Iran's President, Ebrahim Raisi, has urged action against voluntary termination of pregnancy by women, as the birth rate has significantly fallen in the past decade.

He said on Sunday that there is a need for a "serious confrontation with abortion as an ugly phenomenon" through "religious teachings and artistic productions."

Amid the prevailing economic hardships, which have left many struggling to meet their basic needs, Raisi expressed concern about the downward trajectory of the population. He urged government agencies to harness their resources and capabilities to bolster population growth.

Over recent decades, Iran has witnessed a steady decline in childbirth rates, with the population growth rate dropping from 4.8 percent in the early 1980s to below one percent in recent years.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has called for efforts to boost Iran's population as a top priority and an essential policy for the Islamic Republic, given its position as a leading Shia country in the Muslim world.

In response to Khamenei's directive, the predominantly hardliner-dominated parliament passed a law in March 2022 mandating state entities to actively promote marriage and childbirth. The law also prohibits public health services from offering family planning options.

Critics of the population increase policy argue that the Islamic Republic has failed to improve living standards, with nearly 50 percent of the population living below the poverty line. Many others continue to face escalating economic hardships despite holding multiple jobs.