Iranian FM Reiterates Necessity for Cutting Dependence on Crude Revenues

(FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif emphasized the need for Tehran to cut dependence of its economy on crude revenues.

Addressing a group of Iranian nationals in Tanzania on Thursday, Zarif pointed out that the resistance economy should be considered as a role model in internal and foreign policies.

He further stressed the necessity of developing an oil-free economy for getting free from oil ups and downs and the international pressures.

Zarif also underlined that resistance economy is a strategic policy for Iran.

In December, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said exports of crude was just one of Iran's sources of revenue and the country can live up without oil sales and through exports of its rich mineral resources, modern industries, and talented people.

“We have different methods and scenarios to run the country under different circumstances and we will not forget which countries are conspiring to reduce oil prices,” Larijani said during a visit to Syria.

He said that the same countries conspired against Iran in the 1980s when Iran was at war with Iraq.

“It would be a mistake if they (certain governments) imagine that they can change the strategic situation of the (Middle East) region through oil (price),” said Larijani.

In early March, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei in a meeting with economic activists, elites and state officials in Tehran explained the root cause of Iran's turn to the Resistance Economy as well as the specifications, features and components of such an economic model.

Ayatollah Khamenei elaborated on the reasons and incentives for the adoption of the economy of resistance, and said, “Abundant material and non-material capacities of the country, treatment of chronic and lasting economic problems, confrontation against sanctions and immunizing the country’s economy against global economic crises” are the reasons why such a model should be practiced in Iran.

He further noted that the components of the resistance economy are "creating movement and dynamicity in the country’s economy and improving macroeconomic indicators", "ability to resist against threatening factors", "reliance on internal capacities", adoption of a "Jihadi approach", "people-centeredness", "reforming consumption patterns", "campaign against corruption" and adoption of "knowledge-based approach".

Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the sanctions imposed by the western powers against Iran due to its peaceful nuclear program, and said the country should strengthen its economy in a way that no boycott and embargo could ever leave a negative impact on it so easily.