Aref: The other side must stop the wrong policy of sanctions and threats

According to Ashura News, quoted by Mehr News Agency, Mohammad Reza Aref, in a Nowruz meeting with a group of political, cultural and media activists and elites this morning (Thursday), emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran and its people have never been intimidated by the threats and conspiracies of the country's enemies and ill-wishers, and stated: Iran has always welcomed the path of negotiation and interaction, and the other side must also stop the wrong policy of sanctions and threats.

The First Vice President also referred to the country's problems, including the imbalances when the "National Accord" government came to power, and said: The President, by creating coordination between sympathizers of the system and state and government officials from all different spectrums, with a long-term view and with great moral qualities, character and capacity, tried to manage the country's affairs in the best way, in addition to forming the government cabinet after the elections.

He listed relative stability in the economy, resolving imbalances, increasing foreign interactions and expanding trade with neighboring countries, including important regional alliances and agreements, resolving livelihood problems, especially for vulnerable groups and the lower deciles, and the proper implementation of the Seventh Progress Plan as the most important strategies of the 14th government. Regarding the government's plans and measures for relative stability in the country's economy, he said: The economic structural reform program, with priority on resolving the livelihood problems of the people, especially the vulnerable groups and the lower deciles, has been implemented, operationalized, and followed up in the past six months, which showed its effects well in the calmness of the market in the final weeks of Esfand last year and during the Nowruz holidays.

In another part of his speech, the First Vice President referred to various imbalances in the country in the energy, economic, and livelihood sectors of the people, and emphasized: The government has taken measures and plans to resolve the country's imbalances, especially in the energy sector, in this short period of time.

Referring to the government's economic team's plans to curb inflation, the First Vice President stated: "With the measures taken, we have had a good drop in the inflation index in recent months compared to the same period last year."

He continued: "The Seventh Plan is a good progress in terms of provisions and structural reforms, but to achieve the goals of this plan, including eight percent growth, solving the housing and livelihood problems of the people, and single-digit inflation, we need to secure financial resources, which were not available at the time of drafting this plan. According to government forecasts, $150 billion in investment is needed in this area. Fortunately, after the Supreme Leader named this year "Investment for Production" and with the government's assurance and guarantees to the private sector and investors, there has been a good reception for domestic investment in the country in the 14th government."

Emphasizing that we currently have the best relations with the countries of Central Asia, the Eurasian Union, and the Persian Gulf, Aref added: The Islamic Republic of Iran's membership in the Eurasian Union as an observer member, active presence in the ECO organization, as well as important regional and international treaties and institutions, expanding interactions with Central Asian countries, and increasing ties with the Persian Gulf countries have been among the foreign policy measures of the 14th government in the past six months. In official meetings with heads and officials of foreign countries, especially the Persian Gulf countries, they have repeatedly expressed their interest in strengthening and deepening relations between them.

The First Vice President said: Today, all the countries of the region have reached the important conclusion that the security and peace of the region depend on good relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Persian Gulf countries have always emphasized good, cordial, and bilateral relations with Iran.