“Further to the disaster of COVID-19, unilateralism, economic terrorism and the way they have been addressed are among the issues that have stained the features of the international community. Actions like these not only illegally and illegitimately target sovereign governments and independent nations, but are also a serious threat to the achievements of the international community. More to this, the world of Islam has fallen quarry to organized Islamophobia. This organized Islamophobia has not only targeted the sublime values of Islam, but it has also brought with it wider adverse economic and developmental consequences for Muslim countries.”

He took pride in the fact that the U.S. economic pressures on Iran ended in failure.

“I am proud to announce that the U.S. illegal and unilateral measures aimed to bring the great nation of Iran to its knees have failed and despite the strong headwind of colossal economic pressure, by relying on our own willpower and domestic might, we have managed to do great feats and make significant breakthroughs in various areas including the fight against COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts and consequences. The illuminous testament to the failure of the United States in the war it has waged on the Iranian people is that Iran, struggling with sanctions and the coronavirus combined, managed to secure an economic growth of more than 2 percent in the year when the world economy shrank by 3.5 percent and many countries experienced negative economic growth of -5 to -10 percent,” the Iranian president noted.

He added, “In the past four years, the international community has witnessed as the U.S. economic warfare against Iran has intensified. These oppressive sanctions have inflicted substantial damage on our country. The nuclear deal, which the U.S. violated and maximally tried to obliterate, has been preserved owing to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s tactfulness. The U.S. must return to the JCPOA, first, by lifting the sanctions and adopting practical arrangements; for that is the obligation of the same government that has reneged on the promise. The Islamic Republic of Iran will but respond to U.S. action by positive action.”

Rouhani also reaffirmed the will of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the country’s public and private sectors to deepen cooperation within the framework of the D-8.

He reiterated Iran’s willingness to strengthen multilateralism as one of Iran’s top priorities.

“Strengthening multilateralism is one of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s top foreign policy priorities. From the standpoint of economic development, too, we have invariably supported the developing and attuned countries’ collective strive for a fair and non-discriminatory international economic system. The ultimate goal of all these collective and legitimate efforts by developing countries is to attain economic growth, balanced development, public welfare and prosperity, and to preserve national values and cultures and secure a decent status in international relations,” Rouhani pointed out, adding that “it is by way of this very approach, that we have become an active member of international and regional groupings such as the Group of 77 (G77), Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Cooperation Mechanism of the Caspian Littoral States, and, of course, the D-8. From the vantagepoint of convergence and business interaction, we are laying the foundations of free regional trade with neighboring countries and we will soon establish, together with the Eurasian countries, the first free-trade zone.”

Rouhani said that despite its geographical dispersion, the D-8 organization enjoys tremendous capacities and bounties of, inter alia, human and natural resources, energy reserves, complementary economies and avid private sectors.

“Further, we all have more or less similar challenges on our paths to economic development.”

He added, “Ever since the dawn of the D-8, the Islamic Republic of Iran has endeavored to play its part in the accomplishment of the lofty objectives of the organization. Such measures as the establishment of the D-8 International University and D-8 Technology Transfer and Exchange Network, which, combined, target two key areas of ‘education and human resource development’ and ‘development of technological cooperation’ among eight countries, are testimony to our efforts. We are fully prepared to participate in the operationalization of D-8 agreements in IT, trade facilitation, investment, agriculture, petrochemicals, science, health, tourism, and facilitation of visa issuance,” Rouhani continued.

He noted, “Given the importance of foreign trade for national development and public welfare of the great people of D-8 member states, I would like to stress that the current trade volume among the eight countries is a far cry from the actual trade potentials of the D-8. As such, it is necessary that certain mechanisms be developed for the facilitation and promotion of trade among member states, including through customs and banking facilities and mechanisms as also non-banking ones. In this context, such proposed initiatives as a D-8 chamber of barter trade and D-8 credit cards may be helpful.”

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Rouhani made the remarks in an address via videoconference to the 10th summit of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, also known as Developing-8, on Thursday.

“Here, I am honored to announce that all illegal unilateral measures taken by the United States to bring the Iranian nation to its knees have failed,” Iran’s president told the D-8 participants.

“Despite suffering heavy economic pressures, we have been able by relying on our own domestic will and capabilities to break remarkable grounds in various fields, including in the field of fighting the COVID-19 and its aftereffects,” he said.

Rouhani said while the world economy shrank by 3.5 percent and many countries experienced negative economic growth of five to 10 percent, the Iranian economy grew by more than 2 percent in the same period.

This clearly attests to the failure of the United States in its economic war against Iran, he added.

“In the last four years, the international community has witnessed the intensification of the U.S. government’s economic war against Iran. These cruel sanctions have caused great damage to our country,” Rouhani noted.

Despite U.S. efforts, “the nuclear deal, which the United States violated and did its utmost to destroy, has been preserved thanks to the wisdom of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he added.

The president underlined that Washington is obligated to return to the JCPOA by lifting all anti-Iran sanctions and taking practical measures to secure Iran’s interests under the nuclear pact because “this is the duty of the same government that has reneged on the agreement.”

“The Islamic Republic, for its part, will definitely respond to such U.S. action with a positive reciprocal measure,” he asserted.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Rouhani further denounced unilateralism and economic terrorism as issues that go hand in hand with the coronavirus in harming the international community.

These actions, he continued, not only illegally target ruling governments and independent nations, but also pose a serious threat to the achievements of the international community.

He also pointed to the issue of organized Islamophobia in the world, saying that in addition to targeting Islam’s lofty values and dignity, Islamophobia has also had far-reaching negative economic impacts on Islamic countries.

Rouhani went on to say, “we will establish the first free trade zone with the Eurasian countries, shortly.”

The 10th Summit of the D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation kicked off on Thursday with President Rouhani and the member states’ leaders in attendance.

In the virtual summit hosted by Bangladesh as the organization’s current chair, leaders of Iran, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, and Nigeria are taking part.

Ever since the dawn of the D-8, the Islamic Republic of Iran has endeavored to play its part in accomplishing the Organization’s lofty objectives. Such measures as the establishment of the D-8 International University and D-8 Technology Transfer and Exchange Network, which, combined, target two key areas of ‘education and human resource development and ‘development of technological cooperation’ among eight countries, are testimony to our efforts.

Rouhani also noted, “We are fully prepared to participate in the operationalization of D-8 agreements in IT, trade facilitation, investment, agriculture, petrochemicals, science, health, tourism, and visa issuance facilitation. Given the importance of foreign trade for national development and public welfare of the great people of D-8 Member States, I would like to stress that the current trade volume among the eight countries is a far cry from the actual trade potentials of the D-8.”

Certain mechanisms must be developed to promote and promote trade among the Member States, including through customs and banking facilities and mechanisms as also non-banking ones. Such proposed initiatives as a D-8 chamber of barter trade and D-8 credit cards may help this context, he continued.

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“The international community is still facing the unprecedented challenge of Covid-19 pandemic. For Iran, the challenge has been compounded by a barbaric economic terrorism against the great Iranian nation, a grave crime against humanity”, said Zarif in this meeting while addressing the participants.

He went on to say, “Much as the international community eagerly wants to consign Corona Virus to the dustbin of history, the pandemic has taught us some valuable lessons. We learned that how a health crisis can easily lead to an economic crisis, a humanitarian crisis, an education crisis, a food security crisis, an inequality crisis (to name a few), leaving a disproportionate toll on developing and least developed countries”

“Concurrently, we also learned how a global crisis can unleash the blessings of solidarity among nations. Let me seize this opportunity to value the support the Islamic Republic of Iran received from our brotherly D-8 countries during the time of pandemic and amid unlawful and cruel sanctions”, he added.

“Another lesson we have learned is that enhanced cooperation among countries and regions is the optimal choice should the international community wish to set the stage for shared challenges that loom ahead. Multilateral machineries, including the D-8, provide us with a pool of choices to make”, Zarif also noted.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he said, “Dear Friends, I am not going to elaborate on the shared challenges ahead of us. Rather, I would like to focus on decisive choices we can collectively make within the D-8 existing and potential frameworks for cooperation.”

“This is also very important and pertinent as we are about to finalize the D-8 Decennial Roadmap”, he added.

Regarding the trade issue, the target of 20 percent intra-D8 trade by 2030 will be in our reach if the existing preferential trade agreement along with some supplemented arrangements (in terms of customs, finance and micro-finance, banking, digital capacities, etc.) are implemented, he said and added, “Our governments shall take the role of enabler and our private sectors and SMEs shall be taken on board.”

“Notwithstanding the geographical remoteness of some D-8 countries, D-8 can be an interconnected body of countries. This can be and should be realized in terms of, among others, multi-modal transport and port cooperation; cultural affinity and tourism; and business-to-business connectivity”, he said while speaking about the issue of connectivity.

“We are grateful to the host country for its vigilance to make “harnessing the power of youth and technology” as the theme of this COM and Summit meetings”, he said.

“Our relevant ministers in charge of youth gathered together this week and discussed ways of cooperation on this issue of great importance to our countries”, he added.

Saying that the Islamic Republic of Iran has been active in two D-8 human and technology-related programs, Zarif said, “We are hosting the “D-8 International University” in Hamadan as well as the “D-8 Technology Transfer and Exchange Network” in Tehran. We welcome any idea to enhance these two initiatives.”

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 Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif underlined in a statement at the 18th Session of the D-8 Council of Ministers that cooperation among D-8 Member States towards developing blue economy has great potential for enhancing sustainable development and can strengthen economic growth and poverty reduction.

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