Press Digest

Date: 29 May 2017 - 22:03

News ID: ۴۰۱۱۳

Negative Growth
KAYHAN: After a year or so, the Central Bank published a new report on GDP growth rate without oil revenues for last year. The report puts the rate at -1.3 percent. It shows there is some four percent difference in recession figures announced earlier by the bank. It is not that hard to guess why the bank waited so long to announce the negative growth rate: elections. The new figure is a disaster for the economy. Little wonder the bank refused to publish it earlier.

Sanctions vs. Negotiations
JAVAN: Now that Rouhani has been re-elected, the Trump White House is hard at work, pursuing the policy of sanctions-equal-negotiations policy. They have ratcheted up sanctions, hoping that the Rouhani administration will once again sit at the negotiating tables to discuss Iran’s missile defense program. This is a tried tactic, pursued earlier by Obama. They seek to violate the terms of the nuclear deal and encourage the Iranian side to sit for a new set of talks on a host of issues.

Threat of Recession
DONYAYE EQTESAD: Central Bank has put the GDP rate for March and April at -0.3 percent. The figure lowers growth rate to zero percent for April. The expectation is that recession in production sector would push up inflation in the consumer market in coming months. However, this is still a sign of drop in demand in supply chains and a new wave of recession. The expectation is that production ate would remain at zero percent for the coming month.

Democracy Now
AFTAB: At a time when Trump was sword dancing with Saudis in Riyadh, Iranians were celebrating the results of presidential elections in Tehran. The expectation among voters was that the high turnout would be a reason for outside powers to open up their doors for broader diplomacy with Tehran. They seek better interaction with the world community and want more say in current affairs. The high turnout was a victory for democracy in the region. It shows the right to vote exists in Iran.