Azerbaijan, Baku, June 11 /Trend S.Isayev
Iranian economy is in terrible situation and requires more than political slogans to get out of it, U.S. Northeastern University Professor Kamran Dadkhah told Trend.
With presidential elections in Iran coming up in a couple of days, Dadkhah noted that the presidential candidates only state generalities that anybody can say.
"Presidential candidates have only stated what they hope to achieve, that is, their economic objectives," he said. "For instance, they have said that they would control the inflation, stabilize the economy, or increase employment. These are all fine and good and nobody will argue with them."
Dadkhah noted that the candidates have not offered any concrete policies or plans to achieve these goals.
On June 14, Iranians will go to over 66,000 polling stations across the country to cast their votes for the 7 active presidential candidates.
"None of the candidates has shown any knowledge of economics nor have they introduced their economic advisers or consultants who could possibly answer specific questions," he underscored. "Therefore, these statements remain empty promises."
There are 6 candidates remaining active in the election race: Secretary of Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili, former Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Velayati, Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, President of the Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Council Hassan Rohani, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi.
"I do not think any of the candidates could fix Iran's economic problems," Dadkhah said. "A necessary condition for economic improvement is the reduction of tension with the United States, the West, and indeed with the world. This is necessary in order to lift the sanctions and for Iran to rejoin the world, earn oil revenues, expand its exports, and attract foreign investment and technology for its petroleum and other industries."
He noted that based on Iran's ower structure, the decision to come to terms with the United States and the world is outside the authority of the president.
"Therefore, the necessary condition to remedy Iran's economic problems will not be fulfilled," he said.
When asked who of the 7 candidates could be the best choice for presidency, based on their economic statements, the expert named Secretary of Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei.
"Rezaei explicitly stated that he favors a free enterprise economy in which the private sector is the main player and that he will get the government and the Revolutionary Guards out of business activities," Dadkhah said.
"But there are problems and shortcomings. First, I am not sure he can fulfill such a promise. On the other hand, he said that he will increase the direct subsidies to families to 110,000 tumans per month. He may not mean it and have said it only to play the populist role and attract votes," he noted. "Nevertheless, such a promise will haunt him and indeed it is a recipe for high inflation and economic disaster."
Over 420 journalists from 39 countries will be covering the presidential elections in the Islamic Republic of Iran, according to country's Public Relations and Information Center of Ministry of Culture.
Such countries as Azerbaijan, Germany, Australia, Russia, Japan, UK, UAE, France, Turkey, Iraq, Ukraine, USA, Syria, China will be covering the elections in Iran.
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