Iran’s acting President, Mohammad Mokhber, gave his first public speech to the new parliament on Monday after a helicopter crash last week that killed his predecessor, Ebrahim Raisi, and seven others. Mokhber praised Raisi’s achievements and discussed the state of Iran’s economy and oil production.
Iran is preparing for a presidential election to replace Raisi on June 28. Mokhber might run for the presidency, though he has not yet confirmed his candidacy. The registration for candidates will begin on Thursday and last for five days.
Iran’s Oil Production and Exports
Mokhber highlighted that during Raisi’s time in office, Iran’s crude oil production increased to more than 3.6 million barrels a day. Despite Western sanctions, Oil Minister Javad Owji announced that Iran is currently exporting around 2 million barrels of oil daily.
Economic Stability Amid Military Actions
In his speech, Mokhber asserted that Iran’s economy remained stable even when the country took military actions in Iraq, Israel, and Pakistan. He credited this stability to the leadership of the supreme leader and Raisi’s efforts. Mokhber emphasized that despite these actions, key economic indicators such as currency value, inflation, and market liquidity remained unchanged.
Since the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal and amid regional tensions, the Iranian rial has significantly devalued, from 32,000 rials to $1 in 2015 to around 580,000 rials to $1 today.
On May 20, rescuers recovered the bodies of Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and others from a helicopter crash site in a mountainous region in northwestern Iran.
New Hard-Line Parliament
Iran’s new parliament, which convened for the first time on Monday, is dominated by hard-liners. They hold over 230 of the 290 seats following a March election with the lowest voter turnout since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The parliament can influence the presidential administration by deciding on budgets and important bills, though the supreme leader has the ultimate authority.
Parliament to Elect New Speaker
The new parliament is expected to select its new speaker on Tuesday. The speaker’s role is crucial in shaping the legislative agenda and working with the executive branch.
This summary provides a detailed look at the recent developments in Iran’s political landscape following the tragic helicopter crash and ahead of the upcoming presidential election.
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