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Rouhani touts meeting with top economists on containing crisis

Iran's president held a meeting with the country's top economists to discuss the ongoing crisis, but some hard-liners have lambasted the secrecy surrounding the talks.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addresses the Innovation and Industry Forum during an official visit in Bern, Switzerland, July 3, 2018. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse - RC17EB456B20

In a closed three-hour meeting with 40 Iranian economists on Oct. 15, President Hassan Rouhani insisted that the country's economy is not in crisis, but acknowledged that it’s not in "normal conditions" either. "Despite the hardships, this period shall pass," Rouhani said, praising his government's "precise planning," which he asserted will counter "US policies in the long run." 

Rouhani highlighted the importance of "revitalizing hope in the society to defeat the enemies" in what he described as a "psychological and economic war" waged on Iran. Defending his government's performance, he traced the roots of the economy's "chronic diseases" in the years before he took office, but promised that the nation will face no issues with basic supplies even under tougher circumstances.

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