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300% increase in tuition fees at Azad University has left students indebted

Sia Rajabi
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300% increase in tuition fees at Azad University has left students indebted

Ramadan Rahimi Dasht-Louie, a member of the Education Committee of the Iranian regime’s Majlis (Parliament), noted the 300% increase in tuition fees for medical sciences programs at Islamic Azad University, stating that students in these programs have become indebted to the university due to their inability to pay the fees.

On Sunday, December 22, Rahimi announced in an interview with the state-run ILNA news agency that the tripling of tuition fees for medical sciences at Islamic Azad University was abruptly announced, leaving the Parliament and the Ministry of Science uninformed.

This Majlis member stated that if Islamic Azad University intended to increase tuition fees, it should have been mentioned in the registration guide for entrance exams, adding that this decision has violated the rights of university entrance exam candidates.

He pointed out: “If candidates are admitted to medical sciences programs but do not register, they can no longer participate, and in this way, their rights are also violated.”

Students of medical sciences at Islamic Azad University have been staging protests since October 13 against the tuition fee hikes and the resulting economic pressures.

During this time, they have repeatedly protested in front of university buildings and various institutions, including the Majlis, the Presidential Office, the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology, and the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education.

Rahimi called for the appointment of an oversight body by Massoud Pezeshkian to monitor Islamic Azad University, saying: “There must be clarity regarding supervision of tuition fees, activities, registrations, and all educational and training affairs of Islamic Azad University.”

Rahimi added that currently, there is no regulatory body in the executive branch to evaluate the performance of Islamic Azad University, and it is unclear which ministry, or agency should be addressed in case of issues at this university.

Tuition hikes at Islamic Azad University in recent years have also sparked student protests.

Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, President of Islamic Azad University, described tuition increases as natural in June 2022, stating: “We are a cost-revenue organization and do not rely on governments.”

Islamic Azad University was established in May 1982 on the proposal of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and is considered the wealthiest university in Iran.

The university’s expenses are funded through tuition fees from students, governmental and public contributions, and support from state institutions, as per its charter.

Tuition per semester for high-demand fields such as dentistry, pharmacy, and medicine has tripled, reaching 90 million rials (annually 180 million rials), approximately $1,168–$2,336. The total semester payment for these fields ranges from 112 million to 135 million rials ($1,455 to $1,754), with some universities also requiring 50%, 25%, or 10% of the next semester’s tuition upfront at the beginning of the first semester.

According to applicants in these fields, in higher semesters, tuition can reach 450 million rials (approximately $5,845), and by the end of their studies, they must pay 3 billion rials (approximately $39,000) to Islamic Azad University.

The minimum wage for a worker with two children in Iran is approximately $142.

 

Khamenei Urges Syrian Youth to Oppose New Rulers

Hoshang Amiri
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Khamenei Urges Syrian Youth to Oppose New Rulers

Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran’s regime, once again vowed to reclaim Syria from Bashar al-Assad’s successors and encouraged the youth of Syria to stand against the new government.

On Sunday, December 22, Khamenei spoke of the “emergence of an honorable and strong force in Syria” opposing the country’s new rulers.

He emphasized, “The Syrian youth have nothing to lose. Their universities, schools, homes, and streets are unsafe. What should they do? They must stand with strength and determination against those who have designed and executed this insecurity.”

Earlier, on December 11, Khamenei had promised to reclaim Syria and implicitly referred to Turkey’s role, describing the fall of Bashar al-Assad as “the result of a joint American-Israeli plan.”

In his latest speech, Khamenei rejected the attribution of regional militias to Iran, saying, “They keep saying that Iran has lost its proxy forces in the region. This is another false claim; Iran does not have proxy forces.”

He stressed, “If one day we decide to act, we won’t need proxy forces.”

Khamenei added that groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Houthis “fight because their beliefs compel them to do so.”

These remarks come despite Khamenei’s repeated mentions in recent years of Iran’s “strategic depth” and “strategic influence.”

For instance, in December 2022, Khamenei referred to countries such as Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon as “Iran’s strategic depth.” In another speech, he stated that a pillar of national power is “to influence other nations and create strategic depth for the country.”

In 2019, during a meeting with IRGC commanders, Khamenei said, “Do not lose sight of this expansive vision of the geography of resistance; do not abandon this transnational perspective. We should not settle for just our region.”

Meanwhile, some Iranian regime officials have threatened that proxy forces will assist in suppressing protests in Iran.

For example, in 2018, Mousa Ghazanfarabadi, head of Tehran’s Revolutionary Courts, stated, “If we do not support the revolution, the Iraqi Hashd al-Shaabi, Afghan Fatemiyoun, Pakistani Zainabiyoun, and Yemeni Houthis will come and support the revolution.”

Similarly, in 2017, Qasem Soleimani, commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force, wrote to Khamenei about the end of ISIS in Syria, saying, “On behalf of all commanders and the thousands of Iranian, Iraqi, Syrian, Lebanese, Afghan, and Pakistani martyrs and veterans defending the shrine, I congratulate Your Excellency on this great and decisive victory.”

In recent days, various reports have emerged about the potential weakening of Iran’s proxy groups, particularly in Iraq and Lebanon.

For example, Naim Qassem, Deputy Secretary-General of Hezbollah in Lebanon, stated that with Bashar al-Assad’s fall, the group has lost its route for securing military resources through Syria.

Referring to Syria, Khamenei said that the United States now “imagines it has achieved victory” and that “they have lost control of their tongues and are talking nonsense.”

He added, “One of the American figures said that anyone who riots in Iran, we will help them. Fools have smelled barbecue.”

These threats from Khamenei come at a time when the Iranian people are facing widespread poverty, and the regime is struggling even to provide electricity and energy for its citizens.

Iran: Only Three Days of Electricity and Gasoline Per Week

Esmaeil Mohades
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Iran: Only Three Days of Electricity and Gasoline Per Week

Hossein Abdeh Tabrizi, an economist and professor at Sharif University, warned about the emergence of a “super-crisis” in the energy sector, stating, “We might reach a point where we have electricity only three days a week, or gasoline for two days, with work stopping on the remaining days.”

In response to a question by the state-run website Eghtesad100 regarding the root cause of the energy imbalance, Abdeh Tabrizi emphasized, “Raising electricity prices does not necessarily solve the problem, nor is it the starting point.”

According to Abdeh Tabrizi, the standard of living will decline even further from its current state. He stressed, “The issue is not that continuing on this trajectory will maintain the status quo; we might even reach a point where we have electricity only three days a week or gasoline for two days, and no work is done on the other days. Our healthcare standards may worsen, and universities may become even weaker.”

Warnings about the worsening imbalances, including in the energy sector and even in wages compared to household expenses, are considered overdue by experts. Many believe the situation has already surpassed the warning stage.

Meanwhile, the Pezeshkian administration, in its initial months, attempted to manage the economy primarily by raising prices, a strategy many experts believe has worsened people’s living conditions.

In this regard, on Sunday, December 22, during a meeting of the “Market Regulation Task Force,” the regime’s Vice President Mohammadreza Aref stated, “Some price increases are global, and we have no choice but to adjust prices.”

Mohammadreza Aref also claimed, “We will make necessary price adjustments while preserving the livelihood of the masses.”

However, the prevailing trends—such as the rise in the dollar’s exchange rate, uncontrolled increases in food prices, rising electricity and gas tariffs, and the impending increase in gasoline prices—are entirely inconsistent with the Vice President’s claims about safeguarding the livelihood of the masses.

Iran: Patients Injected with Distilled Water Instead of Chemotherapy Drugs

Sia Rajabi
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Iran: Patients Injected with Distilled Water Instead of Chemotherapy Drugs

Following a suspicious rise in the number of deaths at Valiasr Hospital in Tabriz, officials confirmed on Saturday, December 21, that staff at the hospital had been injecting patients with distilled water instead of chemotherapy drugs. Four people have been arrested in connection with the matter.

After some media outlets reported that distilled water was being administered to patients instead of chemotherapy drugs at Valiasr Hospital in Tabriz, Shahriar Mokhtari, the hospital’s deputy director, confirmed the reports and announced the arrest of four individuals in relation to the incident.

He stated that in the past month, hospital authorities realized that chemotherapy drugs were not being administered to patients. “We suspected the drugs were being sold on the black market. When one of the hospital staff was caught buying and selling drugs in the market, we identified them, filed a complaint, and handed them over to the police,” he said.

According to Mokhtari, some families of cancer patients donated their loved ones’ medications after their passing. These donated drugs were supposed to be used for low-income patients, but some hospital staff sold them on the market.

The state-run Etemad newspaper reported on December 20 that the suspicious number of deaths in the chemotherapy ward of Tabriz International Hospital had significantly increased.

According to the report, the rising number of deaths and repeated complaints prompted oversight organizations to intervene in the hospital’s case, resulting in the arrest of several staff members.

The deputy director of Valiasr Hospital further announced that following the efforts of the hospital’s director and an order from the East Azerbaijan prosecutor’s office, four hospital staff members were detained.

Mokhtari stated that the individual selling the drugs on the black market was released on bail one day after their arrest.

He criticized the media for exposing the matter and added, “We are the complainants and have fully cooperated with the judiciary, providing them with all personnel data.”

9 Patients Blinded in an Ophthalmology Hospital in Iran

Sia Rajabi
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9 Patients Blinded in an Ophthalmology Hospital in Iran

Iranian media reported that nine people became blind at an ophthalmology center due to the use of a “wrong medication.” These individuals developed severe eye infections after cataract surgeries, and some are now at risk of eye removal due to the severity of the infection.

The newspaper Sazandegi reported that the incident occurred at the Negah Ophthalmology Center in one of the northern districts of Tehran. Despite media follow-ups in recent days, the officials at Negah Hospital have not provided any explanation or taken responsibility for the disaster.

According to media reports, documents reveal that the cause of the eye infections in these patients was contamination with a type of bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This contamination was confirmed to have occurred following eye surgeries at the hospital.

The news website Tabnak also reported that the number of affected individuals is nine, stating: “Unfortunately, at least four of them have undergone eye removal.”

The website emphasized that one of the doctors transferred patients to other hospitals for treatment to prevent a recurrence of the incident. However, the management of this hospital reprimanded the doctor due to concerns about the shareholders’ and investors’ interests in the clinic.

Medical malpractice in Iran has increased in recent years, often resulting in severe consequences, including confrontations between patients’ families and healthcare workers.

Experts in this field believe that the mass migration of doctors and nurses is one of the main reasons for the rise in medical errors, a trend that is expected to continue with the increasing emigration of healthcare professionals.

Previously, the state-controlled newspaper Jomhouri-e Eslami reported that “from March to December 2024, 4,500 more healthcare professionals applied to emigrate.”

The official Iranian news agency IRNA also reported that the number of members of the Iranian Medical Council who obtained a “Good Standing” certificate for emigration increased from around 750 in 2018 to over 6,000 in 2022, reflecting more than an eightfold rise. This trend has recorded even higher numbers in 2023 and 2024.

Over 80% of Iranian Households Below the Global Poverty Line

Mehdi Hosseini
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Over 80% of Iranian Households Below the Global Poverty Line

With the continuing rise in inflation and the sharp devaluation of Iran’s national currency, Iranian media have reported that over 80% of Iranian households have fallen below the global poverty line.

The Eghtesad Online website stated that based on the poverty line set by the World Bank for economies comparable to Iran, a three-person household (earning in rials) in Iran’s dollarized economy needs a monthly income of 400 to 500 million rials (approximately $520 to $650) to avoid being considered impoverished.

However, the minimum wage for a married worker in Iran, including all benefits, does not exceed 110 million rials (approximately $143).

Meanwhile, reports from Iran indicate that individuals in positions such as bank manager, department head, section chief, investment manager, and branch deputy earn an average of 353 million rials (approximately $460). Even these high-ranking employees fall significantly short of the global poverty line.

According to reports, the Research Center of the Iranian Parliament previously announced an increase in the poverty rate to 30.1% in 2023, meaning that one-third of Iran’s population is unable to meet their basic needs. Critics believe this figure is significantly higher, and considering the devaluation of the national currency this year and the lack of improvement in purchasing power, they estimate the poverty rate has exceeded 40%.

The Research Center’s analysis also shows that after four years of claimed growth exceeding 4%, the country’s economy contracted by 2.5% in the spring of 2024. This decline was attributed to power outages affecting industries, reduced oil exports, and the government’s contractionary budget policies.

It has been projected that economic growth for 2024 and 2025 will be 2.5% and 2.8%, respectively—well below the 8% target set by the Seventh Development Plan of the regime. This part of the regime’s parliamentary research arm’s report also confirms the lack of a clear outlook for improving the economic conditions of the population.

Reports indicate that in the coming weeks, sessions to determine the minimum wage for the next year will be held. These discussions have raised concerns among activists and the labor community, as estimates suggest the government intends to set wage increases at around 30%.

Inflation forecasts for the upcoming year in Iran exceed 40%, and the persistent mismatch between income and expenses in recent years, combined with income disparity in the coming year, is expected to pose even greater challenges to household livelihoods.

IRGC member linked to the killing of American citizens in Iraq

Jubin Katiraie
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IRGC member linked to the killing of American citizens in Iraq

A U.S. court has accused Mohammad Reza Nouri, a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), of murder and terrorist activities in connection with the killing of an American citizen in Iraq in 2022.

Federal prosecutors in New York announced on Friday, December 20, that these charges against the 36-year-old Nouri could lead to life imprisonment or even the death penalty.

This IRGC member was arrested in March 2023, along with four militia members backed by the Iranian regime in Iraq, on charges of murdering an American teacher named Stephen Troell.

Mr. Troell, 45 years old and originally from Tennessee in the southern United States, was living in Iraq with his wife and children. He was shot and killed in his personal vehicle in the Karrada district of Baghdad two years ago in the fall.

Mohammad Reza Nouri, known by his alias “Abu Abbas,” and referred to in Iranian media as a “Defender of the Shrine,” was detained in Iraq for 16 months before being sentenced to life imprisonment this past August.

According to the Acting U.S. Attorney General, Nouri is accused of orchestrating the assassination of this American citizen.

He allegedly gathered information on Mr. Troell’s movements for the attackers and provided them with weapons and a safe location.

U.S. judicial officials claimed in court that on the day of the murder, this IRGC member celebrated the act with one of his accomplices and returned to Iran from Iraq that same night.

The Acting U.S. Attorney stated that the Iranian regime actively targets American citizens around the world to suppress dissent and avenge the killing of Qassem Soleimani.

Qassem Soleimani, commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force, was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020.

Ismail Baqaei, spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, previously denied the accusations against Mohammad Reza Nouri, calling them a “conspiracy by groups linked to Israel.”

He told the official Iranian regime’s news agency IRNA that these allegations aim to further complicate Iran-U.S. relations.

Iran has previously denied similar accusations, dismissing them as baseless.

Syria’s Refineries Halt Operations as Iran Halts Oil Exports

Esmaeil Mohades
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Syria’s Refineries Halt Operations as Iran Halts Oil Exports

Media outlets reported the shutdown of Syria’s largest oil refinery following the halt of Iranian oil exports, noting that the majority of Syria’s oil imports came from Iran.

According to a report by the Financial Times on Thursday, December 19, the Baniyas refinery, located near the port of Baniyas in Syria, has a daily production capacity of 130,000 barrels of petroleum derivatives and fuel. Ninety percent of its input came from Iran, and Iranian oil exports to Syria have stopped following the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

This report follows earlier news that, after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government, an Iranian oil tanker en route to Syria changed course midway and returned.

This report was also published by the maritime analytics firm Kepler, which stated that the tanker Lotus, carrying one million barrels of Iranian oil, altered its course toward the southern Red Sea before entering the Suez Canal on December 8.

According to Kepler, the tanker, flying the flag of the Iranian regime, had loaded the oil from Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf.

Reports indicate that since the beginning of the current calendar year, Iran’s regime has exported nearly 19 million barrels of crude oil to Syria over the past 11 months.

Following this suspension, Ibrahim Moslem, the manager of the Baniyas refinery, told the Financial Times: “Before the fall of Bashar al-Assad, 90% of Syria’s imported oil came from Iran. Iranian oil shipments to the Baniyas refinery have stopped.”

According to Ibrahim Moslem, members of Syria’s new government informed him that they anticipate sanctions on Syria will be lifted, allowing the country to import oil from sources other than Iran.

The Russian news site RT reported, citing Iranian media, that Iran exported approximately 60,000 barrels of oil per day to Syria at a price of $50 per barrel, amounting to $1 billion annually.

According to reports, Iran’s oil exports to Syria from 2011 to 2024 totaled $14 billion.

Intensified Pollution in Iran’s Large Cities Until the End of the Week

Hoshang Amiri
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Intensified Pollution in Iran’s Large Cities Until the End of the Week

Sadegh Ziaeian, head of the National Forecast Center of Iran’s Meteorological Organization, announced the intensification of air pollution in major cities from Sunday, December 22, to the end of the week.

According to media reports, Ziaeian stated that from Sunday to the end of the week, the country will experience no significant weather events, with “stable atmospheric conditions prevailing.” This stability essentially means pollutant accumulation, making pollution a persistent issue across Iran throughout the week.

In recent days, air pollution in several Iranian cities has caused delays or closures of schools and government offices.

Air pollution in various cities reached levels where residents shared images of dense smog, coupled with power outages and blackouts in homes and on roads, expressing confusion and frustration.

The right to clean air is considered a fundamental civil right, which is systematically violated in Iran, especially in metropolises. Despite warnings from environmental experts and medical professionals, it remains a low priority for the authorities of Iran’s regime.

Meanwhile, regime President Masoud Pezeshkian, referring to the pollution problem and the use of “substandard fuel,” shifted the responsibility to the public, asking citizens to lower their home heating by “two degrees.”

One of the most significant causes of air pollution in Iran is vehicles that fail to meet modern standards, accounting for 70 to 80 percent of air pollution, according to statistics.

The suspicious financial dealings of the German Volks Bank with the Iranian regime’s financial network

Sia Rajabi
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The suspicious financial dealings of the German Volks Bank with the Iranian regime’s financial network

The Volks Bank in Düsseldorf, Germany, is under close scrutiny by Germany’s Financial Supervisory Authority due to its questionable transactions with GIC International, a company linked to Tehran-based Ghadir. Ghadir is affiliated with the Iranian regime and is on the U.S. sanctions list.

GIC International, currently owned by an Iranian-German executive, is under investigation for allegedly circumventing sanctions and engaging in suspicious trade with subsidiaries in Turkey, Dubai, and China.

According to reports, GIC International uses a network to export urea from Iran and purchase properties abroad.

Documents reveal that MAPNA, a key industrial company of the Iranian regime, has a small office in Düsseldorf in an unmarked building, with Abbas Aliabadi, Iran’s former Minister of Economy and a member of the IRGC, listed on its mailbox.

Aliabadi, who served as Iran’s Minister of Economy from 2023 to 2024, had led the company for years. Although he left his Düsseldorf position after his ministerial appointment, he remains connected to the company’s activities.

The company is part of the Tehran-based MAPNA Group, a major pillar of Iran’s economy, controlled directly by Astan Quds Razavi and the Supreme Leader of Iran.

This company reportedly plays a significant role in evading sanctions against the Iranian regime, working with networks in Turkey, Dubai, and China. It is also listed by the UK government as involved in the production or supply of weapons of mass destruction.

The regime bypasses sanctions through a network of covert companies in Germany, particularly in Düsseldorf and Hamburg.

Documents indicate that MAPNA uses various bank accounts for its transactions, leading to intensified monitoring of its economic activities.

These developments have raised serious concerns about Iran’s economic activities in Europe and its attempts to evade international sanctions. European authorities face mounting pressure to enhance oversight and prevent the operations of suspicious networks.

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