Head of Ali Khamenei's Office: Unemployment is Rampant in the Country

Simultaneously with the statements of the head of the Islamic Republic's leader's office that "the unemployment problem" in Iran is "rampant," a member of the Central Council of the Motahari Party has also assessed the year 1396 (2017) as a "difficult year" for Rouhani's government in terms of employment. According to Tasnim news agency, on Friday, June 12, Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, the head of Ayatollah Khamenei's office, emphasized at the introduction ceremony of the new representative of the Supreme Leader in East Azerbaijan that the country "needs work." He added, "Today is the time for work and effort, and no moment should be wasted... the unemployment problem is rampant." Mr. Mohammadi Golpayegani has deemed any "wasteful" consumption and "extravagance" in the country as "forbidden" and stated that the country must be handed over to the next generation in a healthy state. The issue of unemployment in Iran and job creation was highlighted by various candidates during the presidential election campaigns. While some candidates, including Ebrahim Raisi and Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, promised to create several million jobs per year, some economic experts deemed the realization of these promises impossible. The necessity of improving economic conditions and creating jobs in Iran continues after the end of the election campaigns and the victory of Hassan Rouhani. In this regard, a member of the Central Council of the Motahari Party has warned that if two to three million university graduates do not find jobs, "the economy will be bankrupt." The Mehr news agency today quoted Asadollah Asgaroladi as saying that the year 1396 will be a "difficult year" for Hassan Rouhani's government. He added, "Currently, we have more than 45 million people under the age of 30, and meeting their needs is the biggest concern of the government... If the government cannot provide job needs for 5 to 6 million of these individuals, it will face a bigger challenge." According to Mr. Asgaroladi, "If at least 2 to 3 million of these 5 million university graduates do not find jobs, the country's economy will face the threat of bankruptcy." During the election campaigns, while Rouhani's rivals, including Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, considered the country to be in an "economic crisis" characterized by "recession, unemployment, and inflation," Mr. Rouhani and his first deputy, Eshaq Jahangiri, defended the government's economic programs. In terms of Hassan Rouhani's economic record, Faridun Khavand, an economic analyst, believes that the government has achieved positive results in several macroeconomic variables of Iran, but has not made progress in implementing fundamental reforms to change the defective economic structures of the country. In this context, realizing the hopes of Iranians is likely to be the most difficult challenge facing Rouhani.