Tenfold Increase of AIDS Among Women

Minoo Mohraz, head of the Iranian AIDS Research Center, reported in an interview with Nikin Bagheri of the Arman newspaper about the status of AIDS in Iran, stating that "the rate of AIDS infection among women has increased up to tenfold, indicating the depth of the issue. Consequently, we will face a significant number in the coming years." Mohraz emphasized the change in the model of transmission and infection of AIDS in Iran, noting that "previously, drug injection was one of the main ways the AIDS virus was transmitted, and consequently, more men than women were afflicted with the disease. However, the situation has changed, and we are witnessing a considerable rise in the number of women infected with AIDS, to the extent that sexual transmission of the AIDS virus has become a focus." Mohraz also warned of a "crisis of AIDS among working children," stating that "given the current conditions, street children are also at risk of contracting AIDS," especially "children whose parents are often addicted or who are involved in drug trafficking and become users themselves. Thus, the end of this path is drug injection and contracting AIDS." The Arman newspaper also reported on the judiciary's response to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's criticisms, with Sadegh Larijani stating, "They tell strange lies." In response to videos of Ahmadinejad criticizing the judiciary, Larijani remarked, "It is regrettable that a former official makes about 50 false statements against the judiciary and its officials in a few minutes, and unfortunately, they do not realize that this is a betrayal of the Islamic Republic, the ideals of the revolution, and the blood of martyrs." The Hamayat newspaper, affiliated with the prison organization, featured Larijani on its front page, where he spoke at a gathering on the "Constitution and the Ideals of the Islamic Revolution" in front of members of the Lawyers' Basij, stating, "Some are pouring water on the enemy's mill" and "it is regrettable that some flutter about and question the system and its pillars to defend their companions." Meanwhile, the Aftab Yazd newspaper pointed out that "reformists" warned years ago about Ahmadinejad's actions and statements, but the principlist faction continued to support him, urging this political faction to "apologize to the people." The Javan newspaper, close to the Revolutionary Guards, described the missile attack by Yemen's Ansarullah on Abu Dhabi as "Yemen's missile response to the UAE's sedition," reporting that "less than 24 hours after Ali Abdullah Saleh took a stance against Ansarullah and signaled to the Saudis, Yemen's popular forces targeted the UAE with missiles and simultaneously pushed Saleh's supporters back in Sana'a, gaining control over most areas of the capital." The newspaper noted that "the missile unit of the Yemeni army and popular committees attacked Abu Dhabi's nuclear facilities with cruise missiles, targeting the Barakah nuclear facilities, which are located on the Gulf coast, 53 kilometers southwest of Al Ruwais, and are expected to have four nuclear power plants by 2020." Kayhan, which had previously reported on the missile attack by Ansarullah on Riyadh's international airport with the headline "Ansarullah's missile fired at Riyadh, the next target is Dubai," was suspended for two days due to this headline. In its December 4 issue, it stated, "The light has gone out of Abu Dhabi's eyes, and Riyadh is in fear of the next shot." The newspaper emphasized that "Ansarullah, as promised, will attack the capitals of all countries participating in the aggression against Yemen, and on Sunday, with the cruise missile strike on Barakah's nuclear facilities in Abu Dhabi, it fulfilled another of its threats." Kayhan stressed that due to the "prediction of the realization of other threats from Ansarullah, which coincidentally was fulfilled on Sunday with the strike on Abu Dhabi, it was suspended for two days," while simultaneously asserting that "the next target of Yemen's missiles will likely be Riyadh." Additionally, Hossein Shariatmadari, the representative of the Supreme Leader in Kayhan, stated, "Given all the crimes of the UAE, a missile strike on Abu Dhabi is insufficient," adding that "certainly Riyadh and major cities in Saudi Arabia and the capitals of Arab countries that bomb Yemen will be bombarded by the Houthis." In its editorial, Kayhan wrote, "From a timing perspective, targeting the UAE is significant and noteworthy. This operation occurred on the fifth day of Ali Abdullah Saleh's rebellion against Ansarullah," noting that "on Saturday, Saleh, in a televised speech, officially separated his path from the Yemeni people and signaled to the Saudi and Emirati aggressors, calling them neighboring brothers and announcing his readiness to turn a new page," which coincided with armed clashes between his supporters and Ansarullah. The Jam-e-Farda newspaper reported on "the continuation of protests by graduates of the Oil Industry University," stating that "classes at the Oil Industry University, one of Iran's oldest universities, have been suspended for several weeks due to student sit-ins. Meanwhile, a number of graduates from this university have been in limbo for several years and have gathered in front of the Ministry of Oil." Ehsan Ashrafi, a reporter for Jam-e-Farda, wrote about the reasons for these protests: "In the past, the Ministry of Oil committed in the national entrance exam booklet that top graduates of this university would have priority for employment, but in 2015, this priority was removed. This decision victimized a portion of the top graduates who had entered the university before 2015. Those who decided to study at this university with top entrance exam scores in hopes of this employment priority are now in limbo." The newspaper noted that "the Ministry of Oil believes that many of these individuals do not have the necessary qualifications and expertise to work in the oil company," while "these same individuals, who the Ministry of Oil deems unqualified for employment in Iranian oil companies, are being recruited by universities or major oil companies outside of Iran; companies that receive substantial amounts when contracting with Iran and send these individuals to work for their own countries in limited and temporary capacities." Jam-e-Farda emphasized that those "with top entrance exam scores, multiple projects and articles, and excellent GPAs, who mostly completed their master's or doctoral degrees at prominent universities such as Sharif University of Technology, Amir Kabir University of Technology, and the University of Tehran with excellent ranks, have been deemed by the Ministry of Oil as lacking sufficient scientific and intellectual qualifications for employment." The newspaper reported that "one graduate from the Oil University and a master's graduate from Sharif University, who ranked first in both universities in their field of study, stated that they were disqualified in the initial employment assessment by the oil company," and "another individual with a top entrance exam score and someone with over 20 global articles are just a small part of those disqualified by this ministry last year." The Etemad newspaper dedicated its front page to Ali Shakouri Rad, the Secretary-General of the Union of Islamic Iran Nation Parties from the reformist faction, with the headline "Against Regret," emphasizing that "Ali Shakouri Rad stressed the continued support of reformists for Hassan Rouhani," stating that "regarding the deficiencies seen in the government or in the actions of some of the president's close associates, there are two possibilities. One might think that Mr. Rouhani is unaware of them. In this situation, reformists should help him become aware. The result should not be that reformists say that these deficiencies and undesirable actions exist around you, and for this reason, we distance ourselves from you." Ali Shakouri Rad mentioned that in the second possibility, if Hassan Rouhani is aware of the deficiencies in his government and still utilizes them, two other hypotheses arise; one is that he has strategic goals in mind that he deems necessary to pursue through this method, in which case the issue is justification. Alternatively, it may be that the president is indeed aware and either consciously or out of fear and concern makes a turn or commits an error. Even in this most pessimistic scenario, distancing from the president yields no achievement. By distancing from Mr. Rouhani, what we are worried about happening in the future will occur today." The Qanoon newspaper reported on "a conspiracy against national resources" in its front page, stating that "in the sixth development plan, on one hand, due to the water crisis, there is an emphasis on not increasing the area of cultivation, yet on the other hand, 500,000 hectares of rain-fed lands with slopes and about 300 mm of rainfall have been allowed to change use to orchards. This is a clear contradiction in the sixth development plan that is a death blow to the country's water and natural resources." The newspaper noted that "one of the main concerns regarding the implementation of this sixth development plan is the increased rate of destruction of the Zagros forests, as currently, forests are struggling with the issue of land use change." The Hamdeli newspaper dedicated its front page to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Kazem Mo'tamed Nejad, a late professor of communication sciences in Iranian universities, honoring him for "a lifetime of efforts for the security and independence of journalism." The Aseman-e-Aabi newspaper published an interview with Morteza Araghchi, head of the Union of Handwoven Carpet Sellers, with the headline "Iranian Carpet Has Lost the Game," quoting him as saying: "Our carpet exports are decreasing day by day, and while exports in this sector peaked in the 1990s at $1.7 billion, this figure has now dropped to $300 million last year, meaning a reduction of about six times over these years."