“Iran Is Known as Peace-Seeking Country”: President Rouhani

President Rouhani made the remarks in a press conference in the capital, Tehran, on Saturday, which marks the third anniversary of his administration taking office.

“Iran is now being known as a peace-seeking country in the world… Iranophobia is in very dire conditions; it is nearing its death despite efforts to resuscitate it,” the president said.

In opening remarks, President Rouhani said his administration, now half way through its term, has sought to avoid causing social gaps and to narrow existing ones.

The administration made efforts to soothe the market, contain the spiraling inflation, and end stagnation, he said.

The economic record of the administration, he said, has been an acceptable one despite such issues as the sharp fall in oil prices – from over 100 dpb to almost 40 dpb – and regional security concerns, which he said affect all countries as the world states are interconnected in terms of how they impact each other.

President Rouhani also said his administration has taken unprecedented steps to address the issue of water scarcity in the country.

Economy takes center stage

In response to a question about how the administration plans to strike a balance between “resistance economy” and the inflow of foreign businesses in order to avoid a situation where Iran is flooded by foreign goods and services, the Iranian president said the administration has been clear that, following the removal of the sanctions, it will want foreign countries to export investment and technology to Iran.

“A section of the [Iranian] market will be theirs and a section of the world market will be ours…; the commodities we need should be provided through [revenues from] non-oil exports; oil [revenues] must be confined to usage for investment,” he said.

Another question posed to the president was about the precise amount of Iranian funds frozen in foreign countries. The Iranian president said there are various figures depending on where the moneys belong to. The portion of frozen funds that belong to the administration is not a large one, he said.

Reversing brain drain

A foreign reporter asked what the administration’s plans are to prevent brain drain and enhance employment in the country in the coming months. President Rouhani highlighted the significance of the young – particularly educated – generation in Iran. He said he believed the young Iranian generation, whether residing in Iran or abroad, are hopeful about the country.

Specifically, he said the administration has taken measures to reverse the brain drain trend through “knowledge-based firms,” under which many experts return to Iran on a monthly basis.

‘No need for Parliament vote on JCPOA’

In response to a question about whether the administration would have the recent agreement between Iran and the P5+1 submitted to the Parliament (Majlis) for a vote, President Rouhani said under the Iranian Constitution, a treaty has to be submitted for approval or disapproval to the Parliament if it is been signed by the president or a representative of his.

That is not the case about the Iran-P5+1 agreement, Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Iranian president said.

He said the submission of the JCPOA to the Parliament would mean that the president would have to sign the JCPOA, an extra legal commitment that the administration has already avoided., PRESS TV  reports.