PHOTO: President Rouhani with Grand Ayatollah Javadi Amoli on Friday

In a series of meetings with Grand Ayatollahs on Friday, Iran’s President Rouhani assured that his Government will bring economic recovery after years of sanctions, mismanagement, and corruption.

Rouhani told the clerics, “Addressing and paying attention to people’s living conditions is the government’s top priority.”

The President implicitly said that the Government’s negotiation of the July 2015 nuclear deal is the catalyst for progress, “Today with the government’s efforts, there is a good opportunity and atmosphere for economic activities and interaction with foreign countries.”

Despite the implementation of the deal in January, Rouhani faces a series of challenges. Inflation is still about 15%, production is struggling to recover, and negotiations are ongoing over essential foreign investment.

The Government will soon present its 2016/17 budget, which was supposed to be tabled in December, to Parliament. A National Development Plan for 2016-2020 must also be approved.

Economic plans have been boosted by the recovery in Iran’s oil exports, which have risen by 60% to about 2 million barrels per day since January. However, the US has maintained and extended some sanctions on Tehran, and European companies and banks have been deterred from renewing links with Tehran because of fears of American penalties.

The Supreme Leader warned in late March that the Government must not show weakness to a dishonest US and cautioned that his office could take oversight of the economy.

Rouhani assured the Grand Ayatollahs on Friday, “The government is doing its utmost to mitigate people’s problems and will continue doing so despite all obstacles.”

He set a goal of a 5% growth rate this year.

Iran’s economy, which contracted by 4.6% just before Rouhani took office in August 2013, has been stagnant since then.

Zarif Calls on US to Implement Nuclear Deal Fully

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Saturday that the US should fully implement the nuclear deal to ensure Iran’s restoration of economic and financial links.

On Thursday US Secretary of State John Kerry and the foreign ministers of France, Britain, and Germany said European businesses and banks will not be punished for dealing with Iran: “We will not stand in the way of permitted business activity with Iran, and we will not stand in the way of international firms or financial institutions engaging with Iran, as long as they follow all applicable laws.”

Speaking at a joint press conference with New Zealand counterpart Murray McCully, Zarif responded, “The statement released by the US Secretary of State John Kerry and foreign ministers of three European states in New York indicated that the governments abide by their JCPOA [nuclear deal] commitments. However, they are expected to take practical steps as well.”

Zarif continued, “We have not yet achieved what we were supposed to do and more steps should be taken by the US.”