TEHRAN (Iran News) In an interview with ILNA, Mohammad Sadegh Motamadian commented on the impact of Afghan migrants on Tehran’s water consumption, stating: “One of the programs launched by the 14th government at the national level and in Tehran Province is the organization and regulation of foreign nationals. Given that 50 percent of foreign nationals reside in Tehran Province, we have pursued this plan with seriousness.”

He emphasized that with strong cooperation from various law enforcement and supervisory bodies under the Law Enforcement Command (FARAJA), more than 500,000 people have been returned to their home countries through shared borders since the start of the plan. “This is a significant figure. These migrants returned in full observance of legal and religious requirements and with respect for human dignity,” he said.

Referring to the tangible impact of the Afghan population on public service capacity, the Governor of Tehran stated: “With the departure of this population, more than 3,000 classrooms were freed during the current academic year. Given the sizable number of people who left the country, there has certainly been an impact on water and electricity consumption as well.”

Motamadian added: “In the housing sector, the plan has also contributed to a reduction in rental prices. In areas where migrants had been present, we have seen rental price declines of around 30 to 35 percent. It has also had a noticeable impact on improving public security. In addition, there has been a reduction in demand for essential goods in various regions, with significant effects.”

He stressed that the plan is being implemented on an ongoing basis and clarified that its scope is limited solely to undocumented migrants.

Regarding water management for next summer, Motamadian said: “A set of measures is underway, including water transfer projects and efforts to reduce consumption through the installation of water-saving devices. The replacement of treated wastewater is also being implemented. Tehran Province produces nearly 52 percent of the country’s wastewater, but unfortunately it has not yet been fully substituted. As a result, some green spaces in different areas—especially in Tehran—are still irrigated using groundwater wells. We have plans in place to replace this with treated wastewater.”

The Governor of Tehran emphasized that excessive extraction from underground water tables and aquifers has serious environmental consequences. “The land subsidence phenomenon that we are currently facing in Tehran is directly linked to these issues,” he said.

He concluded: “With the set of programs that have been considered and the cooperation of all agencies, including Tehran Municipality, we hope there will be full compliance with the law so that instead of extracting more than 150 million cubic meters of water annually from wells to irrigate green spaces, treated wastewater will be used.”

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TEHRAN (Iran News) In an interview with IRNA, Mohammad Lahouti, chairman of the Confederation of Iranian Exporters, commented on the performance of the Iran Currency Exchange Center and the recent revival of its second trading floor. He explained that the center was initially designed to operate with two platforms: one for importers eligible under clause one of foreign trade regulations, and a second for small and medium exporters to settle their foreign exchange obligations under market-based, negotiated rates.

“From the outset, the plan was to create a dual system without imposed rates,” Lahouti said. “But shortly after launch, both floors were merged in pursuit of a single exchange rate, which drove the NIMA rate upward to nearly 670,000 rials per dollar, while negotiated rates fell to around 700,000 rials. This effectively eliminated flexibility for smaller exporters.”

According to Lahouti, the merging of these platforms reintroduced a government-controlled exchange rate, restricting clause-two exporters from fulfilling their obligations. “We repeatedly warned officials this would not work,” he said. “Just like in 2018, when the government’s 42,000-rial fixed rate failed to unify the market, this strategy too was bound to collapse.”

After nine months of disruption, the Central Bank recently revived the second trading floor, allowing clause-two exporters to resume trading. Importers are now required to purchase currency directly from exporters through this platform.

Lahouti criticized what he described as contradictory decision-making in trade policy. “Frequent changes in rules have paralyzed exporters and discouraged them from continuing operations. Importers also face uncertainty, unable to plan long term.”

He added that the second trading floor has yet to reach full maturity. Importers accustomed to cheaper currency remain reluctant to buy at higher rates, while exporters, sourcing raw materials at free-market prices, cannot sell below market value. “Over time, this imbalance should stabilize—provided the Central Bank does not interfere again,” he noted.

Lahouti warned that if authorities reintroduce price fixing, the policy would fail just as earlier attempts did.

Outlining a proposal from the Chamber of Commerce, Lahouti said: The government should guarantee currency only for essential goods such as food and medicine; All other imports must be financed solely through export earnings; and the Central Bank should act only as a supervisory body, overseeing transparent transactions without direct intervention in pricing.

He argued that such a system would reduce long queues for currency allocation and ease pressure on both importers and exporters. “If importers of raw materials are no longer dependent on the official exchange system, delays will diminish. With greater supply from exporters, market rates could decline naturally,” Lahouti explained.

He further suggested that for major exporters such as petrochemical and steel companies—who benefit from subsidized energy—compensation could be made through unified feedstock pricing or export tariffs, ensuring fairness without distorting the currency market.

According to Lahouti, implementing this dual approach could revive Iran’s foreign trade, resolving bottlenecks in both exports and imports. “If import procedures are streamlined, factories can plan reliably for raw material supply, while exporters can settle obligations at real exchange rates,” he said.

The government, meanwhile, would save scarce resources by focusing subsidies only on essential goods. This, he argued, would enable greater support for low-income households through expanded subsidies or digital rationing systems.

“Even if exchange rates rise, government revenues would also increase, allowing better protection for vulnerable groups,” Lahouti noted. “Ultimately, this benefits consumers while reducing opportunities for rent-seeking and corruption.”

Turning to broader issues, Lahouti highlighted the involvement of 27 different institutions in Iran’s import-export process. He recalled the judiciary’s recent report on the Shahid Rajaei port explosion, which identified numerous organizations as contributing to procedural failures.

“This reflects the complexity of our trade system,” he said. “The overlapping responsibilities of multiple agencies not only delay customs clearance but also cause cargo backlogs at ports.”

Despite a sharp rise in the value of foreign currency, Lahouti warned, Iran’s trade balance remains negative due to these structural inefficiencies. “The current framework has not facilitated trade but rather complicated it further,” he concluded.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) Minister Madanizadeh stated that through special measures and inter-agency coordination, the volume of essential goods imported between June 10 and June 16 reached 980,000 tons. This marks a remarkable growth compared to the previous week, demonstrating a 53% increase.

He noted that during the week of June 3 to June 9, only 639,000 tons of essential goods had been cleared, and he attributed this surge to the effectiveness of the policies recently implemented. The Minister praised the efforts of customs staff and transportation sector workers, emphasizing their crucial role in facilitating the rapid clearance process.

Madanizadeh further highlighted that among the five main categories of essential goods, imports have tripled—from 271,000 tons to 814,000 tons—underscoring the government’s commitment to ensuring sufficient supply during these challenging times.

He assured that this upward trend in imports would continue, and with ongoing planning and coordination, the government is confident that the basic needs of the population will be adequately met.

Concluding his remarks, the Minister emphasized that maintaining market stability and timely provision of essential goods remain top priorities for the government. He affirmed that all available resources and operational capacities are being mobilized to achieve this crucial goal.

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