Tehran, Iran, August 29
By Temkin Jafarov -- Trend:
Iranian president said that the Islamic Republic has achieved calm, constructive interaction with the world.
He made the remarks while addressing at a press conference in Tehran on the occasion of the Government Week on Aug. 29.
He said the Iranian government has worked with the hope to fight Iranophobia at the international level, to create a more friendly approach to Iran in the global community, Trend correspondent reported from the conference hall.
The presser is attended by representatives of Iranian and foreign media, Trend correspondent reports from the conference hall.
Briefing the audience on efforts undertaken by his administration during the past two years in office President Rouhani said that in the economic sphere, the government tried to calm the market.
"We attempted to prevent heavy oscillations in the market.... We contained inflation and tried to make sure of a constantly reducing inflation rate."
Rouhani added that his administration is aiming at a single-digit inflation rate by the end of the incumbent administration.
"Our economy grapples with oil and rent and monopoly in some areas, as well as some governmental organizations which are not fit in economic positions," he said.
"According to Article 44 of the Constitution, it was meant to hand over economy to non-governmental entities, not to change the names only."
On agriculture, he said so far his administration has managed to take 44,000 hectares of land under modern agriculture and it is planning to add 82,000 hectares more to the area by the end of the current Iranian fiscal year (March 20).
Rouhani then pointed to the upcoming Parliament and Assembly of Experts elections and said his administration will try to boost not only the authenticity of the elections, but also the feel of authentic elections in society.
While responding a question regarding his plans for containing brain drain, Rouhani pointed to science-based companies as a way to lure Iranian masterminds living abroad to return home.
Asked about two former presidential candidates Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi under home arrest since 2011, Rouhani criticized political parties which tend to continue the issue as a tool for their political intentions and urged ending the issue.
Karroubi and Mousavi have been under house arrest since 2011 due to protests against the disputed presidential election of 2009.
Post-sanction economic ties
Regarding post-sanctions economic relations with the world, Rouhani said foreign companies will be wrong if they see Iran as a big market for consumer goods.
"The oil money should go into basic investments and if foreign companies are coming to Iran, they should know they are here to provide investment, technology, and joint work," he underlined.
It should be noted that shortly after the nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 (US, Russia, China, France, UK, and Germany), German vice-Chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel visited Tehran, bringing with him a large economic delegation. His visit was followed by the EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius visiting the Islamic Republic.
Earlier this week, the UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond visited Tehran, as did other high-ranking European officials have a visit to Iran on their agenda.
The Iranian president also commented about the prospect of relations with China and Russia in the post-sanctions era, saying the Islamic Republic intends to improve its relations with China, Russia, India and other eastern countries.
Right now a special committee has been launched with Iran and China to investigate economic cooperation opportunities in seven spheres, he pointed out.