IFP Exclusive

Former FM Zarif: Surging migration from Iran can’t be reversed by officials’ hopes, dreams

Iran’s former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the influx of immigration from Iran is a bitter reality that cannot be stopped or even slowed down by only ‘hoping and dreaming.’

Addressing a gathering at the Iranian House of Humanities Thinkers on migration of experts and professionals from Iran, Zarif said the problem started after the ‘people-oriented’ policies set in the post-Islamic Revolution era were replaced by ‘tool-oriented’ policies.

The former top diplomat said, “Development should be human-centered and human beings are at the center of development,” reminding, “Those who resisted during the (Iran-Iraq) war, those ones who resisted against the (US-led Western) sanctions, and those who prevented the 2002 war in Iraq from coming to Iran were the people, not the tools.”

Zarif noted that the country saw signs of reverse immigration of the elites in 2015, giving the credit partly to former vice president for science and technology Sorena Sattari, under then president Hassan Rouhani, ‘only by creating hope’ among the Iranian migrants.

“Unfortunately, with a consistent policy, we build up despair and humility in this country,” he said.

Although no official figures have been released on the migration from Iran, some reports indicate that the country ranks high in terms of the number of migrants.

IFP Editorial Staff

The IFP Editorial Staff is composed of dozens of skilled journalists, news-writers, and analysts whose works are edited and published by experienced editors specialized in Iran News. The editor of each IFP Service is responsible for the report published by the Iran Front Page (IFP) news website, and can be contacted through the ways mentioned in the "IFP Editorial Staff" section.

Recent Posts

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization spokesman: Israel undermining ties

In a recent statement, Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesperson for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, criticized the Zionist…

5 hours ago

Israel abandoning hostages to hunt Hamas leaders: Military officers

Tel Aviv has abandoned its goals of freeing the captives in the Gaza Strip, instead…

5 hours ago

Majority of US Democrats say Israel committing genocide in Gaza Strip

A new survey suggests the administration of US President Joe Biden is largely at odds…

5 hours ago

Iran FM calls on US to pressure Israel into accepting ceasefire in Gaza

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, has called on the US to put pressure on Israel…

6 hours ago

Foreign investors win bid to develop seven oil fields in Iran

Iran is pushing its policy to draw foreign investors in the oil sector by putting…

6 hours ago

Gaza death toll nears 35,000, thousands flee Rafah

At least 34,904 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s ongoing aggression against the Gaza Strip…

6 hours ago