On September 10, during the interview with the state-run Etemad newspaper, Isa Kalantari, the former head of department of environment of Iran, discussed several topics, including the situation of migration of specialists from Iran, a migration that can be appropriately described as a “migration tsunami.” This tsunami has intensified further in the wake of the recent wave of expulsion of university professors.
In this conversation, Kalantari tried to alleviate public anger towards regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei and the entire regime. He pretended that the expulsion of professors is the work of an “infiltration group” within the country. He also referred to them as a radical spectrum that “passes restrictive laws and seeks like-minded individuals,” while disregarding the significance of expertise.
In this conversation, he portrayed Khamenei, the highest authority in the regime, as blameless, and the “infiltration group” as the driving force behind the “purification” project.
However, Kalantari confirmed the process of expelling professors and replacing them with unconventional individuals, as well as the suppression of media and the censorship of communication tools. More importantly, in his confession, he acknowledged that the very low monthly salary of a PhD-level expert and the neglect of the concept of development in the country:
“When there is no belief in development, it is natural for expertise to lose its meaning. It is obvious that a monthly salary of 150 million rials (equivalent to 300 dollars) for a university expert with a doctoral degree will subject them to numerous challenges. Therefore, it is natural for the emigration of Iranian elites to increase. In Iran, salaries are in rials, but expenses are in dollars. Hence, there remains no economic, social, or communicative incentive for these experts to stay in their home country. As soon as an opportunity arises for migration out of Iran, they leave and offer their expertise to other countries.”
On April 30, Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the IRGC Quds Force, reported that according to government-affiliated media reports, individuals who have obtained their PhDs in the United States and are engaged in research work receive the following monthly salaries: researchers receive $3,750, teachers $4,700, assistant professors receive $5,900, associate professors $6,200, and full professors receive $8,700.
Compare these salaries with the monthly salary of $300 for a specialized PhD in Iranian universities.
On April 21, 2023, Setareye Sobh newspaper quoted Amanollah Gharaei Moghadam, a sociologist and university professor, who compared each elite individual to an oil well. He stated that it is impossible to determine their value. As each of these elites departs the country , it is as if an oil well goes silent… Apparently, Iranian authorities do not want these elites and are seeking to replace them with individuals who are described as lacking intelligence, creativity, and critical thinking.