Hassan Rouhani Forecasts Economic Growth Rate of Five Percent for Next Year

Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, predicted on Wednesday that the economic growth rate of Iran will reach five percent next year. Speaking to the people of Shahriar, he referred to the budget figure of 267 trillion tomans for the upcoming year and emphasized that the budget's dependence on oil revenues has decreased to 25 percent, with 75 percent of the budget's required resources being sourced from non-oil revenues. Rouhani also noted a 90 percent increase in development budgets for the year compared to this year's budgets, adding that many unfinished projects will be completed. While Rouhani has predicted a five percent economic growth rate for the next solar year, the latest report from the International Monetary Fund indicates that Iran's economy will fluctuate between negative half a percent and positive half a percent in 2016. In another part of his speech, Rouhani highlighted the decrease in inflation rates since the current administration took office, citing a report from the Statistical Center of Iran that indicated the point-to-point inflation rate in December has become single-digit, reaching 9.9 percent. Rouhani's statements come as 100 members of parliament warned the President and the Minister of Economy about the 'deep and unprecedented' recession affecting the country's economy. Masoud Khansari, the head of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture, had previously stated that the 'largest' recession in the last 35 years is currently impacting Iran's economy. The Iranian President noted that the implementation of the JCPOA has reached its final point and emphasized that 'with the breaking of the chains of sanctions and the opening of Iran's economic doors to the world, we will witness economic prosperity in Iran.' Rouhani also dedicated part of his Wednesday speech to the upcoming elections for the Assembly of Experts and the Islamic Consultative Assembly, expressing hope that 'the effects of the enthusiasm, awareness, and sentiments of the great and revolutionary people of Iran, which began in early December, will be witnessed at the ballot boxes in early March.' The President underscored that 'officials will pay attention to the people's voting rights and the ballot boxes in accordance with the Supreme Leader's guidance.' According to the Iranian President, 'the system has fulfilled its promise to the people and has governed the country based on the agreement made with the people through their votes.' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, had emphasized in a speech in September 2015 that 'the people's vote is, in the truest sense, a right of the people.' In the same speech, the Supreme Leader described the 'effective and supervisory oversight of the Guardian Council' as part of this 'right of the people.' In this context, Rouhani called on the Ministry of Intelligence to comply with the law and maintain neutrality in the qualification review process. He emphasized the importance of the participation of women candidates in the elections. Implicit warnings from Hashemi regarding the integrity of the Assembly and Experts elections were noted, as well as the candidacy of high-ranking Iranian officials on the sixth day of registration for the Assembly of Experts. 66 trillion tomans of the general budget resources for 1395 will come from oil sales.