Ghani Nejad and Behkish: Concerned About Iran's Return to the Regional Economy

Mehdi Behkish and Moussa Ghani Nejad, two Iranian economists, emphasized in an editorial for the Donya-e-Eqtesad newspaper that the nuclear negotiations have reached their most sensitive stage. These economists expressed gratitude to the Iranian negotiating team and discussed the responsibilities of Iranians abroad and domestic reference groups to provide intellectual support for the negotiating team. In their joint note, Behkish and Ghani Nejad called for the establishment of campaigns to neutralize opposing actions hindering the nuclear negotiations. According to these economists, these campaigns can take various forms depending on individuals' circumstances. They stressed that everyone should assist the government at this critical stage to ensure success. They explained that the economic conditions in Iran, particularly in the employment sector, have been affected by over thirty years of limitations such as war and sanctions, leading to a decrease in the country's economic activities in the region. It is natural that neighboring countries like Turkey, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia have filled the void left by Iran's economy during these years. Now that the possibility of Iran returning to its rightful place is emerging, it can be expected that some neighbors may be concerned. Behkish and Ghani Nejad noted that these neighbors are not worried about an atomic bomb but are more likely seeking excuses to prevent Iranians from participating in the political and economic arenas of the region. Acknowledging internal political disagreements in Iran, they concluded their note by emphasizing that the current circumstances necessitate postponing disagreements to another time and that everyone should support the nuclear negotiating team to restore the country to the conditions that the Iranian people deserve. Mohammad Reza Pourabrahimi, a member of the Economic Commission of the Parliament, described 'resistance economy' as 'an economic necessity for the pillars of the system' in a note written for the Etemad newspaper. According to this parliamentarian, 'it can be hoped that if the general policies of the resistance economy are implemented, the economic situation of the country will transform, and development will be on a smoother path.' Pourabrahimi referred to a section of the resistance economy policies that emphasizes the judiciary's duties to combat economic corruption, stating that 'the judiciary must provide hope for economic activists and those engaged in healthy economic work while instilling fear and anxiety in corrupt individuals who prioritize their interests over the system's interests.' In conclusion, this parliamentarian emphasized that 'alongside international negotiations, efforts must be made to strengthen the national economy so that Iran can develop as quickly as possible and reduce the country's problems.' Ali Dadpay, an economist and university professor, addressed the currency market and its reactions in a note for the Jahan San'at newspaper. He stated that in an oil-rich country like Iran, whose economy is dependent on oil, 'the exchange rate in the free market is influenced by government policies, which are in turn dependent on oil prices and changes in demand for currency.' Dadpay predicted that the currency market would experience fluctuations leading to higher prices for various currencies in the remaining weeks of the year, attributing the potential increase in currency prices to the rise in demand for currency due to Iranians traveling to neighboring countries during the Nowruz holiday. He also highlighted the potential of Iran to attract foreign tourists and suggested that 'it is time to activate the country's advertising apparatus to attract tourists during these days so that we do not only witness the outflow of currency and the increase in the dollar price during the holiday.' He implicitly advised the government not to worry about the potential increase in currency prices in recent weeks and not to attempt to control prices by injecting foreign reserves that should meet the endless needs of Iran's economy. Jamshid Pejvakin, an economist and faculty member at Allameh Tabatabai University, described economic growth as one of the most important issues in economics that all governments pursue but emphasized that achieving economic growth is not easy. He stated that 'if microeconomic variables do not perform well, growth cannot be achieved, and consequently, people will not enjoy relative welfare.' He predicted that Iran's economic growth next year would be around zero percent or even negative. Pejvakin continued that 'if sanctions are suddenly lifted and Iran's oil regains its previous customers, acceptable economic growth can be achieved.' He criticized the daily growth of a single-product economy, stating that 'when the country's economy relies on oil revenues, this result is not unexpected.' In conclusion, he emphasized that 'as long as we do not use the correct economic tools in policymaking and do not address inefficiencies in the economy and low productivity of inputs, we should expect unemployment and a decrease in welfare in society.'