Gov’t spox outlines CBI priorities under Hemmati leadership
Iran’s government has outlined key priorities for the Central Bank of Iran under new Governor Abdulnaser Hemmati, emphasizing efforts to rebuild trust, reform core operations and strengthen the country’s monetary policies, the government spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the weekly press briefing, Fatemeh Mohajerani also expressed appreciation for the contributions of former governor Mohammad Reza Farzin, IRNA reported.
She highlighted the government’s plans to advance healthcare objectives, noting, “Justice in healthcare is one of the four main pillars of the president’s agenda.” These initiatives include accelerating payments to pharmaceutical and medical equipment companies through improved liquidity flow, maintaining preferential foreign currency allocations for essential medicines and treatments for specific diseases, expanding insurance coverage, and reviewing insurance commitments, particularly for critical drugs and treatments for rare and serious illnesses.
Mohajerani said the measures are designed to reinforce the financial and operational foundations of the banking and healthcare sectors, ensuring that policies can be implemented in a sustainable way.
Farzin stepped down as governor of the Central Bank of Iran earlier, after serving since December 2022.
According to Press TV, earlier reports on Monday suggested that his resignation followed protests by shop owners against the steep rise in foreign currency prices in Tehran’s market.
The US dollar closed at 1.39 million rials on Monday, down from a record high of 1.44 million rials a day earlier.
The surge has led to discontent among businesses in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, which argue that rising currency prices fuel inflation and reduce customer footfall.
The newly appointed CBI chief, Hemmati, previously held the position of CBI governor from 2018 to 2021 and also served as Iran’s finance minister under Pezeshkian’s administration, but was dismissed following a parliamentary impeachment.
The 68-year-old economist is a professor at the University of Tehran’s School of Economics and has held senior roles in major banking and insurance institutions over several decades.