A senior cleric said the July 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers has enabled the country to boost ties with foreign countries. "In a globalized village, having no contacts with foreign states ... will damage the economy of any country," IRNA quoted Chairman of the Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani as saying on Monday. The nuclear pact gave Iran sanctions relief in exchange for temporary curbs on its civilian nuclear activities. Rafsanjani was responding to domestic critics of the deal who believe it conceded too much to the other side and has not yet produced clear benefits.
