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In tonight’s program of Behind the Headlines during the Christmas holidays, we will look at the following stories:
While people in Western countries are being offered cheap sales items in major shopping malls during the festivities, the cost of living in Iran is rising and rising.
What are the effects of the current sanctions on ordinary Iranians’ lives as Rouhani claims that the sanctions have actually given a boost to Iran’s economy!
And the strike in major Iranian industries still continue…
Our gusts tonight are economist Reza Taghizadeh and Dr. Ali Rashidi, a member of Iran’s National Front Party.
Reza Taghizadeh:
In his submission of the next year’s budget to the Majles, Rouhani has indirectly criticised the Iranian people for protesting against the regime and claimedthis gave the US an excuse to leave the nuclear deal.
However, the realities of Iran’s socio-political life say something different. The people’s protest has been against the rampant corruption within the regime that had been building up for 40 years and the country’s bankrupted economy.
Theregime has also blamed the US and Saudis for instigating protests on the streets of Iran, deliberately ignoring the fact that the roots of the Iranian people’s protests are internal.
Dr. Ali Rashidi:
Thedeviations from a sound economy, justice and banking systems in Iran began from the first day that this regime came to power.
While the population of Iran has doubled since 1980s, the country’s economy has only had a 1.5-2 percent growth. We have millions of unemployed people and the value of the national currency has taken a free fall.
Privatizations have only led to more corruption and nepotism and the new ruling elite has confiscated the wealth of Iran’s milled class and impoverished millions of working class people.
