Supreme Leader hails Iran’s private sector for ‘satisfactory progress’ despite sanctions, pressure

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has commended the performance of Iran’s private sector that has led to its “satisfactory progress,” despite extreme pressure and sanctions imposed by the West.

News ID: 5841

Date: 22 January 2025 - 11:48

TABNAK, Jan 22: Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in Tehran on Wednesday, during a meeting with a group of private sector manufacturers and economic figures.

The Leader pointed to an exhibition that has been held in the Iranian capital to showcase the achievements of the country's private sector, under the banner of “Pioneers of Progress, a National Event of the Capabilities and Achievements of the Private Sector.” The event was visited by Ayatollah Khamenei in person on Tuesday.

“Yesterday’s exhibition showed that the private sector has managed to reach an acceptable level of progress notwithstanding foreign pressures and sanctions and the threats of imposition of more sanctions,” the Leader stated.

Ayatollah Khamenei was referring to the illegal and unilateral economic measures that the United States and its Western allies began enforcing against the Islamic Republic in the aftermath of Washington’s illegal and unilateral departure from a 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers.

After imposing the sanctions, the Western trio of the UK, France, and Germany said they would pursue the US’s return to the deal, but stopped short of enabling the prospect.

The deal’s Western parties would, meanwhile, ramp up the sanctions at will in response to the legitimate retaliatory nuclear measures that Tehran has been taking in response to the Western non-commitment to contractual obligations.

The Leader, meanwhile, regretted that the country had failed to properly broadcast its achievements across various sectors in a way that would do its progress justice.

“We have fallen short in the area of [properly] displaying our instances of progress,” Ayatollah Khamenei noted.

The Leader, therefore, advised implementation of “important” media projects towards enabling proper presentation of the country’s advances to duly inform those seeking to engage in productive economic activity in the country, including youths and students.

Ayatollah Khamenei also encouraged similar media activism towards “realization of [the country’s] dreams.”

“This comprises a separate chapter, which entails [those responsible] sitting down and engaging in discussions and reflections in this area.”

Ayatollah Khamenei had named the Iranian calendar year of 1403, which ends on March 20, 2025, the year of "Surge in production through people's participation."