Iran Economic News Headlines - May 22

1. Deputy Agriculture Minister Hossein Shirzad: Iran’s stockpiles of essential goods in reserve are enough to last for at least six months with absolutely no need for imports. This is while resources are constantly being replenished. (IRNA)
2. Mohammad Reza Bahraman, the head of Iran’s Mine House: US sanctions against Iran's metal industries are easily manageable [surmountable]. (ISNA)
3. Chairman of Majlis Economic Commission Mohammad Reza Pour-Ebrahimi: Prospective structural reforms in the budget will nullify the effect of US oil sanctions in the coming years. (IRIB News) 
4. President Hassan Rouhani: The development of highways and freeways in border areas and expansion of railroads should be on the agenda of relevant institutions to further develop border trade. (Mehr News Agency)
5. Vice President of Iran Electrical Industry Syndicate Payam Baqeri: Iran has the potential to become the regional hub for electricity [export]. (IRNA)
6. South Korean Ambassador to Iran Ryu Jeong-hyun: The South Korean Embassy in Tehran will do all it can to not only expand economic relations with Iran, but also to increase cultural and people-to-people contacts. (Tasnim News Agency)
7. Mohammad Rastad, the head of Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran: Last [fiscal] year’s non-oil exports from Shahid Rajaee Port, Iran’s biggest container port at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, were twice the import volume. (Mehr News Agency)
8. Deputy Industries Minister Khodadad Gharibpour: The latest estimates are that Iran’s mining sector needs €18 billion in investments, of which €7 billion are needed for infrastructures. (IRNA)
9. Hossein Ali Abdolhay, the deputy head of Iran Fisheries Organization: With ongoing cooperation of Food and Agriculture Organization and Norway with Iran, the country will become self-sufficient in the production of eyed trout eggs within the next four years. (IRNA)
10. Isa Kalantari, the head of the Department of Environment: Our generation was not good guardians of Nature, as we sought to promote manufacturing and job creation at all cost. (ILNA) 
11. Cooperatives Minister Mohammad Shariatmadari: No official in the Cooperatives Ministry holds two positions. (IRNA)
12. Kazem Khavazi, the head of Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization: Iran will play a bigger role in the Convention on Biological Diversity. (Mehr News Agency)
13. Mostafa Qoli-Khosravi, the head of Tehran Association of Realtors: Real estate agents should not be blamed for housing inflation. (Mehr News Agency)
14. Jamshid Ansari, the head of Administrative and State Recruitment Organization: The government approves the establishment of trade ministry. (IRNA)