Nournews:The fifth meeting between the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and entrepreneurs and producers was held on Wednesday, focusing on the private sector amid intensified sanctions and economic threats. This meeting, alongside showcasing the encouraging achievements of the private sector under sanctions, revealed bitter realities about the performance of some executive and supervisory bodies. It provided a glimpse into the real state of the country’s producers, who is still a cause for concern due to the negligence of these institutions toward the private sector’s challenges.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the current state, the Leader issued a direct response to the ongoing problems. In reaction to one producer’s complaint about unresolved issues, he sorrowfully remarked, “I was truly ashamed!” This statement was not merely an expression of regret but a serious warning to officials who, instead of facilitating, have acted as obstacles.
In the meeting, the Leader criticized officials whose poor performance has exacerbated production obstacles, reiterating, “Officials must solve the problems. There’s a lot of talk, but actions are needed.” This key statement highlights the gap between rhetoric and action in many institutions. Despite years of the Leader’s emphasis on empowering the private sector, counterproductive behaviors such as restrictive regulations and unprofessional oversight persist, discouraging entrepreneurs from investing and creating jobs.
Referring to the ongoing economic war, he emphasized that the private sector is “the frontline commanders of the economic war” and added, “The country’s executive decision-making system must support the private sector. This is an obligation—it must offer support.” But have government and supervisory bodies received this clear message?
The Private Sector: Victim of Officials’ Inaction
The private sector, as the Leader emphasized, is “the frontline commanders of the economic war.” He pointed out the sector’s pivotal role in the country’s economy, stating, “The country’s executive decision-making system must support the private sector. This is an obligation—it must offer support.” Unfortunately, government and supervisory institutions, instead of paving the way, have become the biggest obstacles.
The Leader explicitly stated, “I see that in some areas, government or supervisory bodies play the role of speed bumps. Instead of helping companies progress and develop, they create hurdles that actually hinder progress.” These straightforward remarks highlight that the main issue lies not in resource shortages or lack of capacity but in officials’ negligence and mismanagement.
One clear example of this negligence is the failure to implement the policies of Article 44 of the Constitution. These policies, intended to free the country’s economy from state management, have been sidelined due to officials’ inattention. The Leader remarked, “Unfortunately, many relevant officials did not implement these policies. We are still grappling with this issue.” This negligence has not only stunted the country’s economic growth but also paved the way for the economic stagnation of the 2010s.
Sanctions: An Opportunity for Change
As Iran’s adversaries intensify sanctions in an attempt to weaken public morale, the Leader identified empowering the private sector and leveraging domestic capacities as the solution to render sanctions ineffective. He stated, “What a country under sanctions must do is focus more on its domestic capacities and make the most of them.”
Additionally, he stressed the importance of leveraging international opportunities, such as membership in organizations like BRICS, and described eliminating the dollar from trade exchanges as a “decisive and groundbreaking step.” The Leader presented this strategy as a tool to reduce economic dependence and strengthen the country’s independence. This emphasis serves as a warning to the country’s diplomatic and economic apparatus to act more diligently in seizing available opportunities.
Action Over Promises
In another part of his remarks, the Leader referred to the goal of achieving 8% economic growth and asserted, “Don’t say it’s impossible!” He emphasized that this goal is entirely achievable, and the solutions have already been identified. But once again, the question arises: Why, despite the abundance of solutions, are officials still unable to implement them?
Today, more than ever, the country needs practical action rather than rhetoric. If executive officials, instead of creating obstacles, lend a hand to entrepreneurs and remove barriers, the country’s production will undoubtedly flourish. As the Leader criticized fruitless promises, he declared, “There’s a lot of talk, but actions are needed.” It is now time for this message to resonate in the decision-making and actions of officials. Only with this approach can the country emerge victorious from the ongoing economic war.
NOURNEWS