Azerbaijan , Baku, May 13 /Trend/
Iran occupies the third and fourth places in the world for oil and gas resources, but in terms of GDP per capita it occupies almost the 200th position, Director of the Center for Political Innovation and Technology, Political Scientist Mubariz Ahmedoglu told Trend. Those who are familiar with the situation in Iran know that the Islamic Republic has bluffed and already overstepped all proper boundaries, he added.
"The fact that Iran records a heavy socio-economic situation is evidenced by the authorities' and civic actions. According to the beliefs of the Muslim Jafari faith, spread in Iran and Azerbaijan, the twelfth Imam is also a savior. According to such beliefs Imam Mahdi Sahib as-Zaman will appear in the image of a savior when the country oversteps all boundaries. The more injustice is done against the people, the more they wait on Imam Mahdi. On this note, Bahaism originated in Iran on just such a platform. Now most of the Iranian population waits for the arrival of Imam Mahdi. In other words, people are dissatisfied with their state and with the authorities," he said.
He said that religious leaders' actions also speak to the poverty situation in the country.
"The authorities abolished privileges that have stood since the reign of the Shah. Therefore, the religious leader has declared 2011 as the Year of Economic Jihad. That is, strengthening the country's economy has become a religious observance for Iran's Muslim," Ahmedoglu said.
Following the supreme religious leader's fatwa, the price for bread and other essential goods has increased, tensions with the authorities have peaked and Iran increased its economic support to Armenia.
"It was predicted that Iranian tourists visiting Armenia during the Novruz celebrations will spend about $20 million. However, the Armenian officials report that Iranians "poured" $40 million into the Armenian budget. The Iranian side allocated a grant worth $60 million for construction of the Tabriz-Yerevan Highway. Iran has provided Armenia with a priority position for the organization of economic and tourist activities in Kish. Based on the estimates, Armenia's profit from economic and tourist activities in Iran will be about $20 million. Iran provides Armenia with a profit of $200 million under the 'Gas in Exchange of Power' project that will continue in 2011. Iran, which has connected Armenia with the World Ocean, undertook an obligation to complete the project which is worth $4 billion. Also, Iran will provide military assistance to Armenia," Ahmedoglu said.
He said that, supposedly, Iran will help Armenia strengthen the occupied territories militarily.
"Because, although Armenia occupied the regions of Gubadli, Zangilan, Jabrail and Fizuli over 17 years ago, it has not yet built engineering defensive facilities there. On the one hand, this is associated with Armenia's economic weakness, but on the other hand, Armenia has full confidence in Iran. Armenia understands that Iran's hatred against Azerbaijan is greater than Armenia's hatred against Azerbaijan. Due to this fact, Iran allocated $40-$50 million to Armenia in 2010 and the figure has reached $180-$200 million a year after the supreme leader announced "economic jihad". So we can assume that "economic jihad" is not intended for the Iranian people, but for the Armenia which occupied Azerbaijan's lands," Ahmedoglu said.