Despite weeks of protests, Iran fails to address nurses' demands
Iran's nationwide nurses' strike which began last month shows no signs of abating as the government continues to ignore the demands for fair pay and better working conditions.
Iran's nationwide nurses' strike which began last month shows no signs of abating as the government continues to ignore the demands for fair pay and better working conditions.
The post was first published Monday, showing Ambassador Ian McConville and his colleagues celebrating the Wear It Purple Day in Iran, where homosexuality is officially banned, and homosexuals face the threat of execution.
Reacting to the post, Iran’s foreign ministry announced Tuesday that it had summoned McConville to “condemn” the publication of a post that “was offensive and against Iranian and Islamic norms and customs.”
The Instagram post, which expressed support for all sexual and gender groups, has been harshly criticized by Iran’s state-run media and religious officials. “Decisive action has to be taken against [McConville] in accordance with legal and Islamic ordinances,” said Alireza Arafi, a top Shia cleric and head of Iran's Islamic Seminaries.
In Iran, homosexuality is punishable by death for men and by 100 lashes for women. On repeated offenses, women can be also executed under the laws of the Islamic Republic which are based on a hardline interpretation of Shia Islam.
The US State Department has expressed concern about reports that Iran's “security forces harassed, arrested, and detained individuals they suspected or perceived as being LGBTQI+."
It’s unlikely that the Australian embassy was unaware of Iran’s official position on homosexuality. The decision to publicize the celebration may therefore be seen as a message of encouragement for the Iranian LGBTQI+ community suffering under Islamic rule.
“Today, and every day, we’re dedicated to creating a supportive environment, where everyone, especially LGBTQIA+ youth, can feel proud to be themselves,” the original post read. “Let’s keep championing diversity and inclusion for a brighter, more inclusive future 🤝🏳️🌈.”
The sentiment was echoed by the German embassy in Tehran, which posted purple hearts in reply to the original post by the Australian embassy.
According to the brief published by Iran’s foreign ministry, the Australian ambassador was asked to take “appropriate measures to compensate” for the Instagram post. “Such actions by the embassy are inconsistent with international law and the Vienna Diplomatic Convention, which governs diplomatic conduct in respect to the host country's laws and regulations,” McConville was told.
Iran's laws allow individuals to change their gender identity markers on government-issued identification cards after gender-affirming surgery and by court permission. Many Islamic Republic apologists portray the country's "tolerance" of transgenders as an expression of liberalism.
However, the Islamic Republic seems to be exploiting the sex-reassignment surgery (SRS) as a means of purging gays and lesbians from public life, as evidenced in a 2019 report by Economist.
The US Central Command said in a statement that the Saudi-owned Amjad vessel and the Panama-flagged and Greek-operated Blue Lagoon I were hit in an attack but Saudi Arabia later denied the assessment.
However, Saudi’s national shipping company, Bahri, announced on Tuesday that "Amjad was not targeted and sustained no injuries or damage."
The vessel, which was carrying approximately two million barrels of crude oil, remains seemingly fully operational and is continuing its voyage to its planned destination without interruption.
Bahri emphasized that all relevant authorities were promptly informed, and that the company remains in continuous communication with its crew, closely monitoring the evolving situation.
Iran has vocally supported and praised the Houthis, but rejected claims that it has provided them with arms. The Houthis are a designated terror group by countries including the US and UK.
The US Central Command earlier revealed that the Houthis launched the assault using two ballistic missiles and an unmanned aerial vehicle, striking both vessels, calling the move "reckless acts of terrorism by the Houthis."
Although the Houthis claimed responsibility for targeting the Blue Lagoon with missiles and drones, they made no mention of the Amjad.
The Joint Maritime Information Center, responsible for tracking such incidents, reported that three ballistic missiles hit the Blue Lagoon I tanker 70 nautical miles northwest of the Yemeni port of Saleef.
The center "assesses that Blue Lagoon I was targeted due to other vessels within its company structure making recent port calls in Israel," it said in a report.
"All crew on board are safe. The vessel sustained minimal damage but does not require assistance."
Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading oil exporter, has expressed growing concern over the increased frequency of Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea, a maritime corridor for global energy supplies.
The attacks are part of a broader campaign by the Houthis, who have been emboldened by Iran’s support, and have dragged Yemen to become the region's poorest nation after a decade-long war civil war against a Saudi-led coalition.
The recent escalation follows a series of aerial drone and missile strikes by the Houthis, which they claim are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, in a bid to force Israel into a ceasefire.
The Houthis began targeting maritime commercial traffic in mid-November, following a directive from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who urged Muslim nations to impose a blockade on Israel.
Initially concentrated in the Red Sea, these attacks have since spread to other vital waterways, including the Indian Ocean, disrupting international shipping and resulting in the capture of dozens of seafarers.
In response to this growing threat to global trade and freedom of navigation, a US-led coalition of over 20 nations has been formed to counter the blockade. It has seen joint attacks by the UK and US on Houthi infrastructure in Yemen.
Earlier, in response to growing criticism over these loans, the Central Bank released a report on August 30, stating that the total loans provided by banks and credit institutions to their employees, managers, and board members in 2023 amounted to more than 9,100 trillion rials (over $1.5 billion).
Despite this amount of bank loans to their employees and subsidiaries, the Central Bank said that "reviews indicate that, given the issuance of the Central Bank's directives and regulations in this regard, these loans are under controlled management."
Two of the country's most influential banks, Mellat and Sepah Bank, issued the highest volume of loans, providing 190 trillion rials (over $315 million) and 145 trillion rials (over $240 million), respectively, to their subsidiaries last year.
Both banks are notorious for their controversial roles in Tehran’s political and financial arenas, having been accused of supporting military and nuclear programs—activities that have resulted in severe international sanctions. In the face of these sanctions and economic hardships, they have been propped up and kept afloat by Iran's Central Bank.
In reaction to news of the large loans to bank employees and subsidiaries, domestic media have highlighted the significant challenges ordinary citizens face securing loans for housing, marriage, entrepreneurship, and private sector ventures.
State media Khabar Online reported that the loans granted by banks to their employees and subsidiaries are nearly equivalent to the total amount needed for marriage loans for 300,000 people who have been waiting for months with no response from the Central Bank.
On Sunday, semi-official ILNA news agency reported that Jafar Ghaderi, a member of the parliament, mentioned the "distribution of astronomical loans" among bank employees and the "unequal access to loans among the public." He stated that the Governor of the Central Bank and several bank CEOs would be summoned to parliament to provide explanations on this matter.
The report highlights a stark disparity in loan ceilings between different groups. For some bank employees, the loan limit exceeds 10 billion rials (over $16,000), while retirees have a maximum loan limit of only 300 million rials ($500), which is less than what a bank teller earns in a month.
In contrast, tenants seeking rental deposit loans and couples looking for marriage loans face long waiting lists, with the banking system attributing these delays to a lack of financial resources.
Meanwhile, the latest July report from the Codal system indicates that the accumulated losses of Iran's banking system amount to 3,700 trillion rials (over $6 billion).
According to a report by Eco Iran on July 10, "the accumulated losses of the country's banking system have exceeded $6 billion, which is more than half of the projected oil revenues for this fiscal year (starting March 21). In other words, addressing the banks' accumulated losses would require at least 50 percent of this year's oil revenues."
The highest recorded accumulated loss belongs to Ayandeh Bank, which has exceeded 1,140 trillion rials nearly ($2 billion).
The latest figures from the Codal system suggest that Melli Bank had an accumulated loss of more than 760 trillion rials (over $1.2 billion) by the end of September last year, ranking second.
Other banks with significant accumulated losses include Sarmayeh, Sepah, Iran Zamin, Shahr, Dey, Keshavarzi, Maskan, Melal Credit Institution, Parsian, Tosee Taavon Bank, and Taavon.
The strike, now in its second month, has spread to more than 50 cities, marking the largest professional protest by nurses in a century. Nurses and emergency medical technicians are protesting against long working shifts, low wages, and mandatory overtime.
Fereydoun Moradi, a member of the Supreme Council of the Nursing System, recently highlighted the issue of unpaid nursing service fees which have not been deposited into nurses' accounts for over a year.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Mohammad Reza Zafarghandi admitted that the government owes nurses more than 70 trillion rials (over $116 billion). Although he said that these dues would be paid promptly, no action has been taken, leaving nurses determined to continue their industrial action.
The situation is further exacerbated by the Iranian government's mismanagement of the National Development Fund (NDF) which was intended for long-term national investments. In a Saturday interview on state TV, President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that, with the approval of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, funds from the National Development Fund will be allocated to pay nurses, farmers, teachers, and for essential medicines.
The crisis has also led to a increase in the migration of nurses. Ahmad Nejatian, head of the Nursing Organization, reported that the average annual migration of nurses has doubled between 2021 and 2023. With approximately 20% of nursing students now seeking to leave the country, the trend is expected to worsen, particularly as countries like Germany and Denmark have made it easier for Iranian nurses to migrate.
The exodus, combined with low wages and harsh working conditions, has weakened Iran's healthcare system. The country currently has only 1.5 nurses per 1,000 people, compared to the global average of three. Many nurses report burnout and an inability to provide adequate care to patients, further straining an already fragile system.
Samira Rahi, a journalist based in Turkey who specialises in Iranian social issues, criticized the Iranian government's lack of resolve.
"When nurses demonstrated their dedication during the pandemic, the system took advantage of them. The Islamic Republic relies on temporary fixes to address the issue superficially, but as long as the underlying structural problems remain unresolved, all these measures will be ineffective," she told Iran International.
As the government continues to neglect the demands of its healthcare workers, the future of Iran's nursing profession—and the quality of care available to its citizens—remains uncertain.
