By Fariba Raad | 2024-12-11

The Iranian regime is facing an academic brain drain, with 25% of its university professors leaving to teach abroad, as it prioritizes funding foreign conflicts over domestic investment in education.

Raising the alarm in late November, Iranian Science Minister Hossein Simayee Saraf pointed to inadequate compensation as the primary driver of this exodus, among other factors.

Saraf warned that some departing professors "do not even intend to return," pointing to the stark salary disparity with neighboring countries, Voice of America Persian reported.

"University professors' salaries in neighboring countries across the water range from $4,000 to $7,000," he noted, while "the salary of our full professors with 50 years of experience barely reaches $1,000."

The academic exodus coincides with rising poverty rates.

According to a recent Iranian Parliament Research Center report, approximately one-third of the population cannot meet basic needs, with poverty rates climbing to 30.1% in 2023 from 29.7% in 2022.

These statistics raise serious concerns about how the country's wealth is managed and the allocation of government revenues from taxes and asset sales.

The ongoing neglect of critical sectors like education not only undermines the state's future but also reflects broader mismanagement of national resources.

While Iranian authorities blame Western sanctions for the country's economic woes, former Foreign Minister Javad Zarif's statement that the government has a "Ph.D. in sanctions busting" suggests otherwise.

Funding proxy network

Experts say Iran's financial priorities lie elsewhere. The regime has invested heavily in expanding its network of armed proxies across the Middle East, channeling billions away from domestic needs.

"Iran's strategy involves furthering its imprint in the region," University of St. Andrews Institute for Iranian Studies founding director Ali Ansari told Pishtaz.

"This approach is deeply rooted in the doctrine that shapes the regime's identity," he said.

"Iran's policy of supporting terrorism dates back to the early days of the Islamic Revolution," he added. "It's got nothing to do with the Iranian people."

Middle East Institute Iran Program founding director Alex Vatanka estimates that support for Hizbullah alone runs into "hundreds of millions a year."

"The Iranian regime does not want to publish [the sum] because it is a point of contention; it angers the Iranian public," Vatanka told Pishtaz.

"The Iranian regime really has a moment of reckoning" if it wishes to continue on this course, he said, noting that "we are seeing clearly that the Iranian population is sick and tired of Iran's regional ventures."