This is apropos a Business Recorder news item "Khamenei criticises Iran's president on economy" carried by the newspaper recently. The report stated that Ayatullah Ali Khamenei has asked President Hassan Rouhani to improve the economy. No doubt, Rouhani appears to be in trouble. Regardless of Rouhani's electoral prospects Iran's economy seems to be in a shambles although he is rightly credited for securing relief from economic sanctions in exchange for checks on Iran's nuclear programme.

Unfortunately, however, his achievement has been overshadowed by the electoral victory of Donald Trump who appears extremely hostile to the Islamic republic. The Iranians, who have resolutely braved the US pressure since the overthrow of Shah of Iran in the late 1970s, deserve better economic conditions. Their country has suffered too much for defying the US through all the years. Iran's oil and gas sector, for example, needs massive foreign investment. The Trump administration would do everything possible to hurt Rouhani's electoral prospects; it would only worsen Rouhani's economic challenges.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017