Political problems blamed for economic failures
December 08, 2003
IranMania News
TEHRAN, Iran Daily -- A lawmaker said that the country has failed to attain a significant status in international trade due to the failure to develop political relations with certain countries.
Qahreman Bahrami, who is a member of the parliament's Economic Commission, told ISNA that the country had to sever ties with some countries following the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
"This lack of international interactions resulted in lower trade relations with the world," he said, blaming past political problems for the present challenges facing Iran's international economic relations. "Unfortunately, despite the lapse of some 24 years since the revolution, the country is still suffering on this front," he maintained.
The lawmaker said political developments are closely tied to economic progress in today's world, where countries with low-profile political interactions with other countries are not able to advance their economic objectives properly.
He added that US sanctions have inflicted a heavy blow to Iran's international economic relations. "Our presence in many international markets such as handwoven carpet and pistachio came to an end in the face of US political pressures and economic sanctions," he said, adding that Afghanistan, Iraq and the Central Asia are major target markets in the region.
http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=20410&NewsKind=Business%20%26%20EconomyPersian rugs and pistachios. :)
Perhaps I misspoke?