The Iran regime’s Minister of Science, Hossein Simayee Sarraf, recently admitted a shocking statistic: 25% of university professors have emigrated in recent years. In a statement on November 22, Sarraf called this figure “worrying” and warned that it has caused a “decline in universities and academic performance.” He further noted that as skilled professors leave, they are replaced by individuals of “weaker caliber.”
Economic pressures are a major driver of this exodus, Sarraf explained, highlighting the stark salary disparity between Iran and neighboring countries. “Professors in neighboring countries earn between $4,000 and $7,000 monthly, while a full professor in Iran struggles to make $1,000,” he stated, adding that young lecturers earning just $300 to $400 face significant challenges such as housing, transportation, and education for their children. “Some even have no intention of returning,” he noted.
This brain drain is not limited to academia. Mahmoud Najafi Arab, head of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, revealed that over 2,000 startup visas have been granted to young Iranians in the past two to three years, enabling them to establish businesses abroad. Economists warn that this trend undermines economic growth, innovation, and job creation in Iran.
Under #Iran’s clerical dictatorship, the harsh living conditions are not limited to just political opponents. Today, the #Iranian population is enduring the most extreme and inhumane pressures from the theocratic regime.https://t.co/Go9wcGwdWu
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) August 14, 2023
The healthcare sector is also grappling with the crisis. Official data shows 1,500 nurses left the profession last year, with shortages becoming critical in many provinces. Meanwhile, specialists are also leaving in alarming numbers, exacerbating healthcare challenges. “For every 7,000 women in Iran, there is only one gynecologist,” stated Iraj Khosronia, head of the Society of Internal Medicine Specialists.
State-run media outlets and officials alike are voicing concerns about the systemic collapse caused by this mass exodus. A report by Rokna News Agency stated that around 40% of Iranian migrants are highly educated, with a significant rise in the emigration of educated women.
This dire situation reflects the broader economic and political challenges gripping the country. The economic crisis, coupled with political repression, has left Iran’s most talented individuals with little choice but to seek opportunities abroad. As Sarraf noted, this not only depletes Iran’s intellectual capital but also exacerbates the challenges facing universities, healthcare systems, and innovation sectors.
Efforts to address these issues, such as the creation of economic task forces, remain insufficient in the face of deep-seated structural problems. The growing brain drain, described by some experts as a “second-tier migration crisis,” continues to highlight the urgent need for comprehensive reform and international engagement.
