Iran has banned teaching the English language in primary schools, calling the subject a "cultural invasion". The education ministry "envisages strengthening Persian language skills and Iranian Islamic culture of pupils at the primary school stage", its secretary told state media. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has previously expressed concern about the teaching of English. It is seen as an important skill by many Iranians and is widely studied. English is a foreign language option for many at secondary level, which begins at the age of 12, but its popularity has led to classes being offered by some schools much earlier. "Teaching of foreign languages has not been recommended by any means" at primary level, Mehdi Navid-Adham, secretary of the Supreme Education Council, told the state-run IRIB news agency. He also said that primary schools which teach English as an extra class outside of school hours were committing a "violation". The ban does not affect foreign-language tuition at secondary school or popular private institutes which teach English outside the educational system.
Harvested from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42610755?

Their headache

Merits and demerits of such policy!

Good for them, I'm waiting for african countries to stop using English and French in schools and focus on indigenous languages so as to install pride in there locals and to protect there country's heritage. Germany, France, China and all other developed nations put there own mother tongue first before any other foreign language that's why they can innovate and develop.

Its good and well to know how to communicate in English but you will only gain respect if you develop your own.

That's just my $1 speech

If true then it would be mistake because to fight a global war, a nation better have people who are fluent in several internal languages.