It is important to note that the controversy that has been spewing by the Islamic Republic over and over in the past 31 years has been strategically done in order to conceal obvious truths and divert the attention of both domestic and the international community from significant issues.

Domestically, despite the rising price of oil (Iran’s main export) the Iranian economy has been in ruins for almost as long as this regime has been in power. For being the second larges oil and petroleum producing nation, Iran’s foreign debt stands at $20 billion. Productivity is low; underemployment and outright joblessness are at an all time high. Each year, more than 750,000 Iranians enter a labor market that has been adding only about 300,000 positions at best. Inflation has become rampant ranging from 20 to 50 percent while eating away at the buying power of those who are employed. Ironically the living standards of most Iranians are now below what people enjoyed before the 1979 revolution.

These harsh economic implications have resulted in a significant brain drain in which most of the skilled and bright minds have left their native land to seek employment and higher standard of living elsewhere. The other unfortunate yet predictable outcome of the failing Iranian economy has resulted in distressing social costs of substantial increases in drug addiction, crime, depression and prostitution.