SAEDNEWS: Abdolkarim Hosseinzadeh wrote in Iran newspaper that the president’s frank remarks on crises like drought and land subsidence should not be seen as “pessimism.” They reflect a responsible effort to move from a “policy of information control” to one of public trust.
According to the political news service of SaedNews, Abdolkarim Hosseinzadeh, Vice President for Rural Development, wrote in Iran newspaper:
The president’s frank statements about the country’s real crises should be viewed within this context—from drought and the risk of land subsidence to warnings about the future of Tehran. These remarks are not made out of despair but out of realism and a sense of responsibility. Yet, some have tried to accuse the president of “painting a bleak picture” and “causing public worry,” instead of addressing the core crises and solutions. As if closing our eyes to reality could make the crises disappear. History, however, shows that hiding the truth is the crisis itself. No society has ever achieved well-being through silence and censorship.
In fact, Dr. Pezeshkian’s recent comments should serve as a starting point for the entire government to approach the nation’s issues and crises more realistically. In past decades, we have repeatedly learned that concealing the truth in the name of expediency only accumulates mistakes and erodes trust. At every national turning point—from the economy to the environment—we have grown accustomed to softening, shortening, or omitting the reality. But what has been the result? Today, the very crises we remained silent about for years have struck the country like a storm.
For years, we have suffered the consequences of secrecy. Water crises, soil erosion, bankrupt funds, hidden debts, and other realities, which were postponed “for the right time” each time, now weigh heavily on the people. In this context, the president’s action in stating the country’s realities plainly is not merely a political stance; it could represent a paradigmatic shift in governance—a move from an “information-control policy” to a “policy of trust.” This decision redefines the relationship between the government and the people, a relationship no longer based on fear of knowing but on the maturity of understanding.
What the president says today is neither exaggeration nor threat. It is part of a reality that should have been acknowledged sooner or later, and still contains aspects that remain unsaid. Contrary to the traditional practice of political discourse in Iran, he has chosen to share reality candidly rather than embellish it. This is a sign of respect for the people, not distrust.
Some of those who now fear speaking the truth are the very ones who, during the JCPOA negotiations, insisted on revealing sensitive aspects by shouting, “The people are not excluded.” At that time, knowledge was considered a right; today, on issues affecting daily life, silence is deemed expedient. This is a glaring contradiction. It seems knowledge is a virtue only when it serves political competition, not the public good.
Transparency is not a slogan; it is the foundation of responsible governance. If the people are to participate in solving problems, they must know what is at stake. One cannot ask society to conserve resources without revealing the real state of water supplies. One cannot ask citizens to pay taxes while concealing the reality of debts and fiscal imbalances. Ignorance is the mother of distrust.
