Deputy Foreign Minister: 30% Decrease in Iranian Emigration Abroad

Hassan Qashqavi, the Deputy for Consular and Parliamentary Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, reported a 30% decrease in the emigration of Iranians abroad in the year 1394 (2015) compared to 1393 (2014). According to the Islamic Republic News Agency, IRNA, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran announced on Friday, May 10, that in 1394, approximately 500,000 travel documents were issued for Iranians, both elite and non-elite, to travel abroad, showing a decrease from 700,000 documents issued in 1393. The permanent emigration of Iranian elites, referred to as 'brain drain,' has always been newsworthy in recent years. According to the International Monetary Fund, in 2009, Iran ranked first among 91 developing and underdeveloped countries in terms of elite emigration. Last year, Mohammad Baqer Larijani, the Deputy Minister of Health, reported that 10,000 students emigrated to the U.S. for education during 2013 and 2014. Furthermore, according to a report by the World Intellectual Property Organization, over 96% of Iran's innovations and inventions from 2000 to 2010 were registered by Iranians living abroad. Despite these statistics, some government officials, such as Kamran Daneshjoo, the Minister of Science under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, did not acknowledge the concept of brain drain. On Friday, Qashqavi also announced that the issuance of visas for Iranian nationals at foreign embassies in Tehran has increased, indicating an 'enhancement of the Iranian passport's credibility and a noticeable improvement in visa issuance for Iranian citizens.' The Deputy Foreign Minister assessed the increase in visa issuance for Iranian nationals at European embassies in Tehran in 1394 to be 30%. According to Hassan Qashqavi, the growth rate of visa issuance for Iranian nationals at non-European embassies in Tehran last year compared to the previous year was 50%. The Deputy for Consular and Parliamentary Affairs of the Foreign Ministry also announced that in 1394, 4.5 million foreign nationals received visas for Iran. The Deputy Foreign Minister also reported the establishment of visa waiver conditions for Iran with four countries: Georgia, Turkey, Syria, and Bolivia. Additionally, according to Hassan Qashqavi, the Islamic Republic of Iran has unilaterally waived visas for nationals of Azerbaijan and Egypt, and for Lebanese nationals, a reciprocal 30-day free airport visa is granted. Based on the Deputy Foreign Minister's statements, a reciprocal 15-day free airport visa is also granted to Malaysian nationals. In another part of this press conference, the Deputy Foreign Minister stated: 'Except for nationals from the U.S., U.K., Canada, Jordan, Somalia, Colombia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India, a 30-day residence visa is issued at the airport for nationals of other countries.' Hassan Qashqavi announced that the number of Iranians imprisoned in foreign jails is about 3,000, but emphasized that this figure is approximate, as accurate statistics depend on self-reporting by individuals and their requests for consular support. According to the Deputy Foreign Minister, 'three to 5% of those who are outside Iran are considered opposition, and more than 95% of Iranian nationals residing abroad have no issues traveling to the country.' He emphasized that 'Iran is not the exclusive property of any organization or institution, and it is the natural right of every Iranian to travel to their homeland.' However, this official in the Foreign Ministry added: 'It should not be forgotten that criminal acts and judicial prosecution are not related to being inside or outside the country. It does not depend on being Iranian or non-Iranian.' Several political activists and journalists residing abroad traveled to Iran after Hassan Rouhani came to power but were ultimately arrested and imprisoned. Among these individuals are Hossein Nourani Nejad, Siraj al-Din Mirdamadi, Saeed Rezavi Faqih, Sajedeh Arab-Sorkhi, Mostafa Azizi, and Saeed Pourheidar, who have been arrested after returning to Iran over the past two years. In this context, the leader of the Islamic Republic warned about the 'guidance of the country's scientific elites abroad.'