Rohani Tells Iranians To Expect Economic Boom

Iranian President Hassan Rohani (file photo)

Iranian President Hassan Rohani says his country will face new conditions once the sanctions are removed, which he suggested could happen in the coming months.

Rohani spoke several hours after Iran's parliament approved an agreement reached in July with world powers that significantly limits Tehran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.

There were 59 votes against and 13 abstentions in the conservative-dominated parliament where the vote angered some hard-line lawmakers, including one who reportedly left the floor in tears.

The bill will now have to be ratified by the Guardian Council, which reviews all parliamentary legislation before it becomes law.

"What has remained regarding the [nuclear agreement] is the vote of the Guardian Council, after that the government will have to [implement] it," Rohani said on Iran's state television on October 13.

The agreement and its adoption by the parliament is a major victory for Rohani who has promised to revive Iran’s economy, which has been going downhill as the result of crippling sanctions and mismanagement.

Speaking in a live televised interview, the Iranian president said compatriots should expect a "major economic boom."

He said the uptick in commerce would happen "not only because sanctions will be removed, and not only because the resistive economy will be implemented, but because of the hope and participation our nation has in the economy."

The "resistive economy" is a phrase commonly used by the Iranian authorities to describe plans to wean the country of its heavy dependence on oil revenue through fiscal belt tightening, increased industrial output, and the strengthening of science to boost technological innovation.

Rohani went on to say that the nuclear deal would open Iran to new economic opportunities.

"After the sanctions relief, we will enter a competitive international atmosphere," he said while adding that the deal will create "new activities and more cooperation with the world."

Rohani also noted that in recent weeks there has been an "influx" of foreign delegations visiting Iran with an eye on potential future business after the sanctions are lifted.

"Every day 10 to 20 companies have been coming to Iran," Rohani said.

He said the visits of foreign delegations to Tehran are a sign that there will be "different economic conditions in the future."