Iran’s economic problems only partly blamed on sanctions

Bloomberg: Iran’s economic difficulties are 20 percent the result of international sanctions, according to Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, the Iranian Students News Agency reported. Bloomberg

By Ladane Nasseri

Iran’s economic difficulties are 20 percent the result of international sanctions, according to Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, the Iranian Students News Agency reported.

Larijani, who didn’t elaborate on the figure, said Iran’s “main problem is economic,” the state-run news agency reported, adding that he made the comments in a meeting with clerics in Qom.

Iranian officials have hitherto played down and avoided quantifying the effects of trade, financial and energy sanctions imposed on the Persian Gulf country over its nuclear program.