Scientific Sanctions Against Iran: Critical Situation in Access to International Research Resources

In recent months, Iran's higher education system has faced an unprecedented crisis in accessing international scientific resources. Field reports from the Iran Science News Agency across universities nationwide indicate a worsening of these restrictions and their detrimental effects on scientific research progress.  

Current Status of Access to Prestigious Scientific Databases  

Investigations by our correspondents reveal severe challenges in accessing three major global scientific platforms:  

1. Elsevier Database:  

   - Access to this platform, which includes over 2,500 reputable scientific journals, has been intermittently disrupted since the beginning of the current year.  

   - According to university library officials, download speeds for articles from this database have dropped to less than 30% of normal capacity.  

   - Some medical schools have reported being completely cut off from accessing new resources on this platform.  

2. Springer Nature Database:  

   - Access to more than 3,000 book titles and 1,900 journals from this prestigious publisher has faced severe restrictions.  

   - Over the past three months, Sharif University of Technology, the University of Tehran, and Tarbiat Modares University reported 45, 38, and 27 instances of access disruptions, respectively.  

3. IEEE Database:  

   - This specialized platform in engineering and technical fields, which is critical for Iranian researchers, has encountered the most severe limitations.  

   - Statistics show a 72% decline in access to IEEE conference papers over the past six months.  

Alarming Statistics from Universities Nationwide  

A survey of 120 universities and research centers across the country reveals:  

- 82% of universities experienced at least one full week without international resource access during the second quarter of 2024.  

- Only 12% of the country's universities (15 institutions) have managed to maintain partial access by paying exorbitant fees (averaging 300 million tomans per month).  

- Universities of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Shahid Beheshti, and Shiraz reported the worst conditions regarding access to new resources.  

 Outstanding Debts and Financial Challenges  

The issue of Iran's 27 million euro debt to international publishers has become a major challenge:  

- This debt stems from eight years of unpaid subscription fees by the country's universities.  

- Only 8 million euros of this amount have been settled so far, primarily funded by major universities.  

- According to informed sources, negotiations to resolve this debt have encountered serious obstacles.  

Official Responses  

Dr. Mohammad-Ali Zolfigol, Minister of Science, stated in an interview with our correspondent:  

"These restrictions, imposed under the pretext of sanctions, constitute a blatant violation of educational and research rights. We are pursuing this matter through diplomatic channels."  

 Experts' Warnings  

Professor Reza Mansouri, a faculty member at Sharif University of Technology, told the Iran Science News Agency:  

"The current situation has reached crisis levels. If immediate measures are not taken, we will witness a sharp decline in research quality and a mass exodus of elite scholars."  

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