The 6th Meeting of the Iranian Regulators Network was held on August 7, 2024 at the Sharif Governance and Policy Think Tank (GPTT), featuring academics and regulatory experts. The session focused on challenges and strategies for effective regulation in Iran, highlighting the need for a more structured and cohesive regulatory network.

Dr. Abdoh Tabrizi, a professor of Finance at Sharif University of Technology, emphasized the importance of a clearer definition for the Regulators Network. He suggested that the Strategis Studies Center could be an appropriate platform for this purpose. However, taking into account the current status of the country, caution is nedded against labeling governments with terms like “regulatory government” or “welfare government”, which could distract from the core mission.

Dr. Pour Seyyed Aghaei, a faculty member at the University of Science and Technology, argued that regulatory reforms cannot be successfully implemented from top to down. He aadvocated for the effective role that the Regulators Network can play in fostering a regulatory culture among managers and policymakers, while also warning against the dangers of excessive regulation.

Dr. Sarzaeem, a faculty member of Allameh Tabatabaei University, highlighted the significance focused regulatory bodies with quick decision-making capabilities, due to the complexity and rapid changes in today’s economy and society. He stressed the importance of moving beyond vetocracy and politicalized parliaments to achieve modern governance.

Dr. Emamian, a faculty member of Amirkabir University of Technology, noted that regulators are critical as “aligners” and “mediators” in governance. He described the creation of the Regulators Network as an effort to establish regulators as part of the regulatory ecosystem in the macrosystem of governance, which makes a shared professional identity among regulatthemors.

Dr. Zolfaghari, a university professor, noted the significant legal overlaps among regulators in the current governance system. For example, price-setting authoritty in a specific sector is granted to multiple institutions. This, in his idea, can lead to an unintegrated governance system.

Mr. Khosravi, Director General of the Presidency of the Civil Aviation Authority, emphasized the necessity of the Regulators Network for facilitating regulation. He advocated for the network to oprate above institutional divids to be able to follow-up for the challenges that the regulators may have in various governance bodies including the judical system, the parliament, the high councils, etc.