VP comments on post-sanctions situation

Tehran, May 12, IRNA – First Vice-President Eshanq Jahangiri said the country needs to take special care after the removal of sanctions. He said this is due to the fact that general atmosphere in the country will become more promising and people will start to develop new expectations. “We should be careful not to let demands increase irregularly. Now we notice in the media that they occasionally mention $130 billion blocked assets of Iran will be released. I should say they really are not informed as this is not true at all. Foreign media also are not aware of the issue. Only we are aware of the case.” Jahangiri was making the remark in response to a question posed by IRNA on predictions of foreign media and economists that after sanctions due to the money that will be injected to Iran, an economic leap will take place which will have immense effect on Iran’s regional and international power. He said the meaning of the country’s reserves is that, “we have sold oil whether its money has returned to the country or not. The Central Bank has purchased dollar from the government and has given it rial instead. We annually receive rial and spend it for the administration of the country and these are the reserves of the Central Bank or the National Development Fund.” The first vice-president also referred to the case of India which is indebted $7 billion to Iran. He said this is that part of government’s money which is not sold to the Central Bank yet and as soon as it is released, it will be a help to the government’s budget. “But the question is whether this amount of money is at our disposal. This is not true and the figures are not that much…”