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The 'Selection' Circle of the Islamic Republic Tightens; Disqualification in Nursing System Elections

Feb 6, 2026 February 6, 2026 2 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

The nursing system elections in Iran have seen unprecedented disqualifications, with the government accused of engineering a passive organization. Nurses are protesting against their working conditions and low pay, leading to widespread emigration. This situation highlights ongoing tensions between healthcare professionals and the Iranian government.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The Iranian government's actions against nurses signal a tightening grip on professional organizations, exacerbating tensions and leading to potential unrest.

👥 Key Players

Mohammad Sharifi-Moghadam MENTIONED
Secretary-General of the Nurses' House
"He represents the interests of nurses in Iran and is vocal about their rights and working conditions."
Ministry of Health of the Islamic Republic MENTIONED
Government body overseeing health and nursing regulations
"They control the qualifications and regulations affecting nurses, influencing their professional landscape."
Free Workers' Union of Iran MENTIONED
Labor organization advocating for workers' rights
"They highlight labor issues and mobilize protests, representing broader discontent among workers."

📰 What Happened

The nursing system elections in Iran faced unprecedented disqualifications of candidates, leading to accusations that the government is attempting to create a passive nursing organization. Nurses have been protesting their working conditions and low pay, which has resulted in significant emigration from the profession.

  • 105 out of 4,114 candidates were disqualified in the recent elections.
  • Nurses have been protesting against low pay and poor working conditions, with many emigrating due to economic pressures.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: The disqualification of candidates and ongoing protests reflect deep dissatisfaction among healthcare workers, which could destabilize the healthcare system and lead to broader social unrest.
🌍 Regional: The situation may influence regional perceptions of Iran's governance and stability, potentially affecting diplomatic relations.
🌐 International: Internationally, this could draw attention to human rights issues in Iran, particularly regarding labor rights and professional freedoms.

📚 Background

Iran's healthcare system has been under strain due to economic challenges and mismanagement, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among healthcare workers, particularly nurses. The government’s control over professional organizations limits their ability to advocate for rights.

Labor rights in Iran Healthcare system challenges in Iran
📡 Source: NEUTRAL
📊 Confidence: 70%
The information appears to come from a credible source focused on labor issues, providing a perspective that highlights the challenges faced by nurses in Iran.

The Secretary-General of the Nurses' House reported security measures in the nursing system elections and stated that "since we were pursuing the issue of disqualified friends, we were also disqualified." Mohammad Sharifi-Moghadam emphasized that disqualification in this round has been "unprecedented" compared to previous rounds. According to Sharifi-Moghadam, those following up on the disqualification of other nurses, despite being approved in the first stage, were informed of their disqualification via phone call. He stated that the government wants a "passive organization." Sharifi-Moghadam remarked that engineering such elections is an insult to nurses, saying that "they want a passive organization and a tied-up institution under the Ministry of Health that does not protest anything." The Director General of Inspection at the Ministry of Health of the Islamic Republic mentioned that out of 4,114 candidates in this round of nursing system elections, 105 were disqualified, with the Ministry of Health confirming the qualifications of more than half of them during the appeal process. Nurses have protested their conditions in recent years, having held numerous demonstrations. The Free Workers' Union of Iran reported on Tuesday, April 17, 2023, that nurses in five provinces protested against the "government's violation in paying nursing tariffs" and chanted, "Incompetent minister resign, resign." According to this report, one nurse stated, "For 197 hours of mandatory work and 155 hours of overtime, we received 1,800,000 tomans as nursing service tariffs." The conditions of nurses have led to widespread emigration, with Sharifi-Moghadam stating in a conversation with the 'Khabar Online' website on February 7, 2023, that 200 nurses emigrate monthly due to economic pressures and discrimination, noting that reporting statistics in this area has led to various agencies obstructing individuals' migration. The slogan "We won't leave until we get our rights" was heard at a gathering of hospital nurses in Isfahan.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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