Rouhani: Kermashan people defenders of Iran’s western border

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The people of Kermanshah (Kermashan) Province are heroes in defending the western border of Iran, said the President of Iran Hassan Rouhani on Sunday.

In his 29th tour to Iranian provinces, Rouhani visited Kermashan, a Kurdish-majority province located in Iranian Kurdistan (Rojhelat) in the west of Iran. During the visit, he delivered a speech to the people of the region.

“People of Kermanshah [Kermashan] are great heroes of defending the western borders in the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Iranian Mehr News Agency quoted him.

Commenting on heavy dust storms that had lately covered many cities in the province, he stated that most come from Iraq, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.

“We have to discuss this issue with those countries,” Rouhani explained.

He praised the people of the province in playing an important role in the Iranian army during the eight years of war between Iran and Iraq (1980-88). The war resulted in over one million dead casualties from both countries.

“While enjoying rich Islamic-Iranian culture as well as a faithful and loyal nation, the country suffers from issues like unemployment and recession in addition to regional and international concerns,” Rouhani said.

Kermanshah Province, which hosts a large Kurdish minority, has the third highest unemployment rate in Iran, with a little over 15 percent.

Additionally, 50 percent of the youth in Kermanshah Province are jobless, according to official Iranian statistics.

Rouhani mentioned that preparing ground for business activities is necessary to lead to economic growth and prosperity in Iran. He believes this preparation will ultimately resolve the unemployment issue in the country.

He added that after the projects in Kermashan are finished, almost 90,000 job opportunities will be available for the people of the province.

He also highlighted the importance of transparency, the rule of law, and collective action with the support of the people and the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei to resolve the ongoing concerns in the country.

Iran possesses an Islamic-based constitution that follows Sharia Law (Islamic Law) with some democratic elements.

Sometimes, the constitution is said to contain a hybrid of theocratic and democratic principles.

Recently, clashes have often erupted between the Iranian troops and Kurdistan Democratic Party – Iran (KDPI) Peshmerga fighters in different Kurdish areas located in Rojhelat.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany