Implementing the Supreme Leader’s command for recovery through a “Year of Domestic Production”, the Rouhani Government has forbidden imports by its agencies.
The Cabinet declared on Sunday that Iranian products must be supported through a ban on the purchase of foreign goods which have domestic equivalents.
The Industry Minister also reported to colleagues on a structure to support Iranian production of “competitive goods”.
The Government is walking a fine economic line over Ayatollah Khamenei’s edict, issued last week in two speeches for the Iranian New Year. Concerned about consequences of tariffs, including inflation and damaged links with Iran’s trading partners, Vice President Hossein Ali Amiri ruled out a general imposition of import duties.
Meanwhile, President Hassan Rouhani maintained the rheotrical support for Khamenei, in a meeting with executives, P“It is the duty of manufacturers to act in a way to make the consumers prefer domestic products.”
Although the Iranian economy grew 6.5% in 2016-17, almost all of the boost was from oil exports after the implementation of the nuclear deal with the 5+1 Powers in January 2016. Rising unemployment, income inequality, failing banks, and claims of mismanagement and corruption spurred nationwide protests in January.
