In an exclusive interview with Hawzah News Agency, Mohsen Zanganeh, Deputy Chairman of the Parliament’s Program and Budget Commission, emphasized the necessity of integrating AI into national development strategies, in line with the Supreme Leader’s directives on the strategic importance of AI advancement.
“Artificial intelligence is not confined to a single sector; it spans poetry, literature, art, industry, petrochemicals, automotive, economics, and even the global monetary and financial systems,” Zanganeh said, stressing the multi-dimensional potential of the technology.
He noted that, recognizing its importance, the Parliament included AI as a central component in the Seventh National Development Plan, obliging the administration to take necessary steps to enhance the country’s capabilities in this field.
Zanganeh further revealed that the 12th Parliament has streamlined its internal factions to 38, including a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Faction, which has drawn considerable interest among lawmakers. A Cyberspace and AI Committee has also been formed, tasked with legislative oversight and development in the digital realm.
Touching on internal parliamentary reforms, the representative of Torbat-e Heydariyeh, Mahvalat, and Zaveh stated that discussions are underway to revise the names and mandates of existing commissions in line with emerging global priorities. He pointed out that areas such as artificial intelligence, cyberspace, and the digital economy currently lack specific custodians in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, a gap the proposed structural reforms aim to address.
Zanganeh urged AI experts, particularly those active within religious institutions, to clearly outline their strategic needs and challenges in the form of actionable proposals. "With defined plans, the Parliament can facilitate progress in AI through proper legislative backing and budgetary support," he affirmed.
Highlighting Ayatollah Arafi’s technological foresight, Zanganeh noted that the prominent cleric has consistently underscored the need to harness smart technologies in the compilation, research, and publication of Islamic knowledge.
“Ayatollah Arafi believes that Islamic sciences must be liberated from confinement and translated into accessible, modern formats,” he said. “Thanks to his forward-looking leadership, the seminaries are now on a path toward profound transformation through the strategic use of modern tools such as AI.”
Ayatollah Arafi, who also serves as the Director of Iran’s Seminaries, has played a central role in embedding artificial intelligence into educational and research frameworks within the religious establishment, signaling a paradigm shift in the integration of tradition with innovation.
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