President Rouhani Praises Iranian People's Resistance against Sanctions

"No one thought that the economic pressures that started in 1397 and quickly negatively affected the country's economic growth would turn into positive economic growth in 1398, despite the intensification of pressures, while many experts predicted that by the end of 1398, inflation would be 3 digits, from the mid-1398, inflation in the country declined from above 40% to below 30% now," Rouhani said, addressing a meeting of Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution in Tehran on Tuesday.

"This is a sign that despite all the pressure, the people have made a great effort to resist and show that when we join hands, even if the heavy pressure of sanctions is accompanied by the severe effects of coronavirus, we can still run the country well," the president said.

Rouhani pointed out that the reduction in revenues due to sanctions and the subsequent outbreak of coronavirus has caused various difficulties and problems, but in general we have been able to continue the country's growth path.

He said, "Although we have been able to reopen a major part of businesses with the spread of coronavirus, businesses such as transportation and tourism, cultural, scientific, educational, and artistic activities, are still unable to return to normal activity because coronavirus."

"The post-coronavirus world is a completely different world, and if we think we can return to pre-coronavirus conditions in the short term, it's wrong, because no one can say when a cure or a vaccine will be found to prevent coronavirus," he added.

Rouhani said that the whole world is facing difficult conditions and the statistics are evidence of the shrinking economy of countries, adding, "With the efforts of officials in various sectors, we have been able to reactivate non-oil exports in many sectors and the country's borders have recently reopened, and conditions are improving step by step, and hopes for improvement have increased."

"I have to thank all the scientific, academic, corporate and knowledge-based centers that have worked hard to create new solutions to prevent the wheel of production from stopping. In these difficult circumstances, the new ideas of the knowledge-based centers turned Iran into a powerful exporter of some new products," he said.

In a relevant development last week, the Iranian legislators were reported as preparing a bill to fight against the US enmity and economic embargos against the country.

"Preparing the plan to confront the US hostile measures and economic sanctions against our country has started at the parliament," Abolfazl Aboutorabi, a senior MP, told FNA on Sunday.

He added that the plan is now being signed by the Iranian lawmakers, adding that it will be submitted to the presiding board to be approved and turned into a law.

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