The statement of the Nedaye Iran Party on the anti-internet plan should be completely removed from the government and parliament’s agenda.
The Nedaye Iran Party has issued an analytical statement regarding the current economic and livelihood conditions of the country, budgeting, management of the internet space, the process of international relations, and interaction with neighboring countries. They have criticized the current situation and presented their proposed solutions for changing the current conditions.
The full text of this statement is as follows:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Concerns about livelihood and daily life have become the people of Iran’s main worry these days, and apart from a few supporters of the government, there is no one else who defends the performance of the thirteenth government. Although the seven-thousand-page executive program of the President has never been revealed, what can be observed from its results is mismanagement in decision-making and the creation of economic and livelihood crises. The skyrocketing price of the dollar, reaching over forty thousand tomans, the crisis in the car market, the critical situation of the housing and rental market, and the disruption of income-generating opportunities for a wide range of online businesses that provide employment for nearly fifteen million people are among the achievements that have turned the future of hundreds of thousands of households into a nightmare.
The government’s performance so far has shown that the government as a whole is incompetent in treating the economy as a science and management as an art. Nevertheless, we find it necessary, under the pretext of presenting the 1402 budget bill by the government to the Islamic Consultative Assembly, to declare our concerns and warnings about the country’s economic conditions and alert the responsible gentlemen out of sincere concern and worry.
Just as it was easily predictable for everyone, Mr. Raeisi’s government fell into a well that had been dug by the supporters of the previous government and now they are stuck in it. The candidate of yesterday and the president of today knew during the election days that the country’s economy needs to be connected to the world.
The numerous warnings and recommendations to the government also did not yield any results, and the responsible officials for foreign policy left them behind in the hope of a harsh winter still on their way to Europe, and they also caused the country’s economy, which they thought would not be affected by the JCPOA and FATF, to suffer from a severe inflation storm, which has worsened people’s lives and the fear is that it will turn into a hurricane of economic and livelihood problems.
With the arrival of the new government in the United States in late 2020, Iran’s oil sales increased from an average of 300,000 barrels to about 1 million barrels. However, Iran is still unable to sell an additional 1.3 million barrels. In addition to the inability to sell 1.3 million barrels of oil, the oil that has been sold has been sold at a significantly lower price than the international market due to sanctions.
High transaction costs are also imposed on the transfer of money, which not only results in the loss of financial resources and citizens’ rights, but also leads to a decrease in government revenue. To compensate for this deficit, the government imposes it on citizens through tax increases and printing money, and compensates for it in various ways from their pockets.
The volume of Iran’s trade is currently $100 billion according to official statistics, of which 15 to 20 percent is spent on buying expensive and selling cheap due to sanctions, as well as exchange costs. Meanwhile, the government has a dream of achieving 5 percent growth next year, but Iran’s GDP, based on the official exchange rate of 28,500 tomans, amounts to less than $300 billion, with the cost of sanction-related transactions accounting for more than 5 percent of GDP. Instead of going into the pockets of sanction profiteers and international middlemen, it could have been a part of the value-added and economic growth of the country.
Based on the official announcement of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Iran’s trade volume with Afghanistan has decreased by 40% and with Iraq by 26%. Turkish traders are now replacing Iranians in these countries. In other words, despite the apparent inability of the 13th government to communicate with the world, it also lacks the ability to maintain relations with its neighbors, despite claiming to expand relations. This is a matter of concern for Iranian entrepreneurs and workers.
According to the statistics announced by the President of Turkey, the country’s exports have reached over $254 billion in 2022. The total exports and imports of Iran, according to official statistics, is $100 billion. Due to sanctions limitations, it is estimated that Iran’s actual trade volume is around $80 to $85 billion.
In a situation where Iran was supposed to be the leading economic power in the region according to the 20-year vision document in 2025, Turkey’s exports alone last year were three times the total exports and imports of Iran. It is not necessary to mention that Turkey, unlike Iran, is deprived of oil reserves. This same issue can be extended to other countries in the region. Saudi Arabia, for example, has daily oil exports worth only $1 billion.
The government’s economic surgery to eliminate the 4200-toman exchange rate, despite all the media show and maneuvers, continues the same policy of the previous administration by the new head of the central bank, setting the exchange rate at 28500 tomans and receiving explicit support from the first deputy of the president. According to their own claims, this will create new rents for influential groups who will import the same goods again and increase their wealth.
The internet slowdown and filtering of social networks, which is justified by unacceptable reasons from a security perspective, has found a meaning for the government in power. It directly and indirectly affects the technical infrastructure of many businesses in today’s society and is connected to millions of jobs and the livelihood of many individuals, who are already at risk of their minimum living standards. Despite what they say, they do not listen.
Today, we find ourselves in a situation where the per capita income of Iranians is even lower than the majority of countries in the region, including Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan, regardless of the unequal distribution. However, despite the prediction of over 40% inflation in the coming year, which is practically hidden in the 1402 budget bill, the wages of workers and employees are only increased by an average of 20%. This means a decrease in the purchasing power of workers by at least 20% to 30% and a shrinking of the middle class and vulnerable people’s livelihoods in the coming year.
The lack of coordination within the government’s economic team and their lack of mastery over economic issues and concepts in some cases surprises experts and concerned individuals. The response of the First Vice President to the President regarding the promise of building one million homes per year and the President’s reiterated emphasis during his trip to Yazd that four million homes will be delivered, or the contradictory and unscientific statements of the economic team regarding employment, inflation, and the progress of the economy, all indicate the lack of coordination within the government assembly.
It seems that the country’s inflation rate of 45% is likely to reach a record 50% by the end of the year. In these circumstances, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy are announcing a 19% reduction in inflation, even though they received the official statistics from the National Statistics Center, which reported a 45% inflation rate, and it is likely to end the year with a 50% inflation rate.
The Prime Minister is attacking the previous government and blaming it for its incompetence, forgetting that in 2020, Iran’s oil sales had decreased by 300,000 barrels and the global price had dropped below $30, while Mr. Raisi’s government provided the current conditions to the people by selling one million barrels and increasing the price of oil due to the Russia-Ukraine war to over $100.
Despite not seeing any signs of government consultation, the Iranian People’s Call Party presents its proposals to the Prime Minister to overcome the current conditions and save the country’s economy as follows.
Recent developments, especially the international consensus forming against Iran in recent months, indicate a precise and extensive planning by foreign enemies who have been able to capitalize on the weaknesses and mistakes of government officials. The hibernation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the inefficiency of the Minister and his deputies are not hidden from anyone. The Iranian National Call Party sincerely suggests to the President to dismiss the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the negotiating team of Iran and replace them with professional and capable diplomats so as not to jeopardize the lives, assets, and future of Iranians any further.
The government must acknowledge that engaging and interacting with the world and utilizing knowledge in the administration of the country does not mean relying on foreigners. Improving the business environment, overcoming recession, and controlling inflation is only possible by overcoming the sanctions and economic uncertainty. Removing global trade barriers through the JCPOA and resolving financial and banking obstacles related to it, and engaging in trade through EFT and utilizing the capacities of global markets will lead to the economic recovery of the country.
In a situation where the esteemed head of the Organization of Planning and Budget is unable to continue his activities and has reportedly submitted his resignation, it is necessary to consider the experience of disregarding warnings about Mr. Salehabadi’s performance at the Central Bank and the late Mr. Ghasemi’s activities at the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development. This time, it is necessary to repeat the same regarding Mr. Mir Kazemi. Changing the head of the Organization of Planning and Budget should be a priority for the Prime Minister.
The government needs real coordination in the economic sector. As predicted, increasing the number of economic management centers, such as the economic assistant, the first deputy of the Ministry of Economy, and solely relying on economic measures, has led to the current situation. If not managed properly, the government’s ability to take any corrective action will be compromised.
The budget figures in some cases are very regrettable. While the budget for implementing the Clean Air Law has been halved, the budget for some institutions, such as the Supreme Council of Seminaries, has increased by more than 60%, the budget for preserving the effects of the Sacred Defense has increased by 159%, and the budget for the Office of Advertising in Qom Seminary has increased by 55%, along with many other institutions including the national broadcasting company, whose recent incidents have proven their inefficiency. These increases have affected their current situation.
We ask the reason for these unnecessary budgets when the pensions, knowing the inflation rate, have only received a minimum increase of 40% for next year and 45% for today, while the budget of these institutions has increased by only 15 to 25%. Has the effectiveness and impact of these institutions that have had such budget increases been evaluated?
Iran has six prominent domestic and foreign economists and experienced entrepreneurs who are up-to-date in the field of development and entrepreneurship. It is not worthy that a country with so many elite figures in the fields of economics and entrepreneurship does not utilize this valuable capacity in making major economic decisions.
The anti-internet censorship plan should be completely removed from the government’s and parliament’s agenda, as it is contrary to the public will of the Iranian people. Insisting on the continuation of filtering and pursuing the so-called protection plan, which has many suspicions and is detrimental to the digital economy and the innovation ecosystem of the country, makes no sense other than mocking the people who have suffered from all these mismanagement.
The filtering of Instagram, WhatsApp, and Google services is against the letter and spirit of the constitution as it restricts people’s rights and freedoms. It should be removed as soon as possible. Internet filtering in these economic and livelihood conditions is like pouring water into the mills of Iran’s enemies, damaging the country’s struggling economy under external pressures and internal self-sanctions.
In conclusion, the Iranian Nedaye Iranian Party emphasizes that it has never made any fraternal agreements except in the best interests of the nation and citizens’ rights throughout its existence. Despite minimal alignment with the previous government during those years, it has always been a fearless critic of its performance. Here, on behalf of the people who were supposed to be the beneficiaries of the officials’ blessings, it firmly warns the President and the respected government to safeguard and protect national interests and citizens’ rights without any considerations.
The statistics, figures, and numbers do not at all indicate a positive outlook on the government’s actions and policies. The continuation of the current trend will lead the country to the brink of crisis and consecutive crises, which will result in the absolute destruction of the country’s economy. We hope that the respected government takes these warnings seriously and seriously considers fundamental solutions to the economic problems, instead of engaging in visionary plans without action, based on the opinions of economic experts.
Nedaye Iranian Party, 25 Dey 1401
Persian
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