Iranians dream of happiness
Nationalist Persians like to say that their forefathers always considered happiness a gift from God, with Nowruz — the Persian New Year — one way of attaining it. Regardless of the acclaimed mythical benefits of Nowruz, we should ask, in the present climate in particular, have the Iranian people attained happiness this year? We can extend this question and ask have the Iranian people experienced real happiness at all since the 1979 Islamic Revolution?
In the past four decades, and especially in recent years, Iran has been living in isolation from its neighbors; a situation that has clearly adversely affected the Iranian people. How happy can they be, knowing that their country is isolated and experiencing hostile relations with other countries due to issues that have nothing to do with them?
The Iranian people cannot be blamed for this sad state of affairs. The regime in Tehran is directly to blame, as its actions have steadily tightened the noose around the necks of its people — financially, socially and politically.
What space is there for happiness to grow and thrive for the vast majority of Iranians amid a climate of isolation, rampant poverty and brutal repression that affects every aspect of life in Iran? As a result of increasing poverty, which is the outcome of massive regime corruption, several socially destructive phenomena have grown and spiraled out of control, such as homelessness, drug addiction and child marriage. Poverty, which is clearly visible even in the capital Tehran, is not restricted to a minority, with half of the Iranian population now living below the poverty line.
How can Iranians be expected to attain happiness when they know that their country sponsors global terrorism? This has led to many other nations imposing restrictions on their movement, with Iranians finding it difficult to travel for study, work, business and tourism in the region and beyond.
How can Iranians be expected to feel like celebrating Nowruz when they see first-hand exactly how the regime has hidden the number of deaths and infections resulting from the coronavirus outbreak for political reasons?
Previously, the Iranian people pinned their hopes on the 2015 nuclear deal. However, these hopes were quickly dashed as the US withdrew from the agreement over the regime’s policies. The Iranian people had dreamed, throughout the negotiations between the regime and the Western powers, that the deal would improve their living conditions, reduce prices and bring down inflation and unemployment levels. They woke up, however, to find nothing but disillusionment. The Iranian people, engulfed by worries and isolation, are fervently hoping that this Nowruz will be the beginning of a year that will be better than the preceding one. Their hopes, however, are balanced with pragmatism.
Despite the fact that Arab countries also bear the brunt of the recklessness, sectarianism and murderous policies of Iran’s Velayat Al-Faqih regime in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and other areas, we pray that the Iranian people will achieve happiness and that Iran and the region will ultimately attain
Dr. Mohammed Al-Sulami is Head of the International Institute for Iranian Studies (Rasanah). Twitter: @mohalsulami
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