Reports

Abstract This report focuses on evaluating the performance of the Supreme Economic Coordination Council’s resolution on government asset monetization (approved in 2022) and proposes ideas for its improvement. Key challenges include difficulties in sales, complexities in bartering, small-scale assets, and ineffective use of land capacities. The proposed ideas are feasible within the current asset management framework. The first idea is a brokerage mechanism where the government allocates assets for debt settlement and entrusts them to a non-governmental broker for monetization, referring creditors to the broker. This creates operational flexibility, accelerates sales, and largely resolves bartering challenges. The second idea is a tradable credit certificate mechanism, where creditors receive certificates (liquefying debt) usable only for purchasing surplus government assets. This converts government debt into effective demand for surplus assets, stimulates additional demand through discounts, and addresses bartering challenges. Other proposed ideas include mandating the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development to identify suitable land plots for monetization, enhancing the Budget and Planning Organization’s role in agenda-setting, and utilizing its allocation mechanism to mitigate restrictions requiring debts and assets to belong to a single entity.

Abstract Although access to cutting-edge technology is a key factor in industrial competitiveness and productivity, many industrial units in Iran face challenges in modernization. Statistics show that 32% of small industrial units operate at less than 50% capacity due to outdated production technology. Over the past decade, the number of inactive industrial units has steadily increased, with 56% of these units ceasing production since 2016 due to factors such as liquidity shortages, equipment obsolescence, technological weaknesses, and similar issues. A critical prerequisite for successful modernization and reconstruction of production lines is identifying priority industries for various forms of support. Therefore, it is essential to formulate an industrial development strategy and initiate a modernization and equipment upgrade program for leading industries. At the legislative level, to address legal bottlenecks, it is proposed that the government prioritize drafting a “Bill to Support the Reconstruction and Modernization of Leading Industries” with high enforceability, delineating clear roles for organizations such as the Industrial Development and Renovation Organization, the Small Industries and Industrial Parks Organization, and the Economic Units Revival Movement. Additionally, given that the primary challenge for stakeholders and industrial units seeking modernization is securing sustainable financing, leveraging the capacities of Article 34 of the Production and Infrastructure Financing Law is recommended.

Abstract Despite the passage of the Law on Supporting the Restoration and Revitalization of Historical-Cultural Textures in 2019, Article 17, which mandates insurance for historical buildings registered on the National Heritage List, has not been fully implemented after five years. There are 14,659 historical buildings covered by this law, with 74% privately owned and 26% owned by the government or endowments. However, insuring these buildings faces challenges, including difficulties in valuing their financial and cultural worth, high vulnerability to earthquakes and floods, lack of supervisory infrastructure, international sanctions, and the financial weakness of domestic insurance institutions in covering damages. Additionally, the absence of clear standards for calculating insurance premiums and the lack of specialized insurance companies for historical artifacts complicate implementation. To address these obstacles, it is proposed that Article 17 be amended to require the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, in collaboration with the Property and Deeds Registration Organization, to include data on the natural and environmental vulnerability and age of historical buildings in the system outlined in Clause 1, Paragraph P, Article 83 of the Seventh Development Program Law. It is also suggested that the amendment mandate the Central Insurance Organization to set the base insurance price solely based on estimated restoration and revitalization costs. Furthermore, earthquake insurance rates should be determined based on the building’s structure and materials, area, value of furnishings, reconstruction costs per square meter in case of earthquake damage, and the building’s exposure to seismic risks.

Abstract The Fundamental Education Transformation Document, as the primary guiding document for Iran’s formal-public education system, was approved by the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council in December 2011. Its implementation horizon ends in 2025, and despite the document’s mandate for five-year reviews, this has never occurred. Now, at the end of its horizon, the Supreme Education Council has submitted a “Revised Version of the Fundamental Education Transformation Document” for final approval by the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council, which this report examines. The revised version, expected to build on the 2011 document by addressing past shortcomings, transformations over the past decade, and future forecasts, is essentially a new document with different wording but retains the flaws of the original. If approved, there is concern that the next two decades will follow the same trajectory as the past fourteen years. Criticisms include unnecessary revisions, unclear reform objectives, redundant additions of theoretical foundations to the document’s text, non-compliance with policy and document-writing principles, lack of alignment with general policies, absence of implementation prioritization, ambiguous and contentious concepts, lack of operational clarity in strategies, unrealistic goal-setting, incomplete institutional mapping, unclear vision of an ideal school per the document, and lack of precise indicators to measure implementation progress. Based on these, it is recommended that the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council reject the revised version in its entirety.

Abstract This report aims to facilitate and improve the quality of continuous monitoring of the implementation of Chapter Sixteen of the Seventh Development Program Law by developing monitoring indicators for the Women, Family, and Population chapter. It also examines the structure of this chapter from the perspectives of issue identification, scheduling of provisions, and responsible implementing agencies as prerequisites for defining monitoring indicators. Although efforts were made to assess the performance metrics of Article 79 in the base year (2023) through correspondence with executive agencies and reference to registered data, challenges include lack of consensus on some indicators’ baseline values, undefined agencies responsible for measuring Article 79’s performance, and unclear implementation actions for registry-based and outcome-oriented metrics. To address these, proposals include drafting an executive regulation under Article 79 by the Vice Presidency for Women and Family Affairs to precisely designate responsible agencies, creating a regulation for registry-based and outcome-oriented indicators to clarify required actions with the participation of the Budget and Planning Organization and relevant agencies, and proposing operational solutions for selecting indicators where consensus or clarity is lacking.

Abstract The growing imbalance between electricity production and demand in recent years has led to consumption management schemes, particularly affecting the industrial sector. The Seventh Development Program Law sets goals to improve the electricity sector, including increasing nominal power plant capacity to 124,000 MW, with 12,000 MW from renewables, and achieving a positive balance of 1,632 MW between production and demand during peak load, compared to a negative balance of 17,557 MW last summer. Although approximately 2,200 MW of new power plant capacity was added to the national grid in 2024, the faster growth in electricity demand suggests that the supply-demand imbalance will be significantly larger next summer. This report evaluates the achievement of electricity sector goals in the Seventh Development Program Law by monitoring 2024 data. The results indicate that the realization of these goals averages around 5%, far from the desired level.

Abstract The industrial sector, as a key driver of economic growth and sustainable development, holds a prominent place in Iran’s macro programs. To achieve the goals of the Seventh Development Program, which began in 2024, continuous and precise monitoring of key industrial indicators is crucial. This report evaluates the industrial sector’s performance in the second half of 2024, based on the program’s goals, by analyzing data on production and sales growth in the industrial sector (listed companies), major subsectors, macro-industrial indicators, permits for establishment and operation of industrial activities, and the business environment across various industries. The findings provide a clear picture of the sector’s current state, facilitating strategic decisions and effective policies to achieve industrial development goals. The report shows a decline in industrial sector growth in Q2 2024, with a limited increase over the first nine months compared to the previous year. Negative growth in production among listed industrial companies is evident in the second half of 2024. The results suggest that the sector’s recession aligns more with supply-side stagnation, and in 2024, particularly the second half, greater investment in industrial activities has occurred compared to the previous year, with each industrial worker supported by higher capital investment.

Abstract This report examines the transformations in Saudi Arabia’s religious diplomacy within the context of tradition versus modernity over the past century, aiming to provide a comprehensive picture of how the country addresses its identity and civilizational challenges through analysis of recent cultural, religious, and political trends. As a key player in the Islamic world, Saudi Arabia, influenced by global pressures and domestic necessities, has undertaken extensive reforms to redefine its international position, reduce Wahhabism’s influence, promote a modernized Islam, and develop religious tourism. Actions have also been taken to enhance its global image, reconstruct a new national identity, and expand women’s social roles. These reforms aim to consolidate political power and engineer religious identity but face challenges, including identity conflicts between emerging state nationalism and traditional religious authority, lack of social legitimacy and cultural authenticity in state-driven narratives, structural dependence on foreign investment for cultural and symbolic identity redefinition, superficial modernization without developing social and participatory institutions, superficial elevation of women’s status without cultural and elite consensus, lack of a shared historical memory, inability to reconstruct national cultural heroes, and social resistance to cultural reforms. These changes offer opportunities for Iran, such as fostering targeted interactions with Saudi cultural and academic elites and focusing on shared transnational threats by emphasizing Islamic unity from an Islamic human rights perspective.

Abstract To implement the Supreme Cyberspace Council’s resolutions, particularly the “Protection of Children and Adolescents in Cyberspace” document, an emergency hotline for crimes against children in cyberspace was mandated. This hotline, aimed at providing specialized consultation and intervention to prevent and address online crimes against children, is a key component of the document’s national division of responsibilities. However, its implementation faces obstacles, including inadequate technical infrastructure, lack of specialized police and rapid-response teams for handling reports, and absence of clear, operational inter-agency collaboration and referral systems. This report reviews the current situation, structural and legal weaknesses, and existing challenges in the document, proposing two scenarios for implementing the reporting referral system. The first scenario emphasizes establishing an emergency hotline based on a specialized children and adolescents’ police force, which, despite some limitations, enables faster, more specialized, and effective intervention. The second scenario suggests leveraging the “Nemad” system under the Ministry of Education, which faces significant limitations due to its weak performance and focus on counseling services. In conclusion, the first scenario is deemed more efficient and effective for ensuring children’s safety in cyberspace and achieving the document’s goals.

Abstract This report analyzes the Right to Information (RTI) Index and Iran’s position within it. The RTI Index is the primary and most cited indicator of countries’ status regarding access-to-information laws. Iran’s relevant law, the Publication and Free Access to Information Law, approved in 2008, aims to enhance transparency, public trust, and combat corruption. Iran ranks 104 out of 140 countries in the RTI Index, scoring 71 out of 150. The report’s findings indicate that many scores assigned to Iran are based on incomplete data or evaluators’ partial understanding, with reasons and evidence detailed in the report. Without amending the existing law, merely clarifying and explaining current laws and regulations to evaluators could yield an additional 36 points, improving Iran’s score to 107 and its rank to 31. Amending the Publication and Free Access to Information Law to align with national legislative needs and general legislative policies would also inadvertently enhance Iran’s RTI score. The report provides a comprehensive guide for improving Iran’s RTI ranking, directed to the Secretariat of the Publication and Free Access to Information Commission, the Islamic Consultative Assembly for law revision, and international interaction bodies like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address score corrections.

Abstract The non-governmental higher education sector, hosting nearly half of Iran’s students and contributing significantly to scientific production, is of great importance. The Constitution (Article 30) mandates comprehensive and targeted government support for higher education, and other laws (Article 88 of the Law on Regulating Some Government Financial Provisions, 2001, and Clause 4, Article 105 of the Seventh Development Program Law, 2024) permit non-governmental entities to access public funds. Current legal frameworks, particularly Article 34 of the Law Amending Some Government Financial Provisions and Clause 2, Paragraph 7, Article 1 of the Permanent Development Program Provisions Law (2017), focus primarily on student-centric support. While important, this approach is insufficient for strategically empowering institutions, improving quality, and aligning with national needs, suffering from weaknesses such as lack of institutional support and transparency in fund allocation. This study argues that effective higher education support requires a comprehensive approach based on justice, efficiency, purposefulness, outcome-orientation, and quality, covering both students and institutions. Support can be provided through service procurement or government contracts for both public and private sectors. For the non-governmental sector, proposals to amend Article 34 and its clauses are offered, incorporating regulatory principles (transparency, quality standards, targeted support, and oversight) to establish a mechanism for allocating public funds based on performance indicators and national priorities, aiming for transparent, fair, efficient, and nationally aligned allocation in higher education.

Abstract This study examines the transparency of provisions related to state-owned enterprises in Iran’s national budget laws for 2023, 2024, and 2025. Given their significant resource allocation in annual budgets, state-owned enterprises hold a critical position in the economy. However, structural, managerial, and operational issues have created numerous transparency challenges. Using the Jansen and Bertzen model as an analytical framework, four main components are evaluated: transparency in decision-making systems, executive and participatory processes, financial information, and performance monitoring. Analysis of 86 related provisions in the studied period shows 17% fully transparent, 47% moderately transparent, and 36% low or non-transparent. Findings highlight deficiencies in information disclosure, decision-making process transparency, and enforcement mechanisms. Transparency in decision-making and financial information was relatively better in 2024. In 2023, despite a higher number of provisions, ambiguities persisted in executive, participatory, and performance monitoring transparency, a trend continuing in 2025. Public disclosure of decision-making documents, clear executive guidelines, continuous evaluation, and precise resource allocation and expenditure mechanisms could enhance transparency in these provisions.

Abstract Petitions have a long history in human societies, and in the 21st century, digital technologies have transformed them, leading to the emergence of electronic petition platforms. While these tools offer numerous advantages, they face challenges, notably the risk of oversimplifying their design into a purely technical tool. This report first examines the history, functions, and legal capacities of electronic petitions in Iran, followed by an analysis of five global (official and unofficial) and two domestic electronic petition platforms. The selection of platforms considers their diverse features, which are compared to analyze strengths and weaknesses. Lessons learned are presented in three areas: first, guidelines for collaboration between the government and the Islamic Consultative Assembly with private electronic petition platforms; second, requirements for the Assembly to establish a dedicated platform, emphasizing legal, political, and technical considerations for transparent and trust-based design; and third, the role of the Research Center as a consultative body in this process. With its advisory and specialized capacities, the Center can enhance petition quality, provide legal frameworks, and regulate relations for collaboration with existing platforms or creating a new one.

Abstract This report examines the bill to amend the Social Insurance Law for Intercity Freight and Passenger Transport Drivers, which faces financial and implementation challenges. Under the current law, drivers are required to pay 13.5% of their approved monthly income as insurance premiums per Article 35 of the Social Security Law, with the remaining 13.5% covered by the government. However, due to limited financial resources, the government has not fully paid its share, resulting in some drivers being deprived of insurance benefits and financial issues for the Social Security Organization. The bill also seeks to address insurance for drivers on virtual platforms by proposing an increase in platform service fees. Three new clauses propose securing sustainable funding for drivers’ insurance through increased freight and passenger transport fees, directly deposited into the Social Security Organization’s account, with an emphasis on transparent monthly payments and oversight to prevent misuse. However, the proposed fee increase is insufficient, potentially leading to incomplete or discriminatory implementation, which contradicts Clause 9 of Article 3 of the Constitution and Clause 9 of the General Legislative Policies. To avoid inequity and implementation issues, it is suggested that new financial resources be paid directly to drivers rather than the Social Security Organization. Due to ambiguities and deficiencies, it is recommended that the bill be returned to the specialized committee for further revision.

Abstract Empowering and popularizing the diplomatic activities of the Twelfth Parliament through comparative studies of other parliaments’ achievements and experiences significantly enhances Iran’s parliamentary diplomacy, identifies common foreign policy issues with other countries, and achieves the goals of Chapters 21 and 22 of the Seventh Development Program Law. Balanced, appropriate, and intelligent use of women representatives’ diplomatic potential, transforming the diplomatic duties of parliamentary leaders, leveraging friendship group secretaries’ diplomatic capacities, consulting experienced and innovative individuals before approving foreign policy drafts, increasing transparency and public oversight of representatives’ diplomatic performance, balanced parliamentary regionalism, strategic scheduling of foreign policy hearings, maximizing digital parliamentary diplomacy benefits, transforming parliamentary factions’ diplomatic roles, leveraging population size for voting power in parliamentary assemblies, adopting a non-partisan national approach to key foreign policy issues, strengthening inter-nation relations through citizen parliamentary diplomacy, youth inclusion in diplomatic delegations, utilizing heads of state’s diplomatic potential, enhancing the Foreign Relations Committee’s regulatory role, proactive parliamentary research centers, shaping public opinion through parliamentary statements, and incorporating minority party diplomatic proposals are key global parliamentary diplomatic initiatives. Localizing these initiatives enhances the efficiency of Iran’s parliamentary and public diplomacy.

Abstract The widespread use of remotely piloted aircraft in military, security, commercial, and service sectors has underscored the need for clear and effective legal frameworks, particularly highlighted by the 12-day war. The “Bill to Regulate Remotely Piloted Aircraft (Civilian Drones)” aims to organize activities in this sector and ensure air safety while maintaining public security. After its approval by the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the Guardian Council raised objections, which the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee addressed. This report examines the Guardian Council’s objections and the committee’s responses.

Abstract Artificial intelligence (AI) will play a critical role in shaping societies’ futures, with the global AI market projected to grow from $500 billion in 2023 to $1.8 trillion by 2030. Iran’s unique conditions, requirements, and goals necessitate a thorough assessment of its AI development capacities. Using the SOAR framework, this report identifies strengths, opportunities, aspirations, and outcomes for AI development in foundational layers (models, algorithms, national strategy, network architecture, infrastructure) and application layers (as a transformative tool across sectors). Six capacity areas are identified: human resources, institutional, regional and international relations, investment, innovation ecosystem, and infrastructure. Policy recommendations include: designating one or two priority focus areas, ensuring full coordination among government institutions, private sector, and academia, establishing a strategic studies center and national AI lab, prioritizing technological independence in critical areas, leveraging Iran’s experience in supporting innovation, creating mechanisms to channel domestic capital into knowledge-based and emerging technology investments, activating diplomacy for collaboration with aligned and advanced countries, guiding talent and incentivizing the return of AI experts, and adopting a specialized approach to policymaking and investment in AI.

Abstract The bill to amend Article 44 of the Islamic Consultative Assembly’s Internal Regulations (Registration No. 285) proposes converting the permanent members of the Article 90 Committee to non-permanent members. The main rationale is that, with 290 representatives, the capacity of specialized committees is not fully utilized. The eight permanent members of the Article 90 Committee (a non-specialized committee) limit representatives’ participation in specialized committees, creating an imbalance between the 13 specialized committees and 282 representatives (excluding the eight permanent members). The bill proposes removing the permanent membership requirement and the prohibition on simultaneous membership in specialized committees, allowing all eight members to serve non-permanently, like the other 13 non-permanent members. It also suggests that chairs of specialized committees nominate two members each, increasing the Article 90 Committee’s non-permanent members to 26. Analysis indicates that the bill has serious flaws and its approval would weaken the Article 90 Committee’s structure, undermining the progressive capacities of this constitutional principle.

Abstract Caves hold significant natural and cultural value due to their biodiversity, fragile ecosystems, groundwater protection, and historical-cultural heritage, necessitating their preservation for future generations. The Cave Studies Working Group, under the Regulation on Management, Protection, and Utilization of Caves, is responsible for identifying, studying, and preparing comprehensive protection and utilization plans, developing guidelines, and coordinating cultural, educational, and international cooperation efforts while adhering to relevant laws. Over the past 14 years, the group has registered 23 caves as national natural monuments, identified 135 caves in protected areas, issued identification records for approximately 2,000 caves, classified 33 caves, and developed protection and utilization guidelines. Despite these efforts, challenges include ambiguities in cave classification, weak monitoring and database systems, and deficiencies in studies and protective classification. To strengthen current legal frameworks, proposals include creating a database, securing sustainable funding, establishing tourism development requirements, enhancing deterrent legal mechanisms, and clarifying agency roles. Additionally, a draft law emphasizing caves’ natural heritage and management requirements should be prepared and approved.

Abstract Corruption and administrative integrity are key opposing concepts in public governance, directly impacting government performance, public trust, and national development. While administrative integrity relies on transparency, accountability, rule of law, and efficiency, corruption undermines these foundations, leading to structural inefficiencies, social distrust, and weakened justice. Identifying and analyzing corruption and administrative integrity indicators is crucial for developing effective reform policies. This study, conducted through library research and a descriptive-analytical approach, identifies and categorizes indicators based on internationally recognized models, including CPI, WGI, V-Dem, BTI, GCB, NIS, and other reliable sources. Findings show that these indicators cover a broad, multi-layered spectrum, including corruption perception, bribery experiences, government efficiency, financial transparency, corruption across the three branches, institutional accountability, whistleblower protection, and anti-corruption culture. The study emphasizes that effective anti-corruption efforts require a comprehensive approach integrating perceptual, structural, and experiential indicators. Assessing administrative integrity without considering institutional, political, cultural, and public participation factors cannot provide a realistic picture. These indicators can serve as a foundation for designing reform policies in Iran’s administrative system, facilitating efficient mechanisms to enhance integrity and reduce corruption.

Abstract The bill to amend Article 43 of the Social Security Law, aimed at aligning the basis for contesting insurance premium decisions by the Social Security Organization’s primary claims review boards with updated wages, was introduced in the Twelfth Parliament. The Social Affairs Committee reviewed the bill and made amendments to prevent objections from the Guardian Council and protect the rights of workers and small businesses, which this report evaluates.

Abstract Justice is a paramount ideal in religion and human societies, necessitating its protection within governance and legislative frameworks. The justice annex, proposed by the Supreme Leader to ensure justice in policy and implementation proposals, has been repeatedly emphasized. The budget law, one of Iran’s most critical documents, has extensive economic, cultural, political, and security impacts. This study identifies the points where the budget intersects with justice and outlines how justice should be evaluated or protected in specific areas and topics. Analysis reveals that the budget intersects with justice in 14 major areas, each potentially subdivided into multiple subcategories, where justice considerations must be upheld. Reviewing and evaluating the budget based on these areas can comprehensively narrate its alignment or divergence from justice.

Abstract   The Guardian Council raised one objection and three remarks regarding the Islamic Consultative Assembly’s approval of the “Bill on the Framework Agreement for Cooperation in Railway Transportation Between the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development of Iran and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of Turkey.” The Assembly’s Civil Affairs Committee, in its session addressing the Guardian Council’s objections and remarks, upheld its previous approval, which is legally valid. The committee also applied the Guardian Council’s remarks, which is confirmed. Given the Guardian Council’s role as the legal authority for detecting conflicts with Sharia and the Constitution, representatives may, if necessary and expedient, use their legal right to uphold the previous approval. The Civil Affairs Committee’s insistence on the prior approval and application of the remarks is confirmed, and it is recommended that the remarks be implemented.

Abstract Crimes against external security, particularly espionage and collaboration with enemies, pose serious threats to national security, especially during wartime. In Iran, most such acts are criminalized, but legal gaps and weak deterrence in some penalties persist. The “Bill to Intensify Penalties for Espionage and Cooperation with the Zionist Regime and Hostile Countries” was presented to the Assembly, faced objections from the Guardian Council after approval, and was revised by the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee to address these objections. The committee’s amendments appear to resolve the objections, and approval of the committee’s report is recommended.

Abstract Analyzing and evaluating past programs can guide policymakers and implementers in effectively executing the Seventh Development Program’s mandates. This report analyzes agricultural provisions in development plans (five pre-revolutionary plans from 1948–1977 and seven post-revolutionary plans from 1989–2028) using documentary analysis. The review shows that policies varied by period, with a comprehensive focus on agricultural development post-revolution. However, these programs lacked sufficient focus on resolving core issues and failed to provide technical roadmaps for achieving goals or addressing key challenges. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant agencies must submit a roadmap to the Islamic Consultative Assembly for achieving the Seventh Development Program’s goals, including technical-financial requirements and focus on key areas such as facilitating business environments, increasing public investment, optimizing public resource use, and leveraging capacities from universities, research institutes, knowledge-based entities, and farmers’ associations. Key areas are those whose resolution has widespread impact on addressing other challenges.

Abstract In inflationary conditions and limited access to loans, factoring is an effective financing method based on selling firms’ receivables to financial institutions for immediate liquidity and reduced non-payment risks. Factoring was first referenced in the Law on Maximum Utilization of Domestic Production and Service Capacities (2019) and later in the Production and Infrastructure Financing Law (2024). The executive regulation for Article 8 of the 2019 law was approved by the Cabinet in 2020, but after four years, its implementation faces challenges. The regulation mandated the Budget and Planning Organization to establish a factoring contract registration system for capital asset acquisition projects and draft a standard contract within four months of its approval (February 2020), neither of which has been adequately fulfilled. While the Ministry of Economy completed a system for registering non-capital factoring contracts and approved a standard contract in 2024, obstacles for acceptors (banks and financial institutions) persist, including lack of supervisory guidelines and unfamiliarity with this financing method, hindering their active participation.

Abstract A key challenge in analyzing electricity shortages is distinguishing between power imbalance and energy imbalance, often inadequately differentiated in media and policy discussions. Power imbalance refers to instantaneous differences between production and demand, while energy imbalance refers to cumulative deficits over a period. Scientifically and technically, energy imbalance is a more accurate measure for assessing shortages and provides a realistic basis for decision-making and policymaking. This report clarifies the distinction and analyzes its implications for Iran’s energy policymaking. Using load duration curves and temporal pattern analysis, it identifies load zones and time periods of imbalance in Iran’s electricity grid in 2024. Results show that demand exceeded maximum production for 1,086 hours, requiring an additional 16,888 MW to fully address the imbalance. However, 7,663 MW of this demand occurred in only 175 of those hours, manageable through consumption management strategies. Thus, increasing production capacity by 9,225 MW can meet demand for the remaining 911 hours. This suggests that combining production capacity expansion with consumption management is more cost-effective than relying solely on capacity increases.

Abstract

Abstract The “Bill to Amend Article 87 of the Public Services Management Law,” after addressing objections from the High Supervisory Board and being sent to the Guardian Council, faced further objections and was reviewed again by the Social Affairs Committee on August 3, 2025. Based on the explanations provided, the Assembly’s latest approval appears to partially address the High Supervisory Board’s objections and aligns with the government’s initial proposal. Therefore, approval of the committee’s report is recommended.

Abstract Crisis management is a critical government responsibility in every country, with defined roles for both government and citizens. In disaster-prone countries like Iran, ranked among the top 10 globally, effective crisis management is vital. This study focuses on analyzing the shortcomings of Iran’s Crisis Management Law (2019), supported by a meta-synthesis of academic articles, expert reports, legal documents, and interviews with crisis management experts. The analysis identifies deficiencies in the law’s general provisions, crisis management structure, plans and programs, responsibilities of relevant agencies, funding, compensation, violations, and monitoring and evaluation, with each issue detailed alongside relevant legal articles. Key recommendations include preparing risk reduction annexes for planning and executing capital asset acquisition projects, maintaining the political-administrative status of the Crisis Management Organization, inviting its head (as secretary of the Supreme Crisis Management Council) to Cabinet meetings based on agendas, managing crisis-related financial resources under the Crisis Management Organization’s policymaking and planning with Ministry of Interior approval, and including volunteer responders under anonymous liability insurance.

Abstract The process of reviewing Iran’s annual budget in the Islamic Consultative Assembly has faced challenges, including significant budget ceiling changes, inclusion of unrealistic revenue sources, non-budgetary provisions, and excessive focus on details. Article 182 of the Assembly’s Internal Regulations was amended in 2022 to introduce a two-stage budgeting process to address these issues. However, two years of implementation show that this process prolongs review times, weakens comprehensive decision-making by representatives, and perpetuates non-budgetary provisions. The new bill to amend Article 182, adopting a single-stage review and eliminating unnecessary provisions, was drafted. The Internal Regulations Committee’s approval, reviewed in this report, requires the government to submit the budget solely in tabular form, with permanent provisions or tax policies pursued through other legal channels. The main goal is to expedite budget approval, enhance transparency, and focus the Assembly on resource and expenditure tables. Comparative analysis with other countries shows two models: some approve budgets solely as tables, handling provisions in separate tax or legislative bills. The bill aligns with improving legislative efficiency and financial discipline. However, challenges include undefined parliamentary authority in approving annual budgets (per Clause 7 of General Legislative Policies), legal gaps, and the need to address recurring budget provisions, necessitating further amendments. The committee’s approval is conditionally supported, pending these revisions.

Abstract Raising the age limit for admission to teacher training universities is, at first glance, neither well-considered nor precise and cannot resolve issues related to Farhangian University admissions. The Ministry’s proposal cites comparative studies that are insufficient for such a decision, lacking expertise for eight reasons: 1) equating teacher training with recruitment processes; 2) ignoring the cultural and peer environment of teacher training universities; 3) ambiguity in optimally assessing applicants across a wide age range; 4) inadequate comparative studies on teachers’ age; 5) disregard for Iran’s average population age; 6) ineffectiveness of raising the age limit on admissions; 7) neglect of key issues and comprehensive approaches to improving teacher recruitment; and 8) unending social demands for raising the age limit. Given that the age limit for recruitment exams extends to 45 years, applicants can enter teaching through Article 28 of Farhangian University’s statute. Moreover, correspondence with the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council indicates that fewer than 400 out of 30,000 admitted students are over 22, suggesting that addressing this issue distracts policymakers from priorities. It is recommended that the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council reject the committee’s decision and uphold the 24-year age limit in the “Teacher Recruitment and Selection System” approved on February 1, 2024.

Abstract Among the Persian Gulf’s numerous islands, Hormoz Island, with its exceptional ecotourism and geotourism sites, beautiful coastlines, and other attractions, has significant potential to attract tourists, impacting the region’s economy. Field studies and reports from responsible agencies indicate that during the 2025 Nowruz holidays, tourist influx exceeded the real carrying capacity of ecotourism attractions by 3.8 to 13.4 times daily, coupled with mismanaged waste and extraction of the island’s red and silver soil, causing environmental and tourism challenges that sparked public concern and national debate. Given the recurrence of these issues and their projected continuation without intervention, promoting tourism on Hormoz Island while preserving the environment and natural resources was prioritized. Analysis shows that sustaining tourism in this unique national asset requires a sustainable, environmentally sound approach. Proposals include national and global registration of Hormoz Island, determining physical, real, and effective carrying capacities, approving and implementing a comprehensive waste management plan, leveraging public participation in protection, linking local livelihoods to the island’s vitality, upgrading tourism software and hardware infrastructure, and banning soil extraction as a unique national treasure per Article 83 of the Constitution.

Abstract The international community recognizes that addressing complex global issues requires collective participation, not imposition by dominant powers, making global governance a key platform for multilateralism. China’s remarkable development and increasing activism have positioned it as a leading and norm-setting actor in global governance, necessitating an examination of its approach and actions. Using a descriptive-analytical method and library and documentary sources, this report addresses two questions: What factors shape China’s approach to global governance, and what position does it hold in the current system? Findings show that China’s approach is deeply rooted in cultural-civilizational elements from Confucian philosophy (e.g., “harmony” and “guanxi”) and its historical defensive and peaceful stance. China has transitioned from a passive to an active actor, playing a decisive role through two parallel paths: enhancing its influence in existing frameworks (e.g., the United Nations) and representing the Global South to reform unjust structures, and creating parallel coalitions and institutions like BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Belt and Road Initiative to lay the groundwork for reform. Currently, China’s approach focuses on reforming, not disrupting or replacing, the existing order.

Abstract The snapback mechanism and its economic impact on Iran are key concerns for economic actors and the public. Despite the lack of legal legitimacy for its activation by three European countries and the need to use all legal, political, and security tools for diplomacy, analysis of UN Security Council resolutions and their mechanisms indicates that the economic risks of snapback activation are “not significant and manageable.” Unlike U.S. secondary sanctions targeting critical sectors like oil and banking, UN sanctions are proliferation-focused, restricting nuclear and missile programs. Snapback activation does not impose a harsher regime than current pressures. Its economic impact is mainly limited to export controls on dual-use technologies, manageable given Iran’s experience in circumventing restrictions and partial non-alignment by China and Russia. Cargo inspection mechanisms, requiring flag state consent and risking Iran’s reciprocal actions, make maritime blockades or ship seizures unlikely. Adding new names to sanctions lists or re-establishing an expert panel is difficult due to the need for Security Council consensus and potential vetoes by China and Russia. U.S. political pressure on Iran’s trade partners, like China, is possible but independent of snapback. In the multipolar world of 2025, opposition from powers like China and Russia, as expressed in a significant letter by the foreign ministers of Iran, China, and Russia, reduces the likelihood of global consensus against Iran. The unlawful reinstatement of resolutions does not legitimize U.S. sanctions, and, assuming stable conditions, Iran’s macro interactions in oil exports, petrochemicals, and financial settlements are expected to continue without significant challenges, though short-term psychological market shocks may occur, manageable with prudent economic and media policies.

Abstract A timely and reliable picture of GDP trends can significantly enhance policymaking and macroeconomic monitoring. Given delays in statistical authorities’ data and repeated requests from Assembly representatives for more current economic growth data, the Research Center has developed a computational infrastructure to estimate and report Iran’s economic growth monthly and promptly. According to the Central Bank’s latest 2024 data, GDP grew by 3.1% with oil and 3% without oil compared to the previous year. The Center’s estimates show a -0.3% GDP growth and -0.6% non-oil GDP growth in July 2025 compared to July 2024. The agriculture sector recorded a -8.1% growth, crude oil and natural gas 2.9%, industries and mining -3.4%, and services 3.3%.

Abstract In winter 2024, the industrial inventory index was 103.8, a 0.6% decrease from the previous year’s corresponding season, with an inventory-to-sales ratio of 0.26. The mining inventory index was 106.6, down 5.8%, with an inventory-to-sales ratio of 0.67. Among industries, the base metals industry inventory index decreased by 1.9%, coke and refining by 7.2%, chemicals (excluding pharmaceuticals) increased by 1.6%, and automotive increased by 8.2%.

Abstract The strategic conflict between Iran and the Zionist regime has reached a decisive stage, where “narrative governance” in the global arena is as critical as battlefield superiority. A complex narrative assault seeks to distort reality, portraying Iran as a “threat to international peace and security” rather than a “victim of aggression” in official documents and global governance structures. This report argues that global governance institutions should not be seen as absolute obstacles but as the “primary battleground,” as passivity or mere opposition cedes this strategic field to adversaries. It introduces “legal warfare” as a key tool to simultaneously establish Iran’s defensive legitimacy under international law and systematically delegitimize the Zionist regime’s nature and actions. Findings highlight that proactive, preemptive, and targeted engagement in institutions like the UN Human Rights Council, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and international humanitarian law mechanisms, combined with modern diplomacy tools (parliamentary, elite, and citizen diplomacy), has significant potential to shape global public opinion in Iran’s favor. The report proposes an urgent policy package, including establishing a unified narrative command headquarters, drafting a national protocol for documenting international crimes, and preparing a strategic report to assess legal-judicial action capacities as initial operational steps.

Abstract In August 2025, the production index increased by 1.6% and the sales index decreased by -1.6% compared to the previous year’s corresponding month. Compared to the prior month, production and sales indices rose by 7.1% and 4.4%, respectively. The automotive and parts industry saw production and sales increases of 0.8% and 0.4%, respectively. The chemical industry (excluding pharmaceuticals) recorded a 3.5% production increase and a -1.6% sales decrease. The monthly price growth rate for listed industrial companies was 2.3%, with a year-on-year growth of 43.8%, up 2.4 percentage points from the previous month. The annual average price index for industrial activities rose by 2.1 percentage points to 31.2%.

Abstract Open governance is a modern approach to public administration based on open innovation and citizen participation, requiring transparency and publication of government data to achieve two goals: 1) enabling citizens and stakeholders to monitor government performance and hold it accountable, enhancing government responsiveness; 2) allowing the private sector and stakeholders to create value and address citizens’ needs through data. This report introduces open governance, outlines its dimensions, and reviews academic literature, experiences of leading countries, and selected sections of the OECD’s open governance report. Recommendations for better implementing open governance include fostering a culture of information disclosure in government institutions, establishing incentives and penalties for data publication, and publishing data at the local level.

Abstract Supporting tourism facilities is a pivotal action for advancing tourism. Given its inclusion in several five-year development plans and focus in Clause 3, Paragraph A, Article 83 of the Seventh Development Program Law (2023–2028), addressing this issue is essential. Comparative analysis of other countries’ actions can serve as a roadmap for tourism and social policymakers. This study examines policies supporting tourism facilities in countries culturally aligned with Iran. Results indicate that governments employ strategies organized into categories such as financial, educational, advisory, legal, and administrative support. Successful support requires a comprehensive, multi-dimensional approach, avoiding single-faceted strategies. Recommendations include allocating land to investors with unilateral government termination rights to ensure project realization and establishing a national system to monitor project commitments.

Abstract The right to reply, as a legal mechanism, pursues two main objectives: ensuring public access to accurate information and protecting individuals’ dignity against false, offensive, or defamatory content. In Iran’s legal system, this right is provided for in the Press Law and the Expediency Council’s resolution on the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Organization, allowing individuals and entities to invoke it against content in press, radio, and television. However, its effective implementation in user-driven media faces institutional and normative obstacles, including the user-driven nature, platforms’ monopolistic control, lack of transparency in content moderation policies, and deficiencies in current laws. In response to similar challenges, the EU’s Digital Services Act provides a comprehensive framework for platform accountability and user rights, including the right to reply. Through a comparative analysis of European legislative experiences and alignment with Iran’s legal principles, this report proposes a combination of intra-platform (e.g., reporting and complaint mechanisms) and extra-platform (e.g., independent oversight systems and quasi-judicial bodies) mechanisms to establish legal rules suited to user-driven media. The report’s output is a draft law specifying effective methods for implementing the right to reply in such platforms.

Abstract Providing suitable housing is a major economic challenge in Iran, addressed by the Housing Production Leap Law (2021). Financing housing construction is a critical issue globally and in Iran. Performance under Article 4 of the law has been poor, with loan disbursement reaching only about 30% of the legal mandate in the first three years, creating a backlog of approximately one million applicants. Expert analysis shows that the banking system lacks sufficient motivation to disburse housing loans, and the law has failed to address this shortfall.

Abstract The bill to amend Article 6 of the Civil Aviation Law proposes two changes: including a representative from the Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade in the Supreme Civil Aviation Council and reinstating mandatory pricing in air transportation. This report opposes both proposals and suggests amendments to improve the bill. Regarding Clause 1, aligning the Ministry’s activities in the aviation industry with the Council’s current role in regulating airlines, the Ministry’s membership is deemed unbeneficial. Clause 2 proposes reverting to government-mandated pricing, which past experience shows reduces supply, price diversity, and per capita air travel. Current non-mandatory pricing, without transparent and effective legal and informational infrastructure for competitive markets, risks uncontrolled price hikes, highlighting a legal gap in preventing anti-competitive behavior and protecting public rights. It is recommended to avoid mandatory pricing, maintain conditions for affordable tickets, and establish legal mechanisms for market oversight, price transparency, and structured anti-competitive behavior prevention by mandating the Civil Aviation Organization to conduct real-time monitoring, publish monthly average ticket price reports, and enhance the Supreme Civil Aviation Council’s oversight structure.

Abstract Strengthening the Islamic-Iranian lifestyle and national unity requires innovative cultural policy approaches aligned with Iran’s diverse biological and cultural climates. Challenges such as cultural homogenization, neglect of local identity and heritage, unclear operational definitions of cultural climate components, and lack of conceptual linkage in policy, legislative, and executive documents necessitate a fundamental policy review. Implementing Clause R, Article 75 of the Seventh Development Program Law, focusing on studying Iran’s cultural climates, is a critical step to address these shortcomings and achieve macro-cultural goals. This approach enables the introduction of regional cultural capacities and figures, embraces diverse cultural identities, and strengthens national unity. Proposals include forming a specialized cultural climate study committee under the Public Culture Council, leveraging its organizational and provincial capacities, and integrating cultural climate studies as a tab in the Cultural Land-Use Planning Document to avoid duplication. Establishing a dynamic system for identifying and monitoring cultural climate indicators, adopting cultural zoning as a societal bridge, and expanding the “Iranian Cultural” concept beyond political borders are key strategic requirements, contributing to reviving shared cultural roots like national and religious traditions in Islamic-Iranian culture.

Abstract Following the report on the upstream policy model for public culture popularization, this study aims to elaborate on the practical and operational layers of the model. It consists of two sections. The first, the main body, analyzes macro cultural and artistic documents from the perspective of public culture popularization, identifying 25 strategic issues, deficiencies, and flaws, with corresponding policy and legislative proposals for each. The second section provides a comprehensive overview of the toolbox and actions aligned with the public culture popularization doctrine, extracting 40 practical examples presented in two formats. The first format organizes examples in a table with vertical (hard/legal-deterrent, soft/economic-incentive, identity/cultural-insight-based) and horizontal (non-participatory/state-driven, participatory/with non-governmental sectors, delegated/non-governmental dominance) categorizations. The second format distributes examples across the doctrine’s components (identity-building and responsibility delegation, institutional empowerment, smart support, leadership, and coordination).

Abstract AI is increasingly integrated into daily life, impacting decision-making across sectors with remarkable outcomes due to its intelligence, autonomy, and decision-making capabilities. However, its adoption in the public sector requires caution due to requirements for transparency, accountability, compliance with laws, public trust in decisions, high reliability, and diverse issues and expertise. This necessitates a tailored approach to ensure these requirements are met. This report introduces explainable AI, a novel AI field, as the entry point for AI in the public sector. Explainable AI aims to create models and systems with decisions and outputs understandable to humans, ensuring proper use in this sector. Balancing performance and explainability is a key challenge requiring careful examination and interdisciplinary approaches. Human factors are critical to successful implementation. The report reviews this field, its applications, and challenges, providing recommendations for its development.

Abstract The Law on Implementing Article 44 Policies, approved on February 8, 2008, defines the scope and framework for economic activities of the public, cooperative, and private sectors. Clause 2, Article 3 excludes health, education, research, and culture from the law’s provisions, requiring the government to submit a separate bill for development or delegation in these areas within one year of the law’s enactment. Over one and a half decades later, the question is whether the government has submitted an independent bill for the education sector. Content analysis of all government-approved bills related to education since the clause’s enforcement shows no changes in the permitted scope of activities for the public, cooperative, or private sectors. It is recommended that the Assembly use its general legislative and supervisory powers to either: 1) amend Clause 2, Article 3 to exclude education, or 2) if retaining the clause, guide the government to submit an independent bill within a reasonable timeframe, or, if the government does not comply, specify delegable education activities in law with necessary details.

Abstract Over three decades since the approval of Iran’s first Technical and Executive System document and related regulations, despite implementing national and provincial construction projects, issues like numerous incomplete projects, failure to meet cost, time, and quality goals, budget shortages for ongoing and new projects, and the need for infrastructure development highlight the necessity of reforming the system, as emphasized in the Permanent Development Program Provisions Law and the Seventh Development Program Law. While budget shortages are commonly cited, the lack of proper management and a coherent project management framework is a more fundamental issue. Even with adequate funding, goals are often unmet, suggesting that aligning the system with sound principles can optimize resource management. This report compares the sixth edition of the PMBOK standard with the 2006 Technical and Executive System Regulation, its 2011 amendments, and Article 34 of the 2021 Permanent Development Program Provisions Law, aiming to clarify their theoretical and conceptual foundations. The regulations lack a cohesive conceptual framework, presenting concepts selectively without an integrated structure.