New Israeli FM urges joint Israel-US effort to curb Iran’s nukes
In his first press conference since taking over as Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar told reporters the country’s first priority is preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
In his first press conference since taking over as Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar told reporters the country’s first priority is preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
"The most important issue for the future of this region and the security of the State of Israel is to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons,” he said on Monday.
As news of the incoming Donald Trump administration was still fresh, he told reporters: “I am sure that we can work together with the US to stabilize the region and to secure its future. Nuclear weapons in the hands of Iran will pose a danger not only to Israel but also to other countries in the region.”
Sa’ar took over the role after the previous minister, Israel Katz, was named Defense Minister after the dramatic government reshuffle following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s firing of Yoav Gallant.
He was brought back to government at the end of September so Netanyahu could bolster the right-wing coalition and reduce his dependence on the religious members, many of whom have threatened to quit multiple times since the government was formed almost two years ago.
"This [nuclear] is the most important issue from the point of view of the State of Israel consistent with all administrations in the United States: that Iran will not be able to obtain nuclear weapons.”
Iran has reached 60% uranium enrichment which is one step short of fissile material needed for nuclear weapons, though the authorities say the program is for peaceful means.
The UN’s nuclear chief, Raphael Grossi, is visiting Iran on Wednesday as one third of the UN’s inspectors remain barred from Iran and monitoring of nuclear activities severely restricted.
Sa’ar, the leader of the New Hope party, used the press conference in the midst of the Gaza war and conflict in Lebanon as the chance to address Iran and its militias around Israel’s borders.
Since the Iran-backed Hamas invasion of October 7, which sparked the longest Gaza war, attacks have come from Iran's militias in Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon. Two direct attacks have also come from Iran.
“Iran is also directly related to, finances, guides and is responsible for terrorist organizations, some of which have become terrorist states in the region.
“That is why nuclear weapons in the hands of this regime are extremely dangerous for the peace of the world and the peace of the region,” he said.
On Monday, the Yemeni Houthis announced they had fired a ballistic missile 'successfully' at an Israeli military base. However, the Israeli military said a "projectile" from Yemen had been intercepted before reaching Israeli territory, without confirming if it was a ballistic.
Addressing rapid demographic shifts, Deputy Health Minister Alireza Raisi warned on Sunday that declining birth rates could lead to a significantly smaller, aging population, with projections indicating a sharp decline. By 2101, the population could shrink by as much as 50%, with nearly half of the country potentially classified as elderly.
Raisi said that Iran has experienced one of the world’s fastest fertility declines, dropping from an average of six children per family to fewer than three within just a decade. If the trend continues, he explained, the country’s total population could decrease to around 42 million by the end of the century—a drastic change from the current level, which is over 87 million.
“This means half of Iran’s population will be elderly,” Raisi added, urging awareness of the potential social and economic consequences that such a shift may entail.
The issue of Iran’s aging population has drawn concern among officials and demographic experts alike. Hesameddin Allameh, former head of Iran's National Elderly Council, recently described a looming demographic pitfall, as nearly 10 million Iranians are now classified as elderly.
He said that today, the provinces of Gilan and Mazandaran have the oldest populations in Iran, while Sistan-Baluchestan and Hormozgan remaining the youngest, highlighting disparities across the country.
Despite calls from senior leaders, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, for families to increase the national birth rate, these efforts have shown limited success. In spite of banning legal abortion, and offering benefits such as free land and insurance coverage, the government has failed to stem the tide.
Data from the National Organization for Civil Registration indicated a decrease of 17,000 births in 2023 compared to the previous year, suggesting that the government’s pro-natal policies have struggled to gain traction.
The main factor driving this decline is the economic crisis which has seen over a third of Iranians now living below the poverty line, with inflation staying above 40% for five consecutive years. Other factors include shifting social norms, and urban lifestyle changes, which are increasingly affecting family planning choices.
In addition to Iran’s internal population shifts, Raisi raised concerns about the nation’s demographics relative to its neighbors. While Iran looks likely to soon face a population decline, nearby countries are projected to experience significant population growth.
This disparity, he argued, could have serious implications for Iran's economic and geopolitical standing in the region if current trends persist.
The demographic challenge is contrasted by the country’s annual death rate, currently around 450,000, and an annual birth rate of roughly one million. With a net population increase of approximately 550,000 people each year, the nation is seeing its growth rate decline.
Raisi cautioned that, without meaningful policy changes, Iran could face an existential threat. “If the situation persists, in 100 years, there will be no country called Iran,” he stated, calling for unified action among government officials to confront the issue.
Shahla Kazemipour, a demographer and university professor, said the birth rate decline is nationwide, indicating that the trend will likely continue without targeted intervention. Kazemipour added that Iran’s aging population, which is becoming an inevitable reality, will pose significant economic and social challenges in the coming decades, on top of the country's crisis amid global sanctions.
Currently, the country’s elderly population stands at around seven million, approximately 8% of Iran’s total population, according to Ahmad Moazen Zadeh, head of the Iranian Physiotherapy Association. With the projected growth of this demographic, health and social services are preparing for increased demand, which will require extensive planning and resources to manage.
As Iran contends with the realities of an aging society and the potential for long-term population decline, the future stability of its workforce, economic resilience, and healthcare infrastructure may depend on policy reforms designed to encourage sustainable demographic growth.