Khamenei Deepens Economy Divide With Rouhani as Election Nears - Bloomberg

Khamenei Deepens Economy Divide With Rouhani as Election Nears - Bloomberg:

"Iran’s supreme leader said candidates in next month’s presidential election should pledge not to rely on foreign investment to strengthen the economy, reinforcing his apparent differences with incumbent Hassan Rouhani, who has sought to woo international investors.

All candidates need to “promise the people that in order for the country to progress, for economic growth and to untie the knots, their eyes won’t be set outside our borders but on the nation itself,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told officials on Tuesday, according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency.

The May 19 election will help determine whether Iran remains committed to Rouhani’s engagement with the West. The moderate cleric is facing mounting frustration over the landmark 2015 nuclear deal that critics say hasn’t yet benefited poor Iranians -- criticism echoed recently by Khamenei, who has final say over state matters. "



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