New Policy Allows Long-Term Military Service Evaders to Settle Status Through Payment
A new budgetary measure approved by Iran’s parliamentary reconciliation committee offers a significant opportunity for citizens who have evaded mandatory military service for over five years to regularize their status through a financial payment.
A Path to Regularization
The newly approved plan provides a legal pathway for individuals classified as long-term service evaders to effectively “purchase” an exemption from their military obligations. The initiative is reported to prioritize two key demographics: individuals over the age of 35 and those who are married.
Primary Objectives of the Plan
According to reports, the central aims of the policy are threefold: to provide support for the family unit, to encourage higher birth rates, and to finally resolve the legal status of this specific group of citizens, thereby bringing them back into full participation in society.
Structured Payment Tiers
The cost for this settlement has been structured according to the individual’s highest level of educational attainment, creating a tiered payment system:
- Associate’s degree and below: 250 million tomans
- Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees: 400 million tomans
- Medical doctors (General Medicine), Ph.D., and higher: 600 million tomans
Incentives and Discounts
The plan incorporates specific discounts to lessen the financial burden for certain groups. A 20% discount will be applied for each child an individual has, with a maximum discount cap of 60%. Furthermore, a 50% discount is available for married individuals who are registered recipients of support from the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation and the State Welfare Organization.
Balancing Benefits and Considerations
The measure is viewed as a dual-purpose solution. It is anticipated to simultaneously resolve a longstanding administrative challenge for thousands of citizens while generating a new stream of revenue for the state. The policy also sparks a broader discussion on its social implications, particularly concerning equity and the potential financial pressure it may place on citizens from lower-income backgrounds.