A number of Iranian economic experts criticized President Hassan Rouhani for the corruption in the country and presented a package of proposals to tackle the country’s crisis.
Thirty-eight economists sent an open letter to the president proposing solutions to the problems, as well as listing the economy’s shortcomings, blaming Rouhani’s government for the public deficit, reported the reformist ILNA news agency.
The experts advised the president against rushing into launching the secondary market for foreign exchange and demanded ending the involvement of all military agencies and their affiliates in the Iranian economy.
They also suggested integrating government banks and the provision of security expenses through taxes limited to the general budget approved by parliament. They also recommended a special program to provide housing for people of low-income.
In the letter delivered to Rouhani’s office, the experts noted that "the current model of the Iranian economy is unproductive" and does not relate to the citizens. It added that Iran's economy has been plagued by "nepotism", criticizing the government's policy for managing the currency market.
The experts also slammed the policies adopted in the country over the past years, saying that "the majority of companies, factories and large economic centers had been acquired by the government and state agencies."
The petrochemical, steel, metallurgical, automotive and banking industries are the hardest hit by corruption and bribery, they charged.
The letter came as Rouhani said that he will accept a parliament summons for questioning over the poor economy.
Parliament had made the request last week, giving the president 30 days to comply.
“This can be a good opportunity to state the facts to the dear people of my country,” Rouhani added.
In March, 80 lawmakers had submitted their questions to Rouhani on five issues concerning the economic crisis, but the parliament's presidency only approved it last week.
In a related matter, Iran's deputy parliament speaker Ali Motahari questioned Rouhani’s courage, saying that if the president will state all the facts in parliament, then surely, his presence will be useful, however, “I don’t think he has the courage.”
Earlier, Motahari sent a letter to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, saying it should not be involved in political affairs.
He noted that taking the decision to negotiate or not with the US administration should not be determined by the military.
Spokesman for Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi responded to Motahari’s letter by asserting that the IRGC does not intervene in political issues, but rather acts in accordance to its legal jurisdiction.
He described the Corps "as one of the pillars of the regime's power,” reported the Fars news agency.
“Some Iranian officials are seeking to bow their heads to enemies and have the Iranian people be trampled by them, but we will not allow that."