Necessary Arrangements Made to Counter Economic War on Iran: Larijani
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani highlighted efforts made to reduce economic pressures against the country and said necessary arrangements have been made to counter the economic war waged against the Islamic Republic.
Addressing a joint meeting of the Parliament and Administration in Tehran on Wednesday, Larijani pointed to the strategies to support domestic production and said, “The country’s current situation is completely different to previous years and Leader of the Islamic Revolution (Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei), considering the situation, has ordered the formation of the economic council of the heads of three branches of the government.”
“In the current situation, the fundamental issue is to provide working capital for factories and industries in order to strengthen the industrial sector,” he added.
“Today, the country is in a state of economic war, however, necessary measures have been taken in this regard at the macro-management level,” Larijani said.
The parliament speaker emphasized that efforts should also be made to counter the economic war at lower levels.
The remarks come against the backdrop of increased tensions between Iran and the US with Washington imposing new sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
The US has ratcheted up pressure on Iran since last year after withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Since then, the administration of US President Donald Trump is trying to reduce Iran’s oil exports to “zero,” and has sent an aircraft carrier strike group, a bomber squad, an amphibious assault ship, and a Patriot missile battery to the Middle East to try to stack up pressure on Tehran.
Iranian officials, however, have dismissed such moves as psychological warfare, saying the country has its own ways of circumventing the American bans and selling crude oil.
In comments on April 24, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said the US’ attempts to block the export of Iranian oil will get nowhere as Tehran will be exporting any amount of crude it needs and wants.
Describing a cut in Iran’s reliance on the export of oil as an opportunity, the Leader said such an opportunity will be used for further reliance on internal capabilities.
“Although the sanctions pave the way for problems in certain cases, they will benefit the country if they are dealt with correctly and logically,” Ayatollah Khamenei said at the time.
