Baku, Azerbaijan, June 24
By Fatih Karimov - Trend: The Iranian parliament has approved generalities of a bill which bans any activity regarding population decrease in the country.
Any activity with regard to abortion as well as vasectomy and tubectomy operations and any kind of advertising in this respect are forbidden and violators will be charged with 2-5 years in prison, Iran's Mehr news agency reported on June 24.
However, the approval needs further investigation in details and should be endorsed by related authorities.
On May 5, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the issue of reproduction to increase its population should be seriously pursued.
It is vital for Iran to prevent population aging, he added.
The Supreme Leader went on to say that the country cannot make progress without a young population.
"I appreciate efforts of midwives who play a key role in mothers and babies' health", Khamenei said, adding that fertility programs should be promoted in the country.
Iran has started to review its contraception plans in recent years. In October, Khamenei condemned the country's policy on contraception, saying it too closely reflected western lifestyles. Iran's family-planning program went largely unchallenged until former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad began to criticize the "Two children are enough" slogan.
In April of 2010, he also said that "the country has the potential for a population of 150 million." Later the Supreme leader made similar statements, saying that a population of 150 million to 200 million as ideal.
The Iran's administration has curbed the government budget for family planning.