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Warning from the Strategic Studies Center about entering a cycle of 'mass migration' from Iran

Jan 24, 2026 January 24, 2026 2 min read 📰 Radio Farda
📋 Key Takeaway

The Iranian Strategic Studies Center has reported a significant increase in the desire to migrate among various professional groups in Iran, particularly due to economic challenges such as inflation and sanctions. This trend poses a serious concern for the country's future workforce, especially in critical sectors like healthcare. The report highlights the urgency of addressing these issues to prevent a mass exodus of skilled professionals.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: Iran faces a critical challenge as skilled professionals increasingly seek to migrate due to economic instability.

👥 Key Players

Strategic Studies Center of the Iranian Presidency MENTIONED
Research organization
"They provide analysis and reports on critical issues affecting Iranian society and policy."
Iranian Medical Council MENTIONED
Professional organization for healthcare workers
"They represent the interests of medical professionals and highlight issues affecting healthcare in Iran."
Islamic Consultative Assembly MENTIONED
Legislative body of Iran
"They influence policies that affect economic and social conditions in Iran."

📰 What Happened

The Strategic Studies Center reported a significant increase in the desire to migrate among skilled professionals in Iran, driven by economic challenges like inflation and sanctions. This trend poses a serious concern for the country's future workforce, particularly in critical sectors such as healthcare.

  • 73% of doctors and nurses and 59% of students consider inflation's impact on their migration desire to be 'very high.'
  • About ten thousand specialists and subspecialists have obtained work migration certificates in the past two years.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: The potential mass migration of skilled professionals threatens Iran's healthcare system and economic stability.
🌍 Regional: A brain drain could destabilize the region by reducing Iran's capacity to manage healthcare and economic challenges.
🌐 International: This trend may lead to increased migration pressures on neighboring countries and alter regional dynamics.

📚 Background

Iran has been grappling with severe economic issues, including high inflation and international sanctions, which have led to widespread dissatisfaction among its population.

Economic sanctions on Iran Brain drain and migration trends
📡 Source: STATE MEDIA
📊 Confidence: 70%
The Strategic Studies Center is a government-affiliated organization, so its reports may reflect the government's perspective and priorities.

The Strategic Studies Center of the Iranian Presidency warned in a report, citing the results of a survey, that Iranian society is entering a phase of 'mass migration.' The report titled 'Managing Migration Abroad' states that we are currently in a peak period of 'desire and decision' to migrate, especially among skilled and capital-rich workers. The report, dated August 4, has gained media attention on August 25. According to the report, Iranian society is in a specific migratory condition, with a heavy psychological atmosphere surrounding the desire to migrate, significantly impacting people's lives. The report adds that the desire and decision to migrate have intensified among various groups, including workers, athletes, doctors, researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors. In this research, two groups, 'doctors and nurses' and 'students and graduates,' have identified the economic effects of inflation as significantly influencing their desire to migrate. 73% of doctors and nurses and 59% of students consider the effects of inflation on their migration desire to be 'very high.' 63% of doctors and nurses and 51% of students also evaluate the effects of sanctions on their migration desire as 'very high.' Doctors and nurses cite dissatisfaction with job income, lack of future certainty, imbalance between income and expenses, and the commercialization of their field as the main reasons for their migration. Previously, the head of the Iranian Medical Council warned that 'the exodus of doctors from the country is serious.' Last year, the head of the Health and Treatment Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly reported that about ten thousand specialists and subspecialists had obtained the necessary certificates for work migration in two years, stating that Arab countries have become the main destination for Iranian doctors' migration. According to the report from the Strategic Studies Center, on the other hand, entrepreneurs and startups have cited reasons related to economic uncertainty and insecurity, including economic sanctions, severe inflation, currency fluctuations, insecurity and unpredictability of the economic system, unprofitability of production, complex bureaucracy, and instability in domestic and foreign policy. They have mentioned the attractiveness of the investment environment and the stability of the destination country as reasons for their migration.

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

Translation confidence: 85%

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