“We have 3.2 million university students, and about half are women,” caught everyone’s attention among many notable points Dr Iraj Elahi, Iran’s ambassador to India, made during an event to mark his country’s 46th anniversary of the Victory of Islamic Revolution in the Capital on Monday.
Much against what is touted in mainstream media, Dr Elahi spoke on a wide spectrum of domestic and international issues which one found hard to refute. One of them was growing share of women and minorities in important government positions (including ministerial) and almost half of university students being women which conveys liberation and not denial of women’s rights in the country.
Those who harp on Iran not keeping pace with modern scientific times, Dr Elahi outlined Iran is a leading producer of medical isotopes for treating cancer and neurological diseases. And that its young scientists have launched at least 10 satellites into space using indigenous expertise. Iran today is a leader in fields like nanotechnology and biotechnology, said Dr Elahi.
There is this propaganda of Iran pursuing the possession of nuclear arsenals and Dr Elahi clarified that it was the United States which left the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), and a few European countries which did not meet their commitments on the matter. Iran, on the other hand, is transparent with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and follows international rules.
Iran opposes illegal sanctions by the United States and pursues regional and global harmony evidenced by its participation in groups such as BRICS, the SCO, ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization) and D-8, (eight Islamic countries pursuing economic cooperation), said Dr Elahi.
Iran and India have a long-term agreement to run the Chabahar port, the “Golden Gateway’ to connect nations along the Indian Ocean with Central Asia and the Caucasus. Then there is International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) shaping up which reflects the strong partnership between the two countries, said Dr Elahi.
Dr Elahi didn’t mince his words in pointing out seven decades of occupation and mass suffering of Palestinians, marked by disrespect for Muslim holy sites, and that his country is committed to supporting the rights and future of people of Palestine.
The event, among many distinguished guests and diplomats, was also attended by Jaideep Mazumdar (Secretary of East), Ministry of External Affairs, India.
Meanwhile India’s foreign minister Dr S. Jaishankar also greeted the government and people of Iran on the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.
