Iran’s Economy Should Not Be Tied to Sanctions: Leader

On the occasion of Nowruz, the Persian new year, Ayatollah Khamenei delivered a live televised speech on Monday, March 21.

Besides speaking in detail about the Nowruz, the slogan of the year and the significance of national production in solving the country’s economic problems, the leader described the contemporary period as “one of the most openly disgraceful periods in current history in terms of oppression.”

“When you look at global events, the Iranian nation’s rightfulness in confronting the arrogant powers becomes clearer than ever. Our nation did not choose surrendering to the arrogant powers. It chose resistance, independence and internal strength. This was the people's decision,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.

“​Today is one of the most openly disgraceful periods in current history in terms of the oppression and transgressions being committed unfortunately by the arrogant powers of the world, and the people of the world are witnessing these atrocities directly,” the Leader stated.

“In the world, oppression is taking place in countries that obey the West and you do not hear a word about it. While inflicting all this oppression and atrocities, they claim to be advocates of human rights. Then they use their claim to pressure and threaten independent nations,” Ayatollah Khamenei noted.

Pointing to the developments in Afghanistan and the US withdrawal from that country, the leader added, “Firstly, they (Americans) stayed in Afghanistan for 20 years. What did they do in this oppressed, Muslim country? Then, how did they leave? They created problems for the people and now they are not giving the Afghan people their own money.”

“Look at the issue of Yemen where these innocent, truly resilient people are being bombarded on a daily basis. Look at what Saudi Arabia does in beheading 80 teenagers and young men in a single day,” Ayatollah Khamenei deplored.

“In the events in Ukraine, everyone is witnessing the Western governments’ racism. They stop trains to separate the black people, who are seeking refuge and escaping the problems of the war, to make them get off the train,” the Leader added, according to Khamenei.ir.

“In Western media, they brazenly say they regret that this time the war is not in the Middle East and it is happening in Europe. So it is alright with them if wars, bloodshed and killing take place in the Middle East, but not if it happens in Europe. Such overt, blatant racism!” Ayatollah Khamenei noted.

“The reason we discuss the economy on day first of the year is first due to the importance of the economy; i.e., if economy is joined with justice, the country will truly progress. Second, because we have had a number of economic challenges over the past 10 years that need to be overcome,” the Leader stated.

“The country’s new policies have shown that the country’s economy should not be tied to US sanctions. Despite sanctions, the government has been able to increase foreign trade, sign new regional contracts, and make improvements in the issue of oil and other economic matters,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.

“Of course I am not saying at all that we must not seek to remove sanctions. But we must manage the country in such a way that sanctions cannot inflict a major blow. Sanctions may cause certain harms but they should not be allowed to cause significant harm to the country’s economy,” the Leader underlined.

“Now that oil prices are up, two approaches can be adopted with oil revenues. First, with increased foreign revenues, we boost imports to improve people’s welfare. This seems good but wastes our assets. Second, use oil revenues to improve infrastructures and strengthen the economy’s foundation,” Ayatollah Khamenei concluded.