Source: Mehr News Agency, Tehran

The industries, commerce, and mines minister described on Sunday the Iranian economy as "dynamic" which Western-led sanctions cannot "affect" it. "The Iranian economy is dynamic, which will not be influenced by sanctions," Mehdi Ghazanfari told a seminar in the city of Qom.

Ghazanfari added that since the enemies cannot counter Iran "directly", they have adopted a "sophisticated" approach to deliver a blow to the Islamic system.

He went on to say that the government has made strenuous efforts to prevent the creation of a "bubble" in prices, but under the current sanctions imposed on the country's central bank, the transfer of foreign currency has been blocked.

"Imposing sanctions on a central bank is unprecedented" in the world, and "the enemies, without considering the independence of this bank, have imposed sanctions on it," he noted.

In recent days, some grand ayatollahs based in Qom have criticized the government for the rising prices.

However, Minister Ghazanfari said that after ulama (scholars) and maraja taqlid (Shia clerics who are regarded as sources of emulation) protested the high inflation rate, he put forward the proposal to meet with grand ayatollahs, which was accepted by the cabinet, adding that this was why he came to Qom to brief ulama and maraja taqlid about rising prices.

He also said that difficult days have passed and the situation in the market is good and currently "we have a sufficient stock (of goods)."

... Payvand News - 07/15/12 ... --