They are trying to keep Western culture out of Iran beginning with children learning English. Many children are sent to learn English after school hours. They blame outside influence for their internal disputes.

yep they are going with mandarin /cantonese

I can't think of a better way to isolate people in a backward theocracy than to cut off their understanding of the outside world.

We are not being taught any foreign languages in most primary schools in the USA, nevermind having the option of learning Persian. Hell... our president cannot even handle English....

Perhaps it makes it harder for their citizens to be corrupted by English fake media and English borne sinful culture if they do not speak English.