Sunday 03 October 2021

Shargh newspaper, in a comprehensive report by economist Mehdi Asali, examines the budget deficit and quotes the head of the Plan and Budget Organization as saying that the value of hidden energy subsidies is equal to $63 billion. It also said that Deputy Minister of Economy estimates the total value of hidden subsidies at $105 billion.

By presenting numerous documents and arguments he then concludes: “… the necessity to reform the subsidy system requires that a precise and calculated plan be formulated for this purpose as soon as possible. However, it should be noted that success in implementing this plan requires adherence to the mentioned principles in terms of convincing public opinion and gaining public confidence in the need for these reforms, identifying target groups and setting up a transition payment plan to offset the impact of rising energy prices, a timely implementation of the plan and transparency in how to implement and direct revenue generated to support target groups. 

Investing in new technologies to improve energy efficiency, coordination between political actors and socio-economic stakeholders in these reforms, establishing non-governmental energy pricing institutions at the end of subsidy reforms, and laying the groundwork for other related reforms are important. 

These fundamental reforms cover a wide-scale domain of creating non-governmental energy pricing institution, completion and rendering the support and social security network effective, reform of government financial relations with the oil sector and finite resources, creation of a tax system based on new economic tax rates and successful experiences of countries in creating a smart tax system with a review of the entire inefficient tax system, regulation of performance-based budgeting system, programs to improve the efficiency of the executive apparatus and reform the financial and monetary markets and banking system. … 

Now that it is said a great deal of coordination has been created between the centers of political power and macroeconomic decisions in the country, it is hoped the authorities will realize the seriousness of the situation and seize the opportunity with strong determination and turn the next four years into an era of real transformation of Iran’s economic system. These opportunities may not be repeated!”

Arman Melli: Resolving Iran-Azerbaijan Dispute by Diplomatic Means

 

Arman Melli newspaper has published an article by university professor Sadegh Ziba Kalam that deals with the crisis in Iran-Azerbaijan relations.

He wrote: “… The truth of the matter is that the issue of the Republic of Azerbaijan should have been considered in the past in such a way that today Baku would not make such unusual statements and set regional conditions for Iran. Iran always looks at the Republic of Azerbaijan as a friendly neighboring country with constructive relations between the two sides. Tehran has never looked at Azerbaijan beyond a neighbor in the northwest of our country; but in contrast Azerbaijan, at the instigation of certain countries, today stands against Iran and makes some ill-considered statements. This has prompted Iran to change the way it views the case of Azerbaijan and to look at the issue from another perspective ….”

Criticizing Iran’s perspective about different issues, Ziba Kalam writes: “… If problems surface in Iran’s relations with Azerbaijan and a dispute arises between Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey and other countries, Iran is right! That is, exactly the same view at home is applied in foreign policy. Therefore, they (Iranian statesmen) distinguish that on some occasions even in foreign policy, they should use force in sending messages to the countries in question.

Of course, the nature of Iran’s differences with Azerbaijan and Turkey are issues that must be resolved through diplomacy. As the Republic of Azerbaijan allows itself to have national interests and move in the direction of these national interests this right is also reserved for the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Iran proceeds according to its national interests. “So the way to defend national interests is to use diplomacy and the foreign policy apparatus, and there is no other way.”

 

Jomhouri Eslami: Funeral of Air Force Pilot 

Jomhouri Eslami newspaper said in a report: “Air Force pilot 2nd Brigadier General Manouchehr Mohagheghi, one of the elites in his profession succumbed to his injuries caused during the war (with Iraq) and after a period of illness at the age of 78.

Brigadier General Mohagheghi was born in 1943 in the city of Tabriz and his F-4 plane was hit by Iraqi forces in Basra region in 1980 and he was maimed.

He holds the record for 182 Special Mission sorties and another record for more than 3,000 hours of phantom flight in Iran and the Middle East.