Finance minister says Iran seeks 'resilient' economy
Iran's Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayebnia tells Al-Monitor that Iran is boosting non-oil exports, unifying its exchange rate and increasing the independence of its Central Bank and that remaining US sanctions are the main impediment to Iranian-American investment.
![GERMANY-IRAN/ German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel and Iranian economy minister Ali Tayebnia sign contracts during a conference in Tehran, Iran October 3, 2016. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke - RTSQIGL](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2016/10/RTSQIGL.jpg/RTSQIGL.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=ZHnZeXeY)
Iran is pursuing a “resilient economy” that is less dependent on oil, has reduced nonperforming loans in its banking sector and is anticipating European participation in financing a landmark Boeing deal, according to Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayebnia.
In an interview with Al-Monitor on Oct. 7 on the sidelines of the fall meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), Tayebnia gave an upbeat account of reforms undertaken since the inauguration of President Hassan Rouhani in 2013. But Tayebnia, like Rouhani and other Iranian officials, accused the United States of not completely fulfilling its promises under last year’s landmark nuclear deal and suggested that the United States should do more to facilitate Iran’s return to the international financial system.