Khamenei Expresses Doubt About Government's Economic Improvement Statistics

After the criticism from the Chairman of the Assembly of Experts regarding the Rouhani administration's performance in 'resistant economy', the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic also expressed doubt about the accuracy of government statistics on the improvement of people's economic conditions, stating that 'these do not affect people's lives and livelihoods in the short and medium term.' According to the official news agency of the Islamic Republic, IRNA, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Thursday, March 9, during a meeting with members of the Assembly of Experts, said that in 2015, there was no 'desirable movement' regarding the 'resistant economy', and for this reason, he designated 2016 as the year of 'resistant economy, action and implementation.' He added, 'Of course, government officials have done significant work in this area, but this is only part of the necessary work.' The Supreme Leader claimed that 'if all necessary actions regarding the resistant economy had been taken, there would have been a noticeable difference in the country's economic situation and people's lives.' Two days before Khamenei's remarks, Ahmad Jannati, the Chairman of the Assembly of Experts and Secretary of the Guardian Council, had asked the President to provide a report to the people on the implementation of 'resistant economy' and to show 'the work done on the ground and not just through words.' He also requested that Hassan Rouhani apologize to the people if he had not acted on the resistant economy. The day after Khamenei's comments, Rouhani responded to the question of whether the government had succeeded in the 'resistant economy' by calling it 'an irrelevant question' and 'the worst question.' Rouhani stated, 'We are definitely victorious in the resistant economy. Because we have a great nation, an efficient government, and an enlightened and aware leadership that guides us, and the people are present, and the government is fulfilling its duties.' Khamenei expressed doubt about the government's statistics, stating, 'I have also told the respected President that expressing macroeconomic indicators is good, of course, if the statistics are not questionable, but in any case, these do not affect people's lives and livelihoods in the short and medium term.' Khamenei emphasized that 'we must act in matters such as production, employment, and genuinely eliminating recession... in such a way that people can fully feel its impact in their lives, but currently, this is not the case.' The Supreme Leader's doubt about the statistics provided by Rouhani's government comes at a time when he had strongly criticized the doubts of critics regarding the statistics of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government in 2009 and the labeling of the President as a liar. Rouhani's government officials cite cases such as a seven percent economic growth and a single-digit inflation rate as evidence of improved economic conditions for the people compared to the early days of this administration. The International Monetary Fund has also announced that Iran's GDP has grown by over seven percent and has emerged from recession. However, some analysts and media outlets report that economic growth has not yet had a significant impact on the living conditions of the Iranian people. It seems that the Supreme Leader agrees with this group and also with Ahmad Jannati. In another part of his remarks on Thursday, Khamenei referred to attracting foreign investment as 'a positive action,' but at the same time stated that 'so far, a small amount of foreign agreements have been realized, so we should not sit and wait for their investments.' He emphasized that 'the resistant economy, with solid intellectual and theoretical foundations, is the only remedy for the country's problems and must be implemented.' Khamenei has repeatedly emphasized that the results of the visits of European governments and companies and their negotiations with Iran after the Vienna nuclear agreement 'have not been felt so far.' In contrast, Hassan Rouhani on Sunday, October 24, referred to critics of the Vienna nuclear agreement as 'a group of children' who do not have the 'patience' to achieve the results of this agreement and stated that they cannot 'dishearten the Iranian nation with their incorrect words.' Khamenei also stated on Thursday that in times of 'differences of opinion and different tastes on the main issues of the country,' it is necessary to refer to 'the foundations and principles and certainties of the Islamic system.' He listed 'the realization of Islamic laws, even gradually,' 'not retreating from the implementation of Islamic laws,' and 'fighting against arrogance and not trusting it' as 'certainties of the Islamic system.' The Supreme Leader emphasized that 'fighting is not only military confrontation but also has various cultural, intellectual, political, and security dimensions.' He mentioned 'abstaining from tendencies towards elitism,' 'great concern for the weak classes,' 'populism and trust in the people,' 'justice-seeking,' 'standing against oppression and corruption,' 'national self-confidence and national dignity,' 'feeling cultural superiority,' and 'not being humiliated in the face of foreign culture' as other 'foundations and certainties of the system.' Khamenei added, 'We should not feel weakness and inferiority in culture, but we should always feel cultural superiority.' He described 'strong, aggressive, and logic-based confrontation' as 'the fundamental way to neutralize the plans and conspiracies of the arrogant front' and added, 'We must have an offensive stance in all areas, including human rights, terrorism, and war crimes against the West.' After the Vienna nuclear agreement, the Supreme Leader has repeatedly warned about America's efforts to 'infiltrate decision-making and decision-making centers' in Iran and 'political, cultural, and security infiltration' and has called on institutions like the Revolutionary Guards to confront this issue. Khamenei on Tuesday, April 2, elaborated on some examples of changes in the lifestyle of the Iranian people and criticized this trend during a meeting with a group of teachers. He also called for the 'reconstruction' of Iran's educational system and criticized the promotion of 'unhealthy' English language in educational institutions. In contrast, after the arrest of four journalists last November on charges of being 'members of a Western government infiltration network,' several individuals close to Hassan Rouhani, including Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, and Ali Motahari, a representative from Tehran in Parliament, warned about 'political settling of scores' and 'the factional use of the issue of infiltration.'