A former Iranian nuclear negotiator, who plans to run in the June presidential race, attacked Mahmoud Ahmadinejads handling of the economy, saying the country was now in a critical situation.Irans inflation has surpassed 30 percent, the populations purchasing power has been cut by half and unemployment is at least 13 percent, Hassan Rohani said at a rally in Tehran today. He stressed that Ahmadinejad, during almost eight years in office, had higher foreign currency revenues compared with previous administrations.
We cannot blame sanctions for all our weaknesses, Rohani told a gathering of about 200 people. We could have decreased the impact of sanctions with dignity.
Rohani, who was a chief nuclear negotiator under former President Mohammad Khatami, also has ties with ex-President Ali Akbar Rafsanjani. Fatemeh and Yasser Hashemi, two of Rafsanjanis children, were present at todays gathering, the state-run Mehr news agency reported.
Iran is holding a presidential election on June 14. Candidates will be able to sign up from May 7 before being screened by the Guardian Council, a supervisory body, for their capacities and loyalty to principles of the Islamic republic.
By Bloomberg
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