[caption id="attachment_31046" align="alignright" width="300"] Mohammad Sheikhan, an official with Iran's Presidential Office[/caption]
An official with the Iranian Presidential Office says the current administration is ready to defend its economic performance and policies in the face of the criticisms leveled by the candidates running for president.
“The economy-related ministers of the administration [of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad] are prepared to hold a debate on economic issues with all eight candidates running in the 11th presidential election,” Mohammad Sheikhan said on Sunday.

Referring to the candidates’ criticism of the economic performance of Ahmadinejad’s current and previous administrations, Sheikhan said the ministers are ready to defend their economic plans and further discuss related issues with the candidates in a debate.

During their electoral campaigning, Iranian presidential candidates have been criticizing the performance of Ahmadinejad’s administration, particularly in the economy and foreign policy sectors.

Presidential candidate Mohammad Gharazi has criticized the incumbent administration for issues such as rising imports at the expense of domestic production, devaluation of the Rial and unemployment.

Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, another candidate, has censured the ongoing “unacceptable” inflation, unemployment and needless politicizing of economy, saying that the present administration has not done enough to improve the current living conditions in Iran.

Other candidates, including Mohsen Rezaei, Mohammad Reza Aref, Ali Akbar Velayati and Gholam Ali Haddad Adel have also criticized the country’s dependence on oil revenues, blaming the current administration for the high rate of unemployment and inflation.

Saeed Jalili, another candidate, has faulted the administrative structure of the country for allowing foreign enemies and internal opportunists to take advantage of the inefficient economic mechanisms and undermine the country’s economy.

Presidential candidate Hassan Rohani has blamed the current administration and management reshuffles for the economic problems.

Iran’s 11th presidential election will be held on June 14. The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election.

By Press TV

 

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