Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the solution to economic problems is "boosting domestic production" and it should not be sought in nuclear negotiations with the major powers.
"The key to solving economic problems is not in Lausanne, Geneva and New York (the venues where different rounds of nuclear talks have been held so far)," the Leader was quoted by IRNA as saying, noting, "It is inside the country."
"Everyone should carry out their responsibilities for bolstering domestic production as the sole remedy for economic problems."
He made the remarks in a meeting with workers on Wednesday, ahead of International Workers' Day, which is celebrated annually on May 1.
The Leader described improving domestic production as
"the backbone" of efforts to "solve the country's problems and realize (the objectives of) the resistance economy," stressing that progress should continue despite "sanctions and pressure."
"Some say under the current conditions of sanctions and pressure, it is impossible to create a boom in domestic production," he said, adding, "There is no doubt that cruel sanctions have contributed to problems. Sanctions and pressure, however, cannot block organized and planned collective efforts to boost domestic production."
Thanks to sanctions, Iran has made considerable progress in some fields because in the absence of sanctions, "we would probably have remained overly reliant on oil money and could not have made such achievements," Ayatollah Khamenei said, stressing, "focusing attention on production not only will help solve economic problems, but it will bring national honor and self-sufficiency as well."
An improved economy helps strengthen the position of negotiators in nuclear talks, he noted.
The Leader highlighted the factors contributing to domestic production, calling on local investors to back the production sector.
Underlining the need to mount a "decisive campaign" against the smuggling of goods, he urged the government to exercise stricter supervision over imports.
Elsewhere, Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to the issue of corruption, again reminding officials that it is time they translated their words into action in the fight against corruption.
Criticizing repeated promises made by officials to tackle corruption, which have not been fulfilled, he said they should back up their words with action, adding, "The officials are not newspapers to just talk of corruption. They must take action and combat corruption in the true sense of the word."
