Pezeshkian urges economists to propose blueprints for spending cuts, foreign trade boost
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday called on economic experts to provide the government with "the best solutions to optimize spending without causing dissatisfaction or problems" and to present proposals to boost foreign trade amid efforts to improve ties with neighboring and friendly countries.
At a meeting with a group of economists, Pezeshkian said his administration is working to steadily enhance Iran’s international relations and is engaged in talks with various parties to manage tensions. He added that the government aims to control spending in the next year’s budget and asked economists for concrete recommendations, president.ir reported.
The meeting was held to review economists’ proposals for addressing the country’s main economic challenges, including the budget deficit, inflation, imbalances and structural reforms.
The president said experts agree inflation and the budget deficit are the most pressing issues facing Iran’s economy, and that managing them is the government’s first step toward reforms. He stressed that the administration is determined to resolve such problems at their root, noting that a recent joint session with Parliament also focused on this agenda.
Another goal of the meeting, he said, was to exchange views on prioritizing reforms in various sectors and on how to implement them. He acknowledged that most state-run enterprises are loss-making and urged economists to advise on improving their performance, privatization or at least transferring their management. The government’s central objective, he added, is to raise efficiency across all sectors.
Pezeshkian also cited subsidy reform as a key element of economic restructuring, emphasizing the need for targeted distribution to maximize benefits for end consumers. He said the current system merely wastes limited national resources. However, he pledged that any changes would be carried out with full consideration of economic and social impacts, along with complementary measures.
He added that fourth-generation universities worldwide now focus on solving societal problems and meeting public needs, and said Iran should also delegate issues to universities, assigning them problem-solving responsibilities for specific demographic groups based on practical frameworks.
The president, announcing readiness to hold such meetings regularly, said, “holding these meetings will be more effective when experts from each field – taxation, banking, structural, public services and others – debate within specialized working groups, and the conclusions are presented to the government."
Pezeshkian said his administration also seeks to strengthen social capital through initiatives such as community-based programs and improving education and healthcare services. By delegating authority to provinces, the government aims to create a platform for greater participation from capable individuals in solving problems and managing affairs. If people feel a sense of ownership in the outcomes, he said, their motivation and determination for social engagement will grow.