Lahouti Urges Three-Month Deadline for Exporters to Repatriate Currency

TEHRAN (Iran News) In recent days, text messages have reportedly been sent to exporters giving them just five days to settle outstanding foreign exchange commitments. According to reports, these notifications have been issued over the past 10 to 15 days and apply even to exporters with relatively small outstanding amounts, in some cases as little as $30,000.

Speaking to ISNA, Mohammad Lahouti said the issue of returning export earnings to the country’s economic cycle has been under discussion since 2018, when new foreign exchange regulations were introduced. Although various institutions have examined the matter and offered commentary, he argued that a comprehensive and effective resolution has yet to be achieved.

Lahouti categorized export activity into three main groups to clarify the situation. The first group consists of large enterprises, primarily state-owned or quasi-state entities. In these cases, he noted, the government has the ability to manage and determine the status of foreign currency returns through internal mechanisms and agreements.

The second group includes small and medium-sized private-sector exporters and what he described as “real economic actors.” According to Lahouti, a significant number of these exporters have already fulfilled between 60 and 70 percent of their foreign exchange obligations. However, a portion—sometimes 20 to 30 percent or more—remains unsettled.

The third group involves so-called “single-use” or one-year commercial cards, through which substantial volumes of exports were conducted, but where the resulting foreign currency did not return to the formal economic cycle.

Lahouti emphasized that judicial and supervisory authorities were justified in addressing violations in the third category. He noted that since 2018, exporters with outstanding currency obligations have received notifications from anti-smuggling authorities requiring settlement. In the case of state-affiliated companies, he reiterated, the government can resolve issues based on their particular structures.

However, he stressed that the primary concern lies with the second group—active, legitimate exporters who continue to operate production units and engage in export and import activities. For these businesses, he argued, the three- to five-day deadlines imposed via text messages are impractical.

“Given the country’s sanctions environment and the complexities involved in transferring foreign currency, such short timeframes are simply not feasible,” Lahouti said.

He explained that exporters often must rely on specialized and sometimes complicated channels to transfer funds or physically bring banknotes into the country. These processes are time-consuming and cannot realistically be completed within a few days.

Reflecting the position of the private sector and chambers of commerce, Lahouti called for a more flexible approach toward genuine exporters. While expressing full support for legal action against offenders and those misusing commercial cards, he proposed granting at least a three-month deadline to legitimate exporters with partial outstanding obligations.

Such an extension, he argued, would restore confidence within the export community and demonstrate that the government and judiciary stand alongside law-abiding businesses. In turn, exporters would be better positioned to return foreign currency earnings to the national economy through the most efficient available channels.

Lahouti concluded by reiterating that while enforcement against abuse is necessary, policymakers must differentiate between violators and active exporters who are committed to fulfilling their obligations but require a realistic timeframe to do so.