Foreign Ministry Prioritizes Resistance Economy Goals

The Foreign Ministry's top priority in the current Iranian year (started March 21) is to assist the government in boosting domestic production and improving the employment rate, in line with the concept of Resistance Economy.

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's top diplomat, made the announcement on Monday while addressing a gathering of Foreign Ministry officials in Tehran, IRNA reported.

Resistance Economy is a set of principles aimed at curbing the economy's dependence on oil export revenues, improving productivity and reducing the government role in the economy, to make the country immune to economic wars waged by foreign powers.

It was first raised by the Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in 2011, and he designated the current year after "Resistance Economy: Production and Employment" in his New Year message on March 20.

It was similar to the previous year's motto, "Resistance Economy: Action and Implementation".

Zarif noted that if the capital required for boosting production and marketing of Iranian products is limited to the domestic market, the Iranian nation's demand, particularly for a higher employment rate, cannot be accommodated.

"We have a duty to help prepare the ground for realizing this year's goals ... On this path, we should define and pursue objectives, the most important of which is to continue efforts to remove foreign obstacles. The [July 2015] nuclear deal [with world powers] was within this framework to eliminate external obstacles and unlock domestic potentials," he said.

Zarif stressed the need to improve Iran's relations with other countries, particularly those in the region and neighbors, and boost interaction with the world.

"We should facilitate imports in three sectors of science and technology, capital and tourism, and help boost exports of non-oil products, technical and engineering services and skilled workforce".

  Follow-Up on Nuclear Deal

The foreign minister said following up the implementation of the nuclear deal with a view to advancing Resistance Economy is among the main objectives of the Foreign Ministry.

"Our efforts for [the full] implementation of the deal may be greater than efforts to finalize the nuclear deal", he said.

Since the January 2016 implementation of the deal, Iranian officials have complained that Tehran is not receiving the economic benefits expected under the deal, mainly due to US infringements.

Zarif also said the US reluctance to fulfill its commitments under the nuclear deal was not unpredictable and both sides of the deal negotiated it without relying on trust.

"Our 'snapback' mechanism is much easier than the other side's," he said, adding that Iran will be quick to take back its nuclear program to pre-deal levels, whenever the system decides that the US lack of commitment has amounted to non-performance.

"However, I believe such a thing would be very unlikely," he said.

US President Donald Trump, who had raised doubts about the future of the deal by promising to dismantle it in election campaigns, has apparently backed off from the threat.

Zarif said improving the region's security is among other important objectives of the Foreign Ministry.

"The political and security atmosphere should not only prevent the flight of domestic capital and push it toward domestic production, but it should also encourage foreign investors to come to Iran," he said.

"A secure region is our priority. Because of our national interests, we seek security for every single country and it is now a national need".