Rouhani: Private Sector Could Help Nullify US Sanctions

President Hassan Rouhani has called on the private sector to play a serious role in the economy, stressing that his government will ensure the business community benefits from the resources of the National Development Fund of Iran–the country’s sovereign wealth fund. 
“The first thing that we need to take on is the divestiture of [state] enterprises as we need an active private sector to strip the US of its main pressure tool,” Rouhani was quoted as saying by his official website during a meeting with the country’s businesspeople late Sunday. 
“Americans today and only in appearance claim that their intention is to pressure the Iranian government and help the Iranian people. But if we can have an active private sector, this strategy will fail because putting pressure on our country’s private sector is more difficult for them than pressuring the government sector.”