Rohani criticizes government’s use of oil revenues
Published: Tuesday, November 18, 2008
20:10GMT—3:10PM/EST
ROHANI – ECONOMY – OIL – CRITICISM
Washington, 18 November (IranVNC)—Hojjatoleslam Hasan Rohani, the head of the Center for Strategic Studies at Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council and member of the Assembly of Experts, today criticized the government over its use of the country’s oil revenues.
Speaking today at the Second Young Industrial Producers’ Conference, Rohani said that the government failed to properly employ the windfall revenues from record breaking oil prices last summer.
“Unfortunately, not only did the unprecedented increase in oil prices not resolve the country’s problems, rather it increased [them],” Rohani was quoted by the Iran Labor News Agency [ILNA] as saying.
Oil prices hit record highs of $147 per barrel last July, but have since fallen nearly 60 percent to below $56. Oil revenues account for an estimated 80% of Iran’s foreign exchange revenues.
“The increase in revenues is not important, rather the management of financial resources is important,” Rohani told those in attendance.
He added: “… Oil revenues are not the government’s revenues to spend in any manner it wants, rather it is the nation’s wealth and for all generations.”
Iran’s heavy dependence on oil revenues has also stifled opportunities in other aspects of the economy, Rohani noted.
“Unfortunately, the oil economy does not permit production in the country to gain life,” he said.
Rohani has been a vocal critic of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s economic policies. Last month, he slammed the government for drawing from the treasury reserve, which was created with the goal of creating stability in the country’s revenues.
While he has not announced whether he will run in the country’s presidential election next June, Farda News has reported that his campaign headquarters has been formed.
Source: ILNA in Persian
© IranVNC 2008. All rights reserved.