Privatization has been on the Iranian government’s agenda ever since the early 1990s, but it has suffered as a result of politicized approaches under different governments. News has emerged that the new administration will slow down the privatization pace, which may be a positive step if it returns the campaign to its original goals.
The main objectives of Iran’s privatization program which were defined in various five-year development plans included a restructuring of the Iranian economy, especially reducing the government’s role and promoting the private sector’s role in economic activity; generating revenue for the government and reducing the financial burden of state companies on the country’s budget; and increasing productivity levels in large enterprises.