Supreme Leader: Nuclear Talks No Master Key to Economic Problems

(FNA)- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei underlined that integrated national economic efforts, and not the nuclear talks between Tehran and the world powers, is the key to the removal of economic problems in the country.

"The key to the settlement of problems is not in Lausanne, Geneva and New York (that have hosted most rounds of Iran-powers nuclear talks), rather the key is in the country and all people should act upon their different responsibilities to strengthen domestic production as the only remedy for economic problems," Ayatollah Khamenei said, addressing thousands of Iranian workers on Wednesday on the occasion of the Labors Day in Iran.

He stressed inefficiency of the sanctions in impeding national moves and efforts as well as Iran's astonishing progress in the military industries, biotechnology, dam construction, nanotechnology, knowledge-based industries and nuclear energy, and said, "The pressure of embargoes was highly stronger in some of these arenas but they haven’t been able to create an obstacle on the path of the Iranians' efforts and progress."

Ayatollah Khamenei said paying attention and focusing on domestic production will also strengthen the feeling of national honor in addition to resolving economic problems, and added, "Reinvigoration of the internal power structure, including in economic fields, will strengthen the negotiators in any negotiation; otherwise, the other side will set preconditions continuously and utters nonsense and irrelevant remarks."

After nine days of hard work in Lausanne, Switzerland, Iran and the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany) reached an understanding on April 2 which laid the ground for them to start drafting the final nuclear deal over Tehran's nuclear energy program ahead of a July 1 deadline.

Reading out a joint statement at a press conference with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in Lausanne on April 2, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said according to the agreement, all the US, EU and UN Security Council sanctions against Iran would be lifted under the final deal.