Tehran, Iran, Jan. 11
By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the international sanctions on Iran have been incapable of stopping his country from launching projects to develop the South Pars gas field.
"Inauguration of various phases of South Pars gas field has taken place in a condition when sanctions against the country are still on," Rouhani said addressing a ceremonial inauguration of the Phases 15 and 16 of the South Pars gas field in southern Iran, which was aired live by the IRINN TV channel Jan. 11.
He added that this conveys the message that the sanctions imposed by the world's major powers failed to defeat Iranians.
Further addressing the ceremonial inauguration, Iranian president vowed that the sanctions will be removed within the next couple of days.
He said the removal of sanctions is in favor of Tehran and the world, adding that Iran made advances in various sectors of energy, science, technology, mining and industry during the sanctions era.
President Rouhani officially inaugurated Phases 15 and 16 of the South Pars gas field in southern Iran earlier on Jan. 11.
Early production of the phases started in 2014 with a capacity of 17 million cubic meters of gas.
Over the past two years, the phases have given out over 15.5 billion cubic meters of gas, 14 million barrels of gas condensate, 3,000 tons of sulphur, and over 5,000 tons of ethane.
During his address, Rouhani further vowed for economic growth in the upcoming Iranian year, which is to start March 21, and said all the phases of South Pars will be inaugurated by March 2017.
Speaking about the sharp declines in oil prices, he called on his government's critics to refrain from criticizing the ongoing recession in the country, as the country is suffering a sharp plunge in oil prices and sanctions.
He went on to speak about the country's draft budget for the upcoming fiscal year (starting March 21) and said the government has planned the budget in a way that only 25 percent of the total income will rely on oil sale revenues.
The president added that the budget plans of the regional states, which are among the largest producers and exporters of the crude oil, rely almost completely on oil revenues.
He further accused some regional countries of plotting against Iran by causing the plunge in oil prices and said the decline in prices had a backlash on their own economies and now they are facing budget deficit.
Further blaming the country's economy for being dependent on the economic situation of other countries, such as China and India, Rouhani pledged for bringing economic independence to Iran.