The clerical regime of Iran is a world leader in nurturing incompetent and inept managers. The super crises of economic and political issues, and even more disastrous social calamities, leave no room for further compromise and missed opportunities. Various governments come and go, each worse than the last, and the people of Iran remain trapped in poverty and misery.
On July 29, the state-run Entekhab news website quoted sociologist Mohammad Fazeli, as saying: “Some claim they handed over a saddled horse. But many of the characteristics of this horse are unknown. The ‘zero report,’ which shows what was handed over to the government at the time of transfer, the state of reserves, prices, basic economic variables, politics, culture, security, energy, water, food, money, inflation, investment, and all major indicators affecting the country’s situation.
The loss of 5 trillion dollars over 60 years
If we take a broader view of the macroeconomy over the past few decades, since the Pahlavi dynasty ended the 1905 Constitutional Revolution to the usurpation of the usurpation of the 1979 revolution by Ruhollah Khomeini and his succession by Ali Khamenei, Iran’s economy, with all its fluctuations, has reached a point where scavenging and child labor and various social harms resulting from injustices and inequalities have become notorious worldwide. A country with such enormous and valuable resources has fallen into such dire straits that several generations are now trapped in turmoil.
On July 30, the state-run Shargh newspaper quoted economic researcher Mohammad Bahreinian, as saying: “Policy mistakes over the past 120 years have wasted significant opportunities and financial resources of the country. In the last 60 years, we have had more than 5 trillion dollars of foreign exchange resources directly or indirectly, but the economic achievements of our country have not been at all commensurate with these resources. Today, Iranian society sees the waste of these resources and opportunities and looks at it with regret.”
He warns the new government, approved by Khamenei, that the people have “loudly expressed their dissatisfaction, disillusionment, and resentment towards the policies of the past incompetent economic decision-makers, inept executors, politicized and unaccountable officials who have trapped the country in a swamp of various crises and taken away the ability to move towards progress and improve living standards and a balanced and appropriate life and future.” So much so that in these days of oppressive summer heat, the afflicted people of Iran are desperate due to the lack of electricity even for hospitals, and according to the latest data from the Central Bank in 2022, every 24-hour shutdown of industries in the country has cost society more than 57 trillion rials.
On July 30, Tejarat News website quoted Economist Morteza Afghah, as he complains about the government’s treasury and the financial crisis of the regime: “The financial situation of the 14th government is currently in the worst possible state, and the treasury is empty in relation to the government’s commitments.”
He is referring to the letter from the Minister of Economy, which announced that the treasury’s balance is only 185 trillion rials, which is not enough to cover even one month’s salary for government employees and is practically nothing. But the greater concern is related to leaked news about the liberalization of gasoline prices and the unification of exchange rates. He warns, “Now is not the time for this. Given the social and political conditions, the government can neither unify the exchange rate nor make significant changes to gasoline prices. The government must work on expenses to be able to cover the budget deficit through that, not by putting pressure on people’s pockets.” And finally, he says, “Not only is there no saddled horse, but there is a crippled horse under the government! ”
The fall is near
In the middle of deceased Raisi government, it became clear to everyone that the regime’s fall was near, and warning letters were written to Khamenei. In response, he said: “They say the country is heading towards decline! What decline? Why?… Some said that the Islamic Republic has reached a dead end; well, if we have reached a dead end, a government that has reached a dead end doesn’t need to be overthrown; it will fall on its own.”
Yes, it will certainly fall, but the solution is only to overthrow this regime and replace it with a democratic republic that cares for the people’s well-being and future.