{"id":7630,"date":"2020-02-13T14:28:26","date_gmt":"2020-02-13T11:28:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/?p=7630"},"modified":"2021-06-01T12:45:24","modified_gmt":"2021-06-01T09:45:24","slug":"outcome-of-the-islamic-revolution-a-sick-anxious-and-hopeless-society-failed-satellite-launch-costs-2-million-euros","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/monitoring-and-translation\/iran-in-a-week\/outcome-of-the-islamic-revolution-a-sick-anxious-and-hopeless-society-failed-satellite-launch-costs-2-million-euros\/","title":{"rendered":"Outcome of the Islamic Revolution: A Sick, Anxious, and Hopeless Society; Failed Satellite Launch Costs 2 Million Euros"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Overt and Covert\nCorruption in the 2010s<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The editorial of Jahan Sanat goes over the issue of\ncorruption in Iran during the 2010s, showing how the situation has deteriorated\nduring the past decade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today everybody knows of the destructive impact of economic\ncorruption on a country\u2019s growth and development. Different studies and\nexperiences throughout the world have shown that corruption can be a\nsignificant barrier in the path of a country\u2019s development. Corruption is a\nuniversal issue which more or less exists in all countries of the world. The main\ndifference is in the way countries tackle corruption. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the corruption index for the 2010s shows ups and\ndowns, it has basically been on the rise, with Iran\u2019s ranking in 2011 at 120,\nreaching 148 in 2019. During 2011 and 2017, Iran\u2019s ranking was between 130 and\n136, which indicated a steadiness with regard to corruption. But during the past\ntwo years, it has spiked. If this trend continues, Iran could become one of the\nworst countries in the world with regard to corruption. It is not easy to decrease\ncorruption, which is why one of the most important features of Iran\u2019s economy\nin the 2010s was a steadiness in corruption levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, Iran has suffered from far-reaching corruption, and\nthe 2010s was the decade of deepening economic corruption in the country and\nits transformation. In the past, there were no huge cases of corruption, but\nduring the 2010s, there were multiple cases of large-scale corruption. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the often disregarded side effects of widespread corruption\nis that with repetition, it becomes normal. Other people become highly\nmotivated to take part in corruption, resulting in an increase in small cases\nof corruption. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It seems that corruption in Iran has reached an undesirable\nlevel. During the 2010s, there was a rise in Iran\u2019s ranking on the corruption\nindex, and there were cases of massive corruption. Iran\u2019s current economic\nproblems are partly due to this issue. That is why corruption must be dealt\nwith to improve economic conditions and create economic stability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

The Heavy Cost of not\nRatifying the FATF on the Economy and People\u2019s Lives<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The editorial of Setareh Sobh explains how not ratifying\nFATF bills will put more pressure on Iran\u2019s economy and the Iranian people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether the FATF is ratified or not, US sanctions have\nrestricted Iran\u2019s banking activities including banking transactions in dollars\nand euros. Currently, Iran has limited transactions with China and some other\ncountries, and medicine and food is imported. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It seems that the Expediency Discernment Council will not\nratify FATF bills, because a majority of this council\u2019s members hold a strong\nposition against relations with the West. Under these circumstances, we should\nstudy the conditions in North Korea which is blacklisted by the FATF to see\nwhat is happening in that country and where it is going in the future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In light of Iran\u2019s significance, there is a good chance that\nwhenever officials are willing to resolve the issue and accept the FATF bills,\nthere is a way for ratifying the bills and not getting blacklisted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main issue is that the country and people will be harmed\nbecause of these restrictions. The problem is that the sanctions are not\nlimited to selling oil, but include exporting steel as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran might have an economy without oil and reach the level\nof those countries whose economies are in good condition without selling oil.\nOnly then will selling oil just be a part of the economy, and not the main part\nof it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But under Iran\u2019s current economic conditions and its\nproblems, oil revenue is a big issue. Also, countries that do not have oil have\nother economic opportunities and can have foreign and domestic investors. Now,\nif oil cannot be exported and there are no other economic opportunities, this\nwill harm national interests and people\u2019s lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite talks of a non-oil economy, Iran\u2019s economy is\ndependent on oil. Turkey\u2019s economy which is twice as big as Iran\u2019s economy has\nno oil or gas. But Iran consumes 4 million tons of oil per day domestically. It\nis up to Iran\u2019s officials to decide on how to use its resources by improving\nthe country\u2019s foreign relations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Setareh Sobh<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preconditions for\nSocial Justice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The editorial of Jahan Sanat explains some of the issues\nthat will arise if the government increases taxes in next year\u2019s budget bill to\ncompensate for its budget deficit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue of taxation in next year\u2019s budget can be viewed\nfrom multiple perspectives. The next year\u2019s budget shows that there is no\nserious resolve in the government and the Parliament to amend the tax system in\nIran. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran\u2019s tax system is several decades old and creates\nobstacles for producers and businessmen. So it was expected that the country\u2019s\ntax system would be amended in order to realize social justice and decrease\ninequalities. But no such thing has happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If based on estimated tax revenues, ratified expenses in\nnext year\u2019s budget bill will not be provided for, then there is no other way\nbut to increase liquidity which will be a big blow to the country\u2019s economy.\nAnother issue in the country\u2019s tax system is the lobbying of influential people\nand groups to change tax regulations to advantage some in Iran. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To stop such cases, the country\u2019s tax system must be\ntransparent. And tax exemptions for certain groups on false excuses must stop.\nCurrently, the salaried class is one of the groups in Iran that is taxed and\ndeserves to be exempted from paying taxes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the current circumstances, high-income groups are\nexempted from paying taxes. As for tax exemptions for exporters, it means\ngiving them an exemption from exporting the country\u2019s wealth. Tax exemptions on\nexports are only meaningful if it means not exporting the country\u2019s resources.\nAlso, tax exemptions for special economic zones are not right. Even if the\nexemption is given in the name of economic growth and development, creating\njobs, decreasing poverty and inequality, only a certain group of people benefit\nfrom it. Such tax exemptions are common in Iran and only favor certain groups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the country is suffering from recession and US\nsanctions, increasing the government\u2019s tax revenues through increasing taxes is\nthe right policy, but increasing the tax rate will result in a deepening of the\nrecession.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

 \u201cWhat is to be Done\u201d has Been Neglected<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are getting closer to the parliamentary elections in Iran, and the Guardian Council has comprehensively disqualified \u201creformist\u201d candidates. The \u201creformist\u201d academic Sadegh Zibakalam explains why these disqualifications are indicative of the government neglecting the message of the November protests in which 1,500 people were killed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the November protests, many influential figures and\npolitical currents talked about what should be done. There was much talk of why\nthe young generation and millennials in Iran are so frustrated. It was said\nthat we should listen to them and to the people\u2019s problems; and there were\ntalks of creating measures to allow protesters to peacefully inform officials\nof their problems. There were talks on the issue of decreasing social capital\nand why this has happened. Along with the above, the widening gap between the\ngovernment and the people was talked about. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The expectation was that officials would have learnt lessons\nfrom the November protests, and because of the heavy human casualties, they\nmight pay more attention to the issues mentioned above. But surprisingly, it\nmust be pointed out that preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections\nindicate that the aforementioned points have not been taken seriously by\nofficials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was expected that the parliamentary elections would be\nheld in such a way allowing Parliament to return to the center of decision\nmaking in Iran. As we all remember, during the November protests and in the\naftermath of the gasoline price hikes, what was reiterated was that the Parliament\nhas no role in the country\u2019s important issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a matter of fact, a range of hardline \u201cprinciplists\u201d, the Front of Islamic Revolution Stability, and supporters of the former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will be significantly present in the 11th<\/sup> Parliament. The presence of these individuals and groups does not indicate progress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, it seems that none of the lessons of the\nNovember protests were taken seriously at all. It must be stressed that the\nsame old policies are being implemented. We do expect the 11th<\/sup> Parliament\nto be composed of diverse groups and voices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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Political Activists\non the Anniversary of the Revolution: Outcome of the Revolution is a Sick,\nAnxious, and Hopeless Society<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A number of political activists issued a statement on the\n41st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, calling for rule of law in order to\nexit the \u201csuper crises\u201d which already exist in Iran. They have also warned\nagainst consecutive uprisings and a gradual or sudden collapse of the Iranian\nestablishment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statement emphasizes that Iran is trapped in \u201chuge\nmultilayered crises and a labyrinth of economic, social, political, and legal\nproblems,\u201d stressing that during the past two decades \u2013 particularly the past\ntwo years \u2013 the conditions have significantly deteriorated in the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The signatories of the statement have underlined the fact\nthat the root of all economic and social crises in Iran are political, cultural\nand ideological. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statement attacks the judicial system for issuing\n\u201cincredibly long sentences\u201d to critics of the establishment, as well as\nemphasizing that the monitoring, summoning, and detainment of political\/social\nactivists \u2013 including students, teachers, worker, journalists, environmental,\nand women\u2019s rights activists \u2013 is nothing but intimidation of civil activists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They pointed out social crises such as recession,\nunemployment, poverty, misery, widespread crimes, addiction, and prostitution,\nstressing that an oil-based economy has prevented economic growth and\nprosperity in the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the statement, \u201cthe establishment created by\nthe revolution claimed that it would bring culture, spirituality, peace, and\nfreedom for the people, but it has an indefensible record, and the outcome of\nits 40-year project is nothing but a vexed, hopeless, anxious, and sick\nsociety.\u201d   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The signatories of the statement have said that eliminating the\ncurrent conditions in the country is only possible through structural reform to\nestablish the rule of law. They urged that without structural reforms in order\nto deal with these \u201csuper crises, we will witness more protests and uprisings\nand a gradual or sudden collapse of the establishment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deutsche Welle<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soleimani Praised for\nHis Role in the Crackdown on Protesters in Iran<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mohammad Ali Jafari, the former chief commander of the IRGC,\nwrote in a tweet that Qassem Soleimani who was killed last month in Iraq by\nAmerican forces, had a role in suppressing protests in Iran and took effective\nmeasures in this regard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Jafari, during the popular protests in 1998 and\n2009, Soleimani was on the ground to counter the protesters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1998, Tehran\u2019s University campus was raided by security\nforces, and in 2009, popular protests erupted against rigged presidential\nelections in which Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his tweet, Jafari says with regard to Soleimani\u2019s role in\nsuppressing these two protests that \u201che was seen again and again in Sarallah\nheadquarters,\u201d which is one of the IRGC\u2019s most important security units and it\nhas been in charge of managing the security in the province of Tehran. The Sarallah\nheadquarters had  a key role in suppressing\nthe protests in 1998 and 2009. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qassem Soleimani was in charge of the IRGC Quds Force and the\nregional policies of the Islamic Republic. Nevertheless, in recent years, there\nhave been multiple reports pointing to his role in domestic politics and the\ncrackdown on protests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, presidential\ncandidate in 2013, said in his speech concerning the suppression of the 2009\npopular protests that \u201cperhaps Soleimani and I did the most to stop the\nincidents from Saturday to Thursday.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, according to the Associate Press, in a meeting\nwith Iraqi security forces, Soleimani had told them \u201cin Iran, we know how to\ncounter the protests,\u201d giving guidelines to Iraqi forces in order for them to\nsuppress protests and confront Iraqi protesters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is more, the Syrian defense minister who had gone to\nIran for Soleimani\u2019s burial ceremony said in an interview that in 2010 when\nthere were no armed forces in Syria yet, Soleimani played a role in suppressing\nanti-government protests in that country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Samsung to Stop\nServices to Iranians Due to Sanctions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Samsung announced that after February 25, it cannot offer\nits purchased apps to Iranians, but free apps can still be accessed by Iranian\ncustomers of Samsung. This Korean company accounts for 60 percent of Iran\u2019s\nmobile market. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Aydin Aram, a member of the board of directors\nof importers of mobiles, tablets and accessories, Samsung previously allowed\ncustomers to make purchases from Google Play Store and pay for it in rials,\nwhile other brands wouldn\u2019t allow such transactions and they asked to be paid\nin dollars and euros. Now due to the sanctions on banks and the impossibility\nof money transfers, Samsung can no longer sell its products in the Iranian\nmarket. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aram added that under the current circumstances, no brand\ncan offer regular services in Iran, and softwares and services that were\navailable two years ago can no longer be accessed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samsung currently has control of 60 percent of the Iranian\nmarket. According to Iran\u2019s Statistical Center, 88 million mobiles are in use\nin the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two years ago, after removing some Iranian apps from the Apple\nstore, Google too removed Iranian apps including Snapp which is the first\nIranian transportation network company based in Tehran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time, Apple urged that this step was taken due to the\nUS sanctions against Iran. Apple has no official store in Iran, and its\ncellphones are smuggled into Iran. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

2 Million Euros Spent on a Failed Satellite Launch<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Iran announced that it failed in sending its domestically made Zafar satellite into orbit. At the same\ntime, it was reported that sounds of huge explosions were heard in the suburbs\nof the southeastern city of Zahedan which might have been caused by the\nremaining pieces of the Zafar satellite falling on the ground. Local media\nreported those sounds were heard at least eight times in the suburbs of\nZahedan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran\u2019s Ministry of Information and\nCommunications Technology announced that it has spent 2 million euros on\nbuilding the Zafar satellite, adding investment in this regard will continue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ministry made this\nannouncement at a time when 170,000 workers in Iran have not yet received their\nwages. The Islamic Republic\u2019s attempt at sending its domestically made Zafar satellite into orbit failed this\nweek again. Moreover, ICT Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi had said in\n2018 that 1 million euros were spent for\nsending the \u201cPayam\u201d satellite into orbit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, workers in different\ncities across Iran including the Ahvaz, Shiraz\nand Charmahal and Bakhtiari provinces have repeatedly staged protests as their\nemployers have refused to pay their wages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Overt and Covert Corruption in the 2010s The editorial of Jahan Sanat goes over the issue of corruption in Iran during the 2010s, showing how the situation has deteriorated during the past decade. Today everybody knows of the destructive impact of economic corruption on a country\u2019s growth and development. Different studies and experiences throughout the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":7635,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[4319,4316,4317,1637,4318,2585,1693],"class_list":["post-7630","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-iran-in-a-week","tag-2-million-euros","tag-anxious","tag-failed-satellite-launch","tag-iran-in-a-week","tag-satellite-launch","tag-society","tag-islamic-revolution"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7630","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=7630"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7630\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9269,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7630\/revisions\/9269"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7635"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7630"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7630"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7630"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}