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Trend survey: Ordinary Iranians skeptical over impact of sanctions removal

Politics Materials 5 February 2016 10:35 (UTC +04:00)
A recent survey carried out by Trend in Iran’s capital of Tehran, suggests that ordinary Iranians are still skeptical over the outcome of the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, aka nuclear deal).
Trend survey: Ordinary Iranians skeptical over impact of sanctions removal

Tehran, Iran, Feb. 4

By Mehdi Sepahvand, Farhad Daneshvar - Trend:

A recent survey carried out by Trend in Iran's capital of Tehran, suggests that ordinary Iranians are still skeptical over the outcome of the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, aka nuclear deal).

Economic sanctions on Iran have been lifted since Jan. 16, after Tehran agreed to scale down its nuclear activities as part of the JCPOA.

Speaking to Trend's correspondent in Tehran, a cell phone salesperson expressed pessimistic views saying, "nothing has changed, future is not bright."

Meanwhile, a young man planning to get married was optimistic and said, "I am going to marry soon. I am waiting maybe prices go down a little bit in near future so it would cost me less. I think it won't make me disappointed."

Over the past decade in a bid to curb Iran's nuclear program, measures were taken against Tehran, including restrictions imposed on the country's financial system, as well as industry, which have had a catastrophic impact on Iranians' economic situation and life condition.

Afterwards, on Jan. 16, international sanctions against Tehran were lifted as promised by Iranian pragmatic President Hassan Rouhani during his electoral campaign.

During Trend's survey, a customer looking for gadgets at a shopping center downtown Tehran said the prices of computers and electronic devices underwent depreciation following the speculations over the removal of sanctions last year, adding, "therefore, I don't think they are going to go any lower now."

"Prices have always gone up, not the other way. The only time I remember prices went real down was 1987 when the UN Resolution 598 was passed, ending the Iran-Iraq war," an elderly man said.

The milestone development of the sanctions removal came following measures taken at the initiative of moderate Rouhani to engage in direct talks with the US aimed at improving the country's economic situation by settling out Tehran's controversial nuclear issue.

However, it appears that the imminent impact of the removal of sanctions on the ordinary Iranians' everyday life has not been much felt.

A young lady told Trend that she had observed many clothes and footwear items go down in price recently.

"It is the end of the cold season, though. So, I don't know whether the depreciation is caused by the sanctions removal or the end of the season. In spite of that, I don't remember having seen such plunge in previous years," she added.

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