers\u2019 wages in Iran have only increased 27 percent, reaching 5,308,000 tomans per month for the new Iranian year (which started on Monday).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier, there were reports of strong differences among the members of the Supreme Labor Council in this regard, which consists of representatives of the government, employers and workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the recent agreement, one of the workers\u2019 representatives Ali Khodaie asserted that giving in to this rate of increase in wages does not mean the workers\u2019 representatives are satisfied with it at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Iranian media outlets, currently the poverty line in Iran is at least 18 million tomans per month and official statistics reveal that at least 14.5 million workers are subject to labor laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the meantime, the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare in its annual report called \u201cMonitoring Poverty\u201d announced that there was a 71 percent growth in poverty risk in the first half of the last Iranian year. It also stated that in the past decade, the number of poor has doubled with more than 30 percent of the population below the poverty line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The worker\u2019s livelihood basket last month reached 17,843,000 tomans, which has almost doubled compared to the same month last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Principle 41 of Iran\u2019s labor law  stipulates that an increase in workers\u2019 wages must be compatible with the inflation rate and livelihood basket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, Iranian workers have increasingly held gatherings in protest over their living conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier, the workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company, in their protests, had called the performance of Ebrahim Raisi\u2019s government \u201canti-people and anti-workers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Workers\u2019 protests have continued along with the nationwide protests of \u201cWoman, Life, Freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran International<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Radio Farda<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Changing Direction: From Confrontation to Interaction With the World The editorial of Jahan Sanat cites recent developments in Iran\u2019s foreign policy, emphasizing that only through engagement with the world will it be possible to achieve development and economic prosperity. The new Iranian year started on Monday. In recent weeks leading to the new year, there […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":11191,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-iran-in-a-week"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11186","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11186"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11186\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11193,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11186\/revisions\/11193"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11191"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11186"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11186"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11186"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}