Iran’s Global Peace Index Ranking Drops 9 Places
The International Institute for Economics and Peace said in its latest Global Peace Index report that Iran’s ranking fell by 9 places in 2018.
According to the report published on Wednesday, June 12 on its official website, Iran had the third-largest drop in global peace index ranking after Nicaragua, Burkina Faso, and Zimbabwe.
The report adds that for the second consecutive year (2017 and 2018), Iran’s ranking in the global peace index has declined, and last year it ranked 139th among 163 countries, placing it in “orange status.”
The report categorizes countries in terms of peace index into four categories: green, yellow, orange, and red.
The International Institute for Economics and Peace considers various factors in its assessment, including external tensions. Iran experienced the largest drop in ranking among all countries in the world in terms of external tensions.
The report referenced the United States’ withdrawal from the JCPOA in April of last year and its tension-raising consequences, but stated that the main reason for Iran’s declining ranking in the global peace index is the country’s continued involvement in the Syrian war.
The report also states that Iran supports certain Yemeni and Iraqi groups, and involvement in proxy wars has increased tensions between Iran and the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Israel. Meanwhile, Iran increased its military expenditures from 3.75 percent of total gross domestic product to 4.56 percent.
According to the International Institute for Economics and Peace’s assessment, the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA and its sanctions have affected Iran’s economic stability, and the worsening economic situation has increased the possibility of public protests.
The institute adds: “Given that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was placed on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations in April, it is expected that Iran’s tensions with the outside world will worsen further.”
In the Middle East, Iran experienced the largest decline in the peace index, with Yemen ranking second.
According to this credible international institute, the most peaceful countries are respectively Iceland, New Zealand, Portugal, Austria, Denmark, Canada, Singapore, Slovenia, Japan, and the Czech Republic.
The worst-ranking countries are Afghanistan, Syria, South Sudan, Yemen, Iraq, Somalia, Central African Republic, Libya, Congo, and Russia.
According to the institute’s annual report, last year 86 countries recorded higher peace and stability indicators, while 76 countries experienced worsened conditions, but overall the global peace index remained relatively constant.
Source: Radio Farda
