Iran Unfiltered from NIAC (National Iranian American Council) Pezeshkian's Cabinet Wins Full Parliamentary Approval with Khamenei's Backing,

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Pezeshkian's Cabinet Wins Full Parliamentary Approval with Khamenei's Backing, Iranian Nurses Stage Nationwide Strikes Amid Growing Discontent, Diplomatic Tensions Rise as Iran Shuts Down German Language Institute in Tehran, and More

Week of August 19, 2024 | Iran Unfiltered is a digest tracking Iranian politics & society by the National Iranian American Council 

 - Pezeshkian’s Cabinet Wins Full Parliamentary Approval with Khamenei’s Backing

 - Nurses Stage Nationwide Strikes Amid Growing Discontent

 - Jaish al-Adl Claims Responsibility for Assassination of Iranian Police Official in Khash

 - Diplomatic Tensions Rise as Iran Shuts Down German Language Institute in Tehran

 - Iran’s Population Surpasses 91 Million Amidst Unexpected Growth

 - Bread Prices Surge by 25% Across 10 Iranian Provinces Amid Rising Costs

 - Pezeshkian’s Cabinet Wins Full Parliamentary Approval with Khamenei’s Backing

Iran’s Parliament has granted a vote of confidence to all ministers proposed by the 14th government under President Masoud Pezeshkian. In a speech delivered before the vote, Pezeshkian emphasized that the list of ministers was prepared in full coordination with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Pezeshkian assured the Parliament that no nominee was presented without prior consultation and approval from the Supreme Leader. He revealed that Abbas Saleh Shariati (Seyed Abbas Salehi) and Farzaneh Sadegh, the nominees for the Ministries of Culture and Islamic Guidance and Roads and Urban Development, respectively, were personally selected by Ayatollah Khamenei. Typically, Khamenei’s approach has been to privately endorse certain individuals, but since Pezeshkian chose to publicly reveal his agreement with the Supreme Leader, the Parliament was in a position where it was compelled to approve the entire cabinet despite majority oppositions to the proposed Ministers of Culture, Health, and Labor.  

Farzaneh Sadegh’s appointment is historic, making her the first female Minister of Roads and Urban Development and the second woman to serve in a ministerial position since the Islamic Revolution. Pezeshkian also noted that Abbas Araghchi, the nominee for Foreign Minister, was the first candidate approved by Ayatollah Khamenei, even before the list was formally submitted.

Pezeshkian’s remarks received applause from Members of Parliament twice during his speech. He admitted that he had compromised on his ideals to ensure unity, highlighting his agreements with the intelligence and security agencies, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The President urged Members of Parliament to approve his cabinet swiftly, stating, “Let us form the government as soon as possible.” He emphasized that his “team” should remain intact, reiterating that all nominees had been coordinated “at the highest levels.” Pezeshkian also defended his choice of Mohammadreza Zafarghandi as the Minister of Health, noting that he had been endorsed by ministers from both the left and right of the previous government.

Despite the dominance of conservatives and hardliners in the 12th Parliament, all 19 of Pezeshkian’s nominees received the necessary votes, with 288 Members of Parliament present. Six of the proposed ministers, including those for Education, Communications, Intelligence, Justice, Culture and Islamic Guidance, and Defense, received over 90% approval from the Parliament.

Azizi Nasirzadeh, the nominee for Defense Minister, garnered the highest approval rating, with over 97% of Members of Parliament voting in his favor. However, not all nominees received such strong support. Two ministers secured less than 60% of the vote; Mohammadreza Zafarghandi, the nominee for Health Minister, only received 56% approval, or 163 votes, and Reza Salehi Amiri only received 168 votes. Ahmed Meydari, the nominee for Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, also fell short of 70% approval.

Before the vote, the Independent Faction in Parliament called for a unified vote of confidence for all nominees, a stance that drew criticism from other Members of Parliament. Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolution Faction, the largest faction in the 12th Parliament close to the hardliners, held an internal vote in which four ministers perceived as close to reformists – Zafarghandi, Salehi Amiri, Hemmati, and Meydari – failed to secure majority support. Evidently, Ayatollah Khamenei’s endorsement of the ministers played a crucial role in ultimately swaying opinions.

Nonetheless, the approval of all of Pezeshkian’s ministers in Parliament, backed by Ayatollah Khamenei, marks a significant victory for Pezeshkian and suggests that various branches of the government have accepted his vision for resolving conflicts and demonstrating unity. However, this victory was notably achieved through reliance on the support of Ayatollah Khamenei. As Pezeshkian explicitly stated in Parliament, every minister was selected with the Supreme Leader’s approval. However, this approach could potentially further diminish the powers of the President in the long term.

Hesamodin Ashna, a close associate of former President Hassan Rouhani and the head of the Center for Strategic Research during Rouhani’s administration, responded to remarks by Masoud Pezeshkian on his Twitter account by tweeting the word “Prime Minister” (رئیس الوزرا). This was intended to imply that Pezeshkian had reduced the stature of the president to merely leading the cabinet and following the Supreme Leader’s directives. In response, Abbas Abdi, a supporter of Pezeshkian’s government, stated, “I’m not sure whether the use of the term ‘Prime Minister’ was meant to be a compliment or a criticism. But if it was intended as a criticism, which it seems to be, I must say that we would prefer this Prime Minister a thousand times over. He could appoint someone like Zafargandi as a minister in a conservative parliament, whereas in a reformist parliament, the president introduces his twenty-first choice for a minister and doesn’t disclose that higher authorities blocked his preferred candidates or that he couldn’t build consensus. Just because something isn’t said doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. This criticism only serves to highlight why Rouhani’s government ended up in such a disastrous state. The main reason for its failure was the complete lack of understanding of consensus, cooperation, and collaboration, both with those in power and with the people, which led to being rejected by both sides.”

However, one of the most significant criticisms of Pezeshkian’s cabinet has been the absence of Sunni representation, despite his earlier promises to include qualified individuals from all backgrounds in his administration to form a “National Unity Government.” The announcement of Pezeshkian’s cabinet list sank hopes for Sunni inclusion, leading to protests from religious leaders and Sunni Members of Parliament. In a Friday sermon in Zahedan, Molavi Abdolhamid, a prominent Sunni leader, expressed disappointment, saying, “The expectations of the people were not met at the first step, and many voters and those who encouraged participation are now worried.”

While Ayatollah Khamenei has frequently accused the West of sowing discord between Shia and Sunni Muslims in the region, the continued exclusion of Sunnis from governance within Iran appears to be sowing seeds of division domestically.

Moreover, Pezeshkian also appointed Shina Ansari and Majid Ansari as two new members of his cabinet in separate decrees. Shina Ansari becomes the third woman to join Pezeshkian’s cabinet as the head of the Department of Environmental Protection, while Majid Ansari has been appointed as the President’s Parliamentary Deputy. President Pezeshkian stated that he appointed both Shina Ansari and Majid Ansari to their respective positions due to their “proven qualifications, valuable management experience, and executive background.”

Shina Ansari is an environmental activist who holds a PhD in Environmental Management from the Science and Research Branch of Tehran. She began her career in environmental management as the head of the Environmental Protection Department in Ray County in 2002. She has also served as the head of this same department in Tehran, the Deputy Director General of the Environmental Protection Department of Tehran Province, the Deputy Director General of Alborz Province’s Environmental Protection Department, and the Director General of the Comprehensive Pollution Monitoring Office at the Department of Environmental Protection.

Majid Ansari is a member of the Expediency Discernment Council, the Executive Secretary of the Combatant Clergy Association, and a well-known figure in the Islamic Republic of Iran, with experience in all three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. He previously served as the Parliamentary Deputy and Legal Deputy in the eleventh and twelfth administrations under former President Hassan Rouhani. He also held the positions of Legal and Parliamentary Deputy under President Mohammad Khatami during the Reform Era.

Iranian Nurses Stage Nationwide Strikes Amid Growing Discontent

Nurses and healthcare workers across Iran continue to protest and strike, citing economic hardships, lack of government support, and systemic issues within the healthcare system. The Khorasan Razavi Nurses’ Association has pointed specifically to “flawed policies, narrow-minded views, discriminatory practices, and physician-dominated management” as the root causes of the ongoing unrest.

The Khorasan Razavi Nurses’ Association has called for the full implementation of the law allowing early retirement for those in demanding and hazardous jobs after 20 years of service with full pay. Mohammad Sharifi Moghadam, Secretary-General of the National Nurses’ Association, also urged the elimination of mandatory overtime and the establishment of a proper tariff system for nursing services. “Globally, the wage gap between doctors and nurses is two to three times, but in Iran’s healthcare system, the gap is significantly wider, causing distress among nurses,” he said.

On Wednesday, August 21st, for the second consecutive week, nurses held protests in multiple cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Tabriz, Ahvaz, Rasht, Marivan, and Dehdasht. Protesters gathered outside key locations such as the Ministry of Health in Tehran, the central building of Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Ahvaz, and the Governor’s Office in Isfahan. Their chants included: “Empty promises, our tables are bare,” “One less embezzlement could pay our dues,” and “Without nurses, the system collapses.”

On August 20th, simultaneous protests had taken place in Mashhad hospitals, where nurses demanded the enforcement of the tariff law, resolution of pay disparities, elimination of mandatory overtime, and an end to long shifts. Reports on social media indicated that in Kermanshah, security personnel from the University of Medical Sciences confiscated the mobile phones of protesting nurses and issued threats. Despite these actions, the Ministry of Health has yet to address the nurses’ demands.

A familiar pattern, government officials have resorted to threats and pressure after failing to placate the nurses with repeated but unfulfilled promises. The “Mashhad and Surrounding Areas Nurses’ Association Board” issued a statement warning against “any hostile actions or inappropriate behavior towards nurses that could escalate their protests.”

The Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations has also come out in support of the nurses, issuing a statement backing their demands. The statement highlighted that “Iranian nurses have protested against their economic and professional conditions, leading to strikes and demonstrations.” It noted that the protests, which began in Shiraz and have since spread nationwide, reflect a collective determination to secure their rights. The nurses are demanding job security and an end to mandatory overtime, which has led to significant burnout. They are also seeking to regularize their employment status, as job instability and exploitation have caused substantial harm.

This crisis is further deepened by the alarming rate of emigration among nurses. According to the National Nursing Organization, around 3,000 nurses annually apply for “good standing” certificates to facilitate emigration, while the total number of nursing students is around 10,000. The Vice President of the organization’s High Council warned that “the migration of these professionals has reached a critical point,” with many nurses learning German in order to leave the country. Newly built hospitals in Tehran’s University of Medical Sciences have struggled to operate fully due to a shortage of nurses, highlighting the severe workforce crisis tied to diminishing hope among healthcare professionals.

Jaish al-Adl Claims Responsibility for Assassination of Iranian Police Official in Khash

Jaish al-Adl, a Sunni militant group opposed to the Iranian government, has claimed responsibility for the assassination of the head of the Criminal Investigation Department in Khash, located in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. The group made the announcement via a statement on their Telegram channel.

Iranian state news agencies confirmed that on Friday, August 23th, Second Lieutenant Hossein Ali Piri, Deputy Chief of the Intelligence and Security Police in Khash, was shot and killed while returning home in civilian clothes after completing his duties at Friday prayers.

Jaish al-Adl has a notorious history of launching attacks and carrying out kidnappings targeting security personnel in southeastern Iran. These actions, including high-profile kidnappings of border guards, have often provoked strong public outcry within the country.

The group identifies itself as the “Army of Justice and Equality,” but the Iranian government has labeled it a terrorist organization, accusing it of being supported by Saudi and American intelligence agencies. Iranian officials disparagingly refer to the group as “Jaish al-Zolm” (Army of Injustice). The United States, Japan, and New Zealand have also officially designated Jaish al-Adl as a terrorist organization.

Public reactions to Jaish al-Adl’s killings and kidnappings have frequently been negative, with widespread condemnation of the group’s actions. Many Iranians have expressed solidarity with the victims, demanding their immediate release.

Diplomatic Tensions Rise as Iran Shuts Down German Language Institute in Tehran

The German Language Institute’s buildings in Tehran, located on Yakhchal and South Dibaji streets, have been sealed by authorities. The institute, responsible for administering official Goethe Institute exams in Iran, has become the center of a diplomatic row. Germany’s Foreign Ministry condemned the closures and summoned Iran’s ambassador to Berlin.

Iran’s Judiciary news agency, Mizan, reported that the closures were due to the institute’s alleged illegal activities and financial violations. Mizan also noted that investigations into other German-affiliated centers in the country are ongoing. Reports on social media suggest that the institute was shut down during ongoing exams, with images showing police vehicles outside one of the buildings and officers removing the institute’s sign.

The Goethe German language exam, an international test conducted by the non-profit Goethe Institute, is essential for students and immigrants planning to move to German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

According to the Telegram channel Nournews, the closures were a “reciprocal measure” in response to the shutdown of cultural and Islamic centers in Germany. In a related move, the Austrian Cultural Forum in Tehran announced it would suspend in-person services until September 26.

These instances come after Abdulreza Davari, a conservative media activist, had called for the closure of the Goethe Institute in Tehran. In a post on X, Davari argued that Iran should respond to Germany’s recent actions against the Islamic Center of Hamburg, which is affiliated with the Islamic Republic.

On July 24, Germany’s Interior Ministry banned the Islamic Center of Hamburg and its affiliated institutions, accusing them of promoting extremist Islamist goals. The Center had been under the scrutiny of Germany’s intelligence and domestic security agencies for three decades. Reuters reported that the Islamic Center of Hamburg, one of Germany’s oldest mosques with a well-known turquoise facade, along with its subgroups in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin, were banned as part of this crackdown, resulting in the closure of four Shia mosques total in Germany. 

German authorities justified the ban by citing evidence from a previous inspection of 55 locations conducted in November 2023. German police had conducted raids on the center and its affiliates in several states, seizing documents, computers, mobile phones, and large amounts of cash. Notably, the year before In November 2022, the center’s head, Mohammad Hadi Mofatteh, a direct representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was expelled from Germany during widespread protests in Iran. Earlier, Suleiman Mousavi-Far, the deputy head of the Islamic Center of Hamburg, had also been expelled for supporting “extremist Shia militia organizations” and “terrorist organizations.”

In response to these developments, Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the German ambassador, condemning what it described as Germany’s “hostile action contrary to fundamental human rights principles.” The official IRNA news agency reported that Iran expressed its strong protest over the closures.

The German newspaper Der Spiegel had reported in July that Interior Minister Nancy Faeser made the decision to ban the Islamic Center of Hamburg. According to the report, the ministry’s suspicions were confirmed after evaluating evidence that the center had allegedly promoted Islamist-totalitarian ideas, anti-semitism, and hostility toward Israel, and supported the terrorist organization Hezbollah, which is banned in Germany. The Interior Ministry stated that the activities of the Islamic Center of Hamburg violated Germany’s constitution, leading to the ban on the center and its affiliates, including the Islamic Association of Bavaria.

Iran’s Population Surpasses 91 Million Amidst Unexpected Growth

Iran’s population has officially exceeded 91 million, according to the latest figures from Worldometer, a globally recognized statistics platform that updates population data in real-time based on United Nations data. As of Monday, August 19, 2024, the population of Iran reached 91,681,315, marking a significant demographic milestone.

While official censuses in Iran are conducted every five years, Worldometer and other global databases have become essential tools for monitoring population changes in real time. According to these sources, Iran’s population surpassed the 91 million mark several months ago, a development that has not been widely publicized.

By mid-2024, Iran’s population was estimated to be at 91,567,738. Google, however, still references older data, citing the population at approximately 88.55 million. Iran now represents 1.12% of the world’s population, ranking 17th globally. The country has a population density of 56 people per square kilometer, with 73.1% of the population—around 66.97 million people—residing in urban areas. The average age in Iran is 33.4 years.

This rapid population growth is surprising, given that earlier estimates from the Statistical Center of Iran suggested the country would not reach a population of 91 million until 2036. Concerns over declining birth rates and marriage numbers had previously led policymakers to worry that the population might stabilize at around 80 million. Between 2018 and 2021, Iran’s population growth rate dropped from 1.12% to 0.77%, with projections indicating it could further decline to 0.36% by 2036—the lowest in over four decades.

Despite these previous trends and expectations, Iran’s population has still managed to grow. Global statistics reveal that the fertility rate among Iranian women is currently 1.7 children per woman, below the replacement level of 2.1 required to maintain the population size. Initial projections estimated that Iran would reach 91.87 million people by 2029, but the milestone was achieved much sooner. The United Nations suggests that Iran’s fertility rate is slightly below 2.1.

Migration has likely played a crucial role in this unexpected population surge. Iran has experienced a significant influx of migrants from neighboring countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq due to security concerns. This migration has contributed to the rapid increase in population, according to some analysts. Despite the current growth, Deputy Health Minister Fatemeh Rakhshani has projected that Iran’s population may begin to decline by 2101.

Life expectancy in Iran is currently 77.85 years, with women having a slightly lower life expectancy of 76 years. Infant mortality is reported at 9.1 deaths per 1,000 live births, and the under-five mortality rate is 10.9 per 1,000.

Looking ahead, projections suggest that Iran’s population could peak at 105.23 million by 2061 before gradually declining to around 98.83 million by the end of the century. The population is expected to reach 100 million by 2043. However, the population growth rate has slowed to approximately 1.1%, and by 2050, the proportion of young people in Iran is expected to decrease to 14% of the total population.

Tehran, the capital of Iran, has an estimated population of 8.4 million, though some sources suggest it could be as low as 7 million. The greater metropolitan area of Tehran is home to approximately 14 million people, making it the largest city in West Asia and one of the three largest cities in the Middle East, alongside Cairo and Istanbul. Tehran’s population density is notably high, with 11,887 people per square kilometer.

Bread Prices Surge by 25% Across 10 Iranian Provinces Amid Rising Costs

Bread prices in 10 Iranian provinces have increased by approximately 25%, a move reportedly aimed at compensating for the rising operational costs faced by bakeries, including energy and wages. Khabar Online reports that similar price adjustments are being considered in other provinces, though no official decisions have been finalized.

According to Tabnak News Agency, there have been unconfirmed reports of bread price hikes in Tehran, though no official announcements have been made. Bakery union officials in the capital have not confirmed these changes. However, Nour News, affiliated with the Supreme National Security Council, has corroborated these reports, noting that bread prices in certain parts of Tehran have increased quietly. For instance, the price of Barbari bread in some areas has risen from 5,000 to 7,000 tomans, and Taftoon bread has jumped from 700 to 1,500 tomans.

Economic experts predict that bread prices will continue to rise in more provinces in the coming days, with the government likely to approve similar increases in Tehran. Recent media reports confirm that the concerns raised in the past two weeks have become a reality, with bread prices already up in 10 provinces. Hamshahri newspaper was the first to report this development on Thursday, August 15, confirming a 25% increase in bread prices in these regions.

The discussions around bread prices began when Mohammad Jalal, an advisor to the Minister of Economy under President Ebrahim Raisi, stated the need for “price adjustments” in an interview with ILNA on August 5, citing “bakers’ dissatisfaction with the mismatch between bread prices, rent, and wages.” Following his remarks, officials from South Khorasan Province and Qazvin Province confirmed that bread price adjustments had been under review since late last year and would increase by up to 25% after receiving approval from the Ministry of Interior. Despite these changes, Mohammad Soleimani, head of the Sangak Bakers’ Union in Tehran, stated that “the price increase has not yet affected the capital.”

The Raisi administration had been rolling out a “Smart Subsidy for Flour and Bread” initiative since last year. In December 2023, Economy Minister Ehsan Khandoozi claimed that the plan would save approximately 1.5 million tons of subsidized flour, equivalent to 27 trillion tomans, within its first two years. However, the plan has faced criticism, with Hossein Yazdjerdi, head of the Iranian Flour Industries Association, telling Tabnak that the initiative “was ineffective and has caused significant harm to the flour and bread industry.”

Currently, the Market Regulation Headquarters has set the price of a simple Barbari bread with a 600-gram dough weight at 2,500 tomans, and a simple Sangak bread with a 650-gram dough weight at 3,000 tomans. Traditional Taftoon bread with a 250-gram dough weight is priced at 1,200 tomans.

In response to the recent price hikes, the “Retirees Council” Telegram channel remarked, “We say our salaries are too low, and then the price of bread goes up. We shout that the cost of living has exceeded 45 million tomans, but no one is listening.”