The Situation of Students, Lost Among Election Promises

The newspaper Hamdeli reported on the situation of students, stating that 100 students from the University of Science and Industry were summoned to the disciplinary committee in February, with 36 others summoned the previous month under the pretext of inappropriate dress. The newspaper Etemad, in a report titled 'Opposing Government, Supporting Parliament,' mentioned that the first cash subsidy of the year 1395 (2016) would be deposited into the accounts of household heads today. However, even the announcement of the deposit for 75 million beneficiaries could not quell the heated discussions about subsidies in the halls of parliament. While the government clearly opposed the removal of subsidies for 24 million people in the last year's budget bill, the Islamic Consultative Assembly proceeded to approve this plan, and conservative representatives emphasized that the reason for such a proposal was not the previous or upcoming elections. The newspaper noted that the 10th parliamentary elections prevented many current representatives from returning to parliament, stressing that influencing the upcoming presidential election in 1396 (2017) is considered by some political and economic observers as a strong reason for the continuation of strict policies in parliament. According to Etemad, although President Hassan Rouhani expressed his opposition to cutting subsidies for 24 million people in the open parliament, this does not negate the criticisms from government officials and economic ministers regarding the cash subsidy payments. The newspaper cited Mohammad Baqer Nobakht's statements, indicating that the government insists that the parliament's decision to cut subsidies for the first three income deciles, amounting to 24 million people, is practically 'non-executable,' noting that 'those with annual incomes exceeding 35 million tomans number around seven million, not 24 million.' The newspaper Kayhan, in its headline 'Opposition to Cutting Rich People's Subsidies: Political or Economic?', accused President Rouhani's government of opposing the parliament's decision to cut subsidies for the first three deciles due to the upcoming second round of parliamentary elections and the presidential election of 1396. It pointed out that 'the Islamic Consultative Assembly approved the cut of subsidies for the first three economic deciles on Tuesday while facing opposition and a negative stance from the government.' The newspaper added that 'the government's opposition, the headlines of reformist newspapers about this decision, and all the discussions surrounding this issue indicate that there are plans behind this opposition; plans that may bear fruit in the days leading up to June 1396.' The newspaper Ebtekar accused the conservative representatives of the ninth parliament of not proposing the removal of 24 million subsidy recipients to address budget deficits but rather to 'discredit the government.' It even stated that 'a large portion of the ninth parliament, which is predominantly conservative and has recently lost the parliamentary elections, has taken revenge on both the government and the people by approving the removal of millions from subsidy recipients under the pretext of budget shortages.' Ebrahim Neko, a member of the Economic Commission of the parliament, also told Ebtekar that the approval of 'cutting subsidies for three deciles' in parliament is 'a political move against the government by those who lost the recent elections.' The newspaper Shargh dedicated its front page to Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, stating that 'since her appointment as the EU's foreign policy chief, Mogherini has managed to bring the nuclear train, which had been stuck on the track of 'negotiation after negotiation,' to the stations of 'Lausanne agreement' and 'Vienna agreement,' and now she is set to visit Tehran for the second time with the aim of conducting high-level discussions on Iran-EU cooperation.' The newspaper noted that 'seven European commissioners' would accompany Mogherini on her trip to Tehran, each pursuing a specific topic. These include the Commissioner for Climate Change, the Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry and Entrepreneurship, the Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, the Commissioner for Transport, the Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, the Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, and the Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management. Zeynab Ismaili, a reporter for Shargh, emphasized that 'the composition of the Brussels travelers to Tehran indicates that this trip will not pursue political goals,' recalling that 'Iran-EU relations had previously been pursued under the titles of 'comprehensive dialogues' and 'critical dialogues,' but in the new phase, both sides are seeking 'high-level dialogues,' and what will be signed following the new round of negotiations will be a memorandum of understanding or cooperation document or 'roadmap.' The newspaper also mentioned the possibility of establishing an 'EU office' in one of the embassies, including the Dutch embassy, and stated: 'Another significant issue in this context is the human rights discussions that European members always seek to raise some claims against Iran,' although 'a senior expert' told this newspaper: 'It is unlikely that there will be serious discussions about human rights with the EU in this round of talks.' Meanwhile, Kayhan criticized Mogherini's visit to Tehran, stating that 'while Mogherini is heading to Iran, the EU has extended sanctions on 82 individuals and one institution due to what it calls human rights violations in Iran.' The newspaper pointed out that this timing 'what meaning can it have other than thanking you for increasing or continuing these sanctions, thank you very much,' questioning: 'Does the EU now speak to the Iranian people in a respectful language? To the extent that we should host and welcome their representative? Is respectful language synonymous with sanctions and blocking the assets of a group of officials and servants and representatives of the same people?' According to this newspaper, 'following the protest of the student council at the University of Science and Industry regarding this action, the disciplinary committee officials claimed that this cultural act was aimed at raising students' awareness and would not lead to any ruling from the disciplinary committee.' The newspaper Hamdeli, referring to Hassan Rouhani's statements and promises during the 2013 presidential election, including that 'in the government of hope and prudence, our youth in universities will enjoy a freer atmosphere,' criticized the government, stating: 'Now, nearly three years have passed since Hassan Rouhani's presidency, and the most significant news topping student news is the repeated summons of students to disciplinary committees.' The newspaper Vatan-e Emruz dedicated its front page and headline to the Saudi royal family, reporting under the title 'Saudi Army in the East' that former Saudi Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz expressed unprecedented concerns about the consequences of his country's arming of groups opposing Iran. The newspaper Javan reported under the title 'Multiple JCPOAs and Continued American Hostility Towards Iran,' stating: 'After the nuclear agreement, discussions about JCPOA 2 and 3, particularly in regional matters, emerged,' but 'the Supreme Leader has explicitly opposed the topics of JCPOA 2 and 3, describing them as 'contrary to Iran's national interests.' 'Iran and Saudi Arabia's back-and-forth in Istanbul' is the headline of the Friday edition of Vaghaye Ettefaghieh, emphasizing that 'the diplomatic tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia is escalating,' reporting that on Wednesday 'at the summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, extensive lobbying by the people of Hijaz responded, and although this summit has not yet concluded, Arab media reports that a 10-article statement is being prepared in which 'Iran is accused of interfering in the affairs of other member states of this organization.' This newspaper wrote: 'It seems that in coordination between domestic hardliners and regional rivals, after the execution of Sheikh Nimr, the attack and burning of the Saudi embassy in Tehran, it is now time to issue a statement against our country at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit.' Vaghaye Ettefaghieh also referred to Mohammad Javad Zarif's reaction to the consequences of this 'destructive approach,' stating that the Iranian Foreign Minister warned against the 'instrumental misuse of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation during wartime,' saying: 'At that time, Mr. Tariq Aziz, the then Iraqi Foreign Minister, passed anti-Iranian clauses with the support of a few regional countries, but we did not pay attention to these anti-Iranian approaches. We must learn from the past; see where Tariq Aziz is now?' This newspaper reported in another article quoting Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the mayor of Tehran, stating: 'We are selling the Shahrvand store,' explaining that 'the municipality is not a store owner; we should purchase services, not produce services.' According to Vaghaye Ettefaghieh, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf also said: 'One of my honors in the municipality is improving the status of public transport and ending sit-ins and protests. 17,000 people worked in public transport, and the bus ticket was 20 tomans, while the cost to the passenger was several times this amount.' The newspaper Qanoon dedicated its front page to several girls participating in a protest on Wednesday in front of the Ministry of Economy, describing this gathering as 'a protest against the unmet promises of the year on April 25.'