https://arab.news/p24y9
- Mohammad Mokhber鈥檚 first public speech since last week鈥檚 helicopter crash that killed his predecessor and seven others
- Asserts the country鈥檚 economy remains stable when Iran took military actions in Iraq, Israel and Pakistan
TEHRAN: Iran鈥檚 acting President Mohammad Mokhber addressed the country鈥檚 new parliament Monday in his first public speech since last week鈥檚 helicopter crash that killed his predecessor and seven others.
His speech comes as Iran prepares for a presidential election to replace the late Ebrahim Raisi in just a month, a vote that could see the previously behind-the-scenes bureaucrat potentially run alongside others. Meanwhile, Iran鈥檚 new hard-line parliament is expected to select its new speaker Tuesday.
In his remarks, Mokhber praised Raisi鈥檚 time in office, noting that Iran鈥檚 crude oil production鈥� a key source of hard currency for the country 鈥� climbed to more than 3.6 million barrels a day. That comes after Oil Minister Javad Owji said Sunday that Iran was now exporting around 2 million barrels a day, despite Western sanctions targeting the Islamic Republic.
Mokhber also asserted that the country鈥檚 economy remained stable under Raisi when Iran took military actions in Iraq, Israel and Pakistan in recent months.
鈥淭hree countries were hit. We hit Israel, people find that figures and indexes are the same in the morning when they wake up, price of hard currency is the same, inflation is the same, liquidity is the same and the market is full of people鈥檚 needs,鈥� Mokhber claimed. 鈥淭his strength, this settlement and this power is not a usual thing, they all were because of guidance by the supreme leader and the sincere efforts of Ayatollah Raisi.鈥�
The Iranian rial has tumbled from a rate of 32,000 rials to $1 at the time of Tehran鈥檚 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Today, it stands around 580,000 to $1 in the wake of the US鈥� unilateral withdrawal from the accord and a series of attacks on shipping in the Mideast, first attributed to Iran and later involving Yemen鈥檚 Houthi rebels as Israel鈥檚 war against Hamas on the Gaza Strip began over seven months ago.
On May 20, rescuers recovered the bodies of Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and others in a mountainous region in northwestern Iran following a fatal helicopter crash.
Iran will hold presidential elections on June 28 to replace Raisi. On Thursday, a five-day registration period for candidates will open. Analysts have suggested that Mokhber could be one of those to register.
Meanwhile, Monday marked the first day for Iran鈥檚 newly elected parliament, following a March election that saw the country鈥檚 lowest turnout since its 1979 Islamic Revolution. Of those elected to the 290-seat body, hard-liners hold over 230 seats, according to an Associated Press survey.
Iran鈥檚 parliament plays a secondary role in governing the country, though it can intensify pressure on a presidential administration when deciding on the annual budget and other important bills. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 85, has the final say in all important state matters.