Official: Iran Economy Strong Enough to Withstand Sanctions
TEHRAN (Dispatches) – Head of Iran's Plan and Budget Organization Mohammad Baqer Nobakht said on Saturday that the country’s economy is so powerful that the U.S. sanctions could not damage it.
"Americans acknowledge that Iran is one of the world’s wealthiest countries,” Nobakht said, stressing that the country is so strong that the U.S. sanctions could not bring the Iranian nation to its knees.
"According to international reports, Iran is the world’s eighteenth largest economy,” he added.
Nobakht further unveiled plans to create new jobs in the country, including at least 82,000 jobs in the agricultural sector, saying the job creation policies are unaffected by the U.S. sanctions.
In comments earlier this month, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Iran will proudly circumvent the U.S. sanctions, which he branded as cruel and illegal.
"American officials say Iran would bypass the sanctions; that’s right, we announce with great pride that we will bypass your illegal and cruel sanctions, because your sanctions are cruel, wrong and against the international law,” Rouhani said.
The U.S. government imposed a new round of sanctions on Iran on November 4.
The U.S. had announced plans to drive Iran’s oil exports down to zero, but backed off from its policy and granted waivers to at least 8 countries that import Iranian oil.
*****Mohammad Baqer Nobakht
"Americans acknowledge that Iran is one of the world’s wealthiest countries,” Nobakht said, stressing that the country is so strong that the U.S. sanctions could not bring the Iranian nation to its knees.
"According to international reports, Iran is the world’s eighteenth largest economy,” he added.
Nobakht further unveiled plans to create new jobs in the country, including at least 82,000 jobs in the agricultural sector, saying the job creation policies are unaffected by the U.S. sanctions.
In comments earlier this month, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Iran will proudly circumvent the U.S. sanctions, which he branded as cruel and illegal.
"American officials say Iran would bypass the sanctions; that’s right, we announce with great pride that we will bypass your illegal and cruel sanctions, because your sanctions are cruel, wrong and against the international law,” Rouhani said.
The U.S. government imposed a new round of sanctions on Iran on November 4.
The U.S. had announced plans to drive Iran’s oil exports down to zero, but backed off from its policy and granted waivers to at least 8 countries that import Iranian oil.
*****Mohammad Baqer Nobakht