Rouhani on Economic Situation: Talk Therapy is Not Very Effective, Hope Therapy is Effective

The President of Iran, Hassan Rouhani, referred to the dire economic situation and the resulting despair among the people, stating: "Some say not to engage in talk therapy. Yes, talk therapy is not very effective, but hope therapy is effective. Today, society needs hope for tomorrow." Rouhani made these remarks on Sunday morning (October 14) during the inauguration ceremony of the academic year for universities and research and technology centers in Iran. In recent months, some officials and various domestic media in Iran have accused Rouhani of 'talk therapy' instead of practically solving economic problems, saying he should 'provide a plan instead of preaching and reporting problems.' The Iranian President added regarding these criticisms, "If you know a better solution, teach us. I have read several letters from university professors, but I have not been able to benefit much from them." Rouhani said on Sunday: "I do not want to say that people do not have problems. You may see the prices of goods once a week or every two weeks, but as President, I see the list of prices every day and know how people's lives are, especially those with fixed salaries." He added: "In the face of problems and new conditions, we should not succumb to the circumstances. We must give each other hope and help one another." Referring to the start of U.S. oil sanctions against Iran on November 4, he also said: "There is no such thing as November 4 to worry the people; it is all propaganda." Meanwhile, according to Tasnim News Agency, an 'illegal' gathering against Rouhani took place in front of the Shahid Amini Hall at Tehran University, where 'students affiliated with Rouhani's supporting organization protested against the inefficiency of the government and some ministers, the failure to fulfill election promises, and the security situation in universities.' According to this news agency, these students chanted slogans such as 'They cut our voices and flaunt with our votes,' 'Rouhani, listen to the voice of the nation,' 'Vaezi, resign, resign,' and 'Incompetent minister, resign, resign,' protesting the performance of the twelfth government. The United States withdrew from the nuclear agreement with six world powers on May 8 this year and reinstated new sanctions against Iran in mid-August. The new round of oil sanctions will also take effect on November 4. This process has exacerbated the economic situation in Iran, causing the national currency to plummet, which has fueled inflation. The U.S. has stated that the way out of this situation is to resume negotiations with the Islamic Republic officials to change their foreign policy, but Ayatollah Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, has prohibited negotiations with the U.S. This has led many in Iran to speak of a deadlock in the prospects for improving the economic and political situation. Senior officials of the Islamic Republic have consistently dismissed this view as incorrect and encourage the people to remain hopeful. Ali Khamenei also acknowledged the existence of 'economic pressure' on October 4, stating: 'But we do not have a deadlock.' Rouhani accused U.S. officials of seeking regime change in Iran, saying: 'The regime change they speak of is pursued through delegitimization, which they pursue through psychological warfare, economic warfare, and issues of efficiency.' Rouhani stated that 'in the history of America, there has never been a team more hostile than the current White House team towards Iran, Iranians, and the Islamic Republic system.' He stated: 'They started their work with psychological warfare, and economic warfare is their mid-term goal. The war for the efficiency of the system is their third goal, and the ultimate goal is to delegitimize the system.' These statements from the Iranian President come at a time when several senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Advisor John Bolton, and Defense Secretary James Mattis, have repeatedly stated that Washington is not seeking regime change in Iran. John Bolton recently emphasized that the U.S. policy is not 'regime change in Iran' but 'we are looking for fundamental changes in the behaviors of this regime.' Mike Pompeo stated during a session in the U.S. Congress that the Trump administration's pressure is not for regime change in Iran but in line with this 'global consensus' on how to compel Tehran to 'act like a normal country.' Defense Secretary James Mattis also stated in June that his administration has no policy to pursue regime change or internal collapse in Iran, and all planned actions are reactions to Iran's threatening behavior in the Middle East. However, Rudy Giuliani, President Trump's lawyer, stated on Saturday, September 22, at a meeting of the 'Organization of Iranian Communities in America' that U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran would lead to a 'successful revolution' in the country. Besides Hassan Rouhani, other officials of the Islamic Republic, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Friday prayer leaders, and military commanders, also accuse the U.S. of trying to overthrow the Islamic Republic and say that this 'wish' will never be realized.