Renewed Call for Boosting Domestic Production

Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei renewed a call for bolstering domestic production in economic and cultural sectors.

Ayatollah Khamenei made the call on Monday in a meeting with war veterans and organizers of tours to battle zones of the 1980-88 Iraq-imposed war, a transcript of his remarks carried by Leader.ir said.

The Leader blamed those who exposed the weaknesses of national economy, which were seized upon by western countries to impose economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

"Some people are partly to blame for the current serious economic challenges facing the country by making a mistake of highlighting economic weaknesses and giving the enemy the idea of using those weak points to increase its pressure," he said.

The sanctions were to be lifted under the 2015 nuclear agreement with major powers in return for curbing Tehran's nuclear work. However, Iran has been dismayed over the lack of access to financing, funds and insurance facilities from abroad, which it needs to help jumpstart its sanctions-hit economy.

Residual US restrictions, including a ban on clearing Iran-related transactions through Washington's financial system, have made overseas banks and companies steer clear of deals with Iranians on fears of possible US retribution over any sanctions violation.

Ayatollah Khamenei stressed the need to tighten controls on imports to help prop up domestic production.

"Today the uncontrolled flow of imports and inefficient domestic production are among our country's [major] problems," he said.

He lamented the lack of sufficient cultural products that led to a rise in "cultural imports", which in turn has strengthened the hand of hostile governments in their "cultural war" against the Islamic Republic.

"A cultural invasion is more dangerous than military threats," he said. "The cultural invasion is meant to weaken our resolve and alienate our young generation."