Investigating the policy cycle of population increase in the Islamic Republic of Iran(focusing on the fourth period of population policies)

Population is one of the components of the national power of any country, and the optimal population size and policies to achieve it are always the concerns of governments. In recent years, due to changing trends and fertility patterns, population decline has become one of Iran's major issues. In this regard and in response to the possible consequences of a sharp decrease in the fertility rate, the statesmen and policy makers of the society have been considering population policies since the last decade of the 80s. This research aims to describe the different stages of this policy and evaluate the goals and tools of this policy by using systemic theory in response to the question of how the policy cycle of population increase in Iran. It seems that the youth plan of the population still does not have priority to enter the system due to the accumulation of issues in the economic, social and environmental fields in the Islamic Republic. Moreover, the applied incentive and punishment policies and tools will not be beneficial due to their inadequacy, inefficiency and violation of citizen's rights.