The president of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) has called for the inclusion of economic teams alongside political negotiators in Iran’s indirect talks with the United States, stressing that economic reforms should not be postponed while awaiting the outcome of negotiations.
Addressing an ICCIMA Board of Representatives on Sunday, Samad Hassanzadeh praised the Supreme Leader’s support for the negotiating team, while urging a more integrated approach to the discussions.
“We recommend that the Iranian negotiation team be accompanied by economic experts in addition to political representatives,” Hassanzadeh said. “Constructive engagement with the global economy, based on national interests, is essential for ensuring economic stability and social calm.”
While expressing hope for a favorable outcome in the talks, he emphasized that the country’s economy must not remain on hold. “The government should begin serious economic reforms inside the country in parallel with the negotiations,” he added.
Hassanzadeh also stressed the need for Iran to join international financial conventions related to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), including the Palermo and CFT agreements, to reduce transaction risks and increase transparency in the banking system.
“We expect the Expediency Council to take the final step toward accession to these conventions, based on expert analysis and the views of the business community,” he said.
Referring to the Supreme Leader’s designation of the new year as the year of “Investment for Production,” Hassanzadeh said this underscores the strategic importance of production and productive investment in Iran’s economy.
“We hope all authorities, free from slogan-driven approaches and symbolic actions, will focus on facilitating real investment in the productive sector,” he said.
Hassanzadeh warned that obstacles to investment, an unstable business environment, and inconsistent economic policies have led to decreased interest in productive investment. “Markets such as foreign exchange, gold, and real estate have become more attractive, diverting capital away from the real economy,” he concluded.