Uncontrolled Inflation and the Dream of 'Population Growth'; Up to 500,000 Abortions Occur Annually

The head of the Nafas Headquarters has announced the latest statistics on abortion in Iran, stating that up to 500,000 cases occur annually, with 90 to 93 percent of these abortions performed by couples who are officially and permanently married. Analysts attribute the primary cause of this situation to the country's economic conditions and severe inflation. According to ILNA, Mohsen Zakerian emphasized in a meeting of the Central Province Administrative Council that approximately 1,000 abortions are performed daily across the country based on existing statistics. The reasons cited by Zakerian for these abortions include economic, cultural, legal, psychological, social, and ideological issues. This level of abortion occurs while all responsible agencies in this area, including the Ministry of Health, have been directed by Ali Khamenei to implement population growth policies. Accordingly, the Ministry of Health announced in May of this year the establishment of a 'Abortion Patrol.' In Iran, the passage of the law known as 'Support for Family and Youth Population' has created numerous obstacles for doctors and medical centers regarding abortion, leading to security and judicial actions, including the closure of clinics and the revocation of medical licenses in this area. Nevertheless, according to this government official, up to 500,000 abortions occur annually. This situation's roots must be sought in economic issues and the lack of a clear outlook on the country's economic and political future. Statistics show that in 2008, the misery index was over 35 percent and the inflation rate was 25.4 percent, which has risen to 45 percent inflation and a misery index of over 52 percent by the fall of 2023. Measures to prevent abortion include the closure of a physician's office in Tabriz and the issuance of an indictment for a doctor in Yazd for providing 'tools' for abortion. A media outlet in Iran has reported that pregnancies resulting from 'incestuous rape' have become a problem. Seventeen percent of maternal deaths in Iran are due to a lack of access to female specialists. Scientists have grown a model of an artificial embryo without using sperm, eggs, or a womb.