Iran's Rouhani praises nuke deal, predict significant economic growth

/By AzerNews/

By Sara Rajabova

Hassan Rouhani has partially fulfilled his promise he had given before assuming the post of the Iranian president with Vienna nuclear deal.

As he sought to reduce tensions with the West, show more transparency on the nuclear front, achieve the lifting of sanctions and to improve the country's ailing economy, his team has recently reached the long-awaited nuclear deal that is expected to open up new horizons for the Islamic Republic.

Though the sanctions will be removed gradually, Iran has already begun to revitalize its sanctions-hit economy.

Following the nuclear deal with the West, foreign companies have lined up to enter the Iranian market. Some western countries, which had ceased their ties with Iran over claims of Tehran developing a nuclear weapon, have now begun to restore relations with the Islamic Republic.

Rouhani expressed confidence that the end results of the nuclear negotiations were win-win, and thus, both Iran and the West gained from nuclear talks.

Speaking in a live televised interview with IRIB on August 2, days before the date he took the office two years ago, Rouhani expressed his confidence that the resolution of the nuclear issue by his administration had exceeded initial expectations, in the meantime noting that Iran achieved its goals in the nuclear talks.

He assured his constituents and the world that Iran has never sought weapons of mass destruction.

Rouhani downplayed the concerns that inspections under the JCPOA could jeopardize Iran's state secrets and defensive capabilities, which is a key red line by hardliners in the Islamic Republic.

Rouhani said there is no reason to worry at all as what Iran has agreed to under the JCPOA is nothing extraordinary, reassuring Iranians that the country’s military capabilities will by no means be depleted.

Outlining the measures to tackle the economic challenges, he highlighted his government’s achievements in bringing down inflation from highs above 40 percent, and expressed that by the end of his administration’s term in office, the inflation rate in the country will be down to a single-digit figure.

Following the nuclear deal, Rouhani’s government predicts eight percent growth in 2016.

The Iranian president said if they reach this figure, then by 2021, Iran's assets will increase by 59 percent, and 20 years later the country's income will grow by 4-5 times.

However, Rouhani said the impacts of the removal of sanctions under the JCPOA will not be felt overnight.

He said the “sapling” that has been planted will take some time to bear fruit, emphasizing, however, that his administration will try to have such impacts come sooner.

The July 14 Vienna nuclear deal between P5+1 group countries (the U.S., France, UK, Germany, Russia and China) and Iran, have strengthened Rouhani’s positions inside the country as well as increased international prestige.

The Rouhani government’s achievement regarding the nuclear issue also gave a strong ‘hand’ to the moderate president if he eyes a run for the next presidential elections in 2017.