Iranian Government Highlights National Consensus, Economic Reforms, and Upcoming UN Address
Tehran – In a comprehensive weekly press briefing, Government Spokesperson Fatemeh Mahagerani detailed a week of significant governmental activity, focusing on domestic economic resilience, strategic diplomatic engagements, and the administration’s commitment to national unity under the guidance of the Leadership.
Emphasis on National Unity and Consensus-Building
Spokesperson Mahagerani began by referencing a recent meeting between government members and the Leader of the Islamic Revolution. She stated that the Leadership emphasized the critical importance of “focusing on national strengths, preserving national cohesion, and leveraging opportunities for consensus-building.”
Mahagerani highlighted the President’s recent attendance at a non-public parliamentary session as a prime example of this strategy. “This was one instance of the government utilizing consensus-building with other branches of power to improve the livelihood of the people,” she explained, noting that the session focused on solving national issues despite longstanding economic constraints and sanctions.
Structural Budget Reforms and Economic Priorities
A key topic was the government’s drive for structural budget reform, a directive issued by the Leadership to balance national income and expenditure. Mahagerani reported that the Plan and Budget Organization presented a report to parliament aimed at aligning national programs with the budget to prioritize essential projects.
“The Administration for Administrative and Employment Affairs is following up on these structural reforms as the responsible body,” she said, adding that achieving a leaner, more agile government requires patience and the delegation of authority to organizations and provinces.
Diplomatic Engagement: The Shanghai Spirit and Upcoming UN Address
On the foreign policy front, Mahagerani outlined the objectives of the President’s recent visit to China, which included attending a military parade, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and SCO Plus summits, and conducting bilateral meetings.
“We hope that with the return of rationality to all countries, we will witness peace and tranquility throughout the world,” she stated. “The SCO and BRICS are growing, and the number of countries interested in joining these two alliances is increasing.”
Looking ahead, the spokesperson confirmed the President’s upcoming address at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. “The most important issue in this trip is emphasizing national interests and conveying the voice of the Iranian people to the world, especially following the brutal aggression by the Zionist regime against Iran,” Mahagerani said. Bilateral meetings with other heads of state are also being planned, with the genocide in Gaza expected to be a central topic of discussion among Islamic nations.
Domestic Initiatives: From Education to Subsidy Management
The briefing also covered several domestic initiatives:
- The Seventh Development Plan: The government is pursuing this as its main program, with a strategic council overseeing its implementation. Over 130 out of 160 required bylaws have already been approved to ensure the plan’s directives can be executed.
- Educational Reform: A festival titled “Transformation in Teaching Methods and Learning Environments” will be launched, focusing on educational justice and updating teaching methodologies. Over 2,400 educational projects are slated for inauguration.
- Subsidy Distribution: The monthly “Goods Coupon” subsidy will be deposited into citizen accounts on Wednesday. The government is prioritizing covering part of the production cost of bread through subsidies rather than increasing prices to ensure stable access for the people. Following a cyberattack on Bank Seph, issues affecting bakeries’ payments are reportedly over 99% resolved.
- Waste Management and Production: Efforts are underway to convert 50% of waste into fertilizer and fuel, and the government has revived 820 stalled projects while increasing capacity at over 4,000 production units.
Addressing Key Inquiries
In response to questions, Mahagerani addressed several issues:
- Consular Case: The case of Mahdieh Esfandiari, detained in France, is being pursued legally and politically through numerous meetings and diplomatic notes.
- Work Hours: Government office hours, which were adjusted for the summer, will return to their regular schedule at the start of the Iranian month of Mehr (September 22).
- Political Cooperation: The government reiterated its strategy of utilizing capable individuals regardless of political affiliation to solve the nation’s accumulated problems, emphasizing consensus over partisan interests.
- Marriage Loans: Central Bank statistics show 229,000 marriage loans have been paid, with strategies being reviewed to reduce application wait times, including using products from Iranian companies.
The briefing underscored a government focused on internal cohesion, economic reform, and a proactive diplomatic stance aimed at promoting national interests on the world stage.