Rouhani: Some Think More Locks on the Country's Gates Will Increase Security

Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, stated on Sunday, March 8, that "when we talk about interaction with the world, some people dislike it" and added: "Some think that the more locks there are on the country's gates, the more security and health there will be." According to news agencies, Rouhani, speaking at the first National Health Assembly, continued: "I don't know why some are sensitive about interaction. Some enjoy confrontation. I don't know what benefit it brings them? Of course, it has brought them bread. When there is no interaction with the world, we are under sanctions, and we are forced to use non-standard fertilizers and pesticides, which is not good." He referred to discussions related to sanctions, adding: "Some countries were created for sanctions. If there are no sanctions in the world, their shops will be closed." On Saturday, March 7, Rouhani also mentioned the lifting of mandatory Chapter Seven resolutions of the UN Security Council against Iran, saying: "Some thought there was a grill, and we would throw the resolution in it, and it would burn and be over, but the resolution had to be lifted by the council itself, which we did." He added: "Let’s not be afraid of the JCPOA, let’s talk about it and say it. Some websites think that if they speak, it will be a compliment to the government. It is not forbidden to compliment the government once." Previously, Rouhani's conservative opponents have criticized his government's performance on issues such as the JCPOA. They have repeatedly launched severe attacks and criticisms against Rouhani's foreign policy, claiming that this government does not confront the West from a revolutionary position. However, Rouhani and his government members have defended the JCPOA in response to these criticisms, considering it a basis for lifting sanctions related to Iran's nuclear file. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was reached last July between Tehran and the P5+1 group, under which Iran halted many of its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions against it. In another part of his speech, Rouhani raised the question: "Should we also be worried about university professors who want to go abroad for study and about professors who want to come to Iran?" He added: "Some people are anxious and worried from morning till night, producing anxiety, and our professors and elders should be in and out to elevate research and science." Rouhani emphasized the need to improve food health and medical facilities in Iran, stating that "it is not possible to progress in medicine and treatment without interaction with the world; rather, our universities and researchers must interact with the world." In recent years, there have been numerous reports of security agencies confronting university professors who have participated in scientific gatherings outside Iran. At the same time, there have been instances of confrontations with professors coming from abroad to Iran. Rouhani also referred to the state of health and medical facilities during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency, stating: "Some have political Alzheimer’s and forget what the state of treatment, drug prices, and medical equipment was in the country, and some drugs and medical equipment were hard to obtain." He defended his government's performance in these areas, adding: "At least 20% of foreign drugs and 40% of medical equipment have become cheaper compared to the beginning of the government." The President of Iran also commented on the performance of the state radio and television regarding "the government's services in the health sector," saying: "I don’t know why the state media does not talk about the government’s services in the health sector? If meat becomes expensive for two days in the country, this issue will become the first news on television. I have seen that in the news section, the first news that was broadcast was about a butcher asking why the meat has become expensive." Previously, according to the website "Entekhab," Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi, the Minister of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education, severely criticized the performance of Iranian radio and television on December 24, stating that the media's approach is to undermine Rouhani's government. Since Rouhani's presidency began in 2013, his government's performance, especially in the economic field, has been criticized by conservatives and their media. They claim that the government has not fulfilled its promises in various areas and have rejected the statistics presented by government agencies and officials regarding improvements in various indicators in Iran.