Iran can avoid sanctions through prudent measures: presidential candidate

TEHRAN,April 21(MNA) – Mohammad Hassan Aboutorabi-Fard, a candidate in the June presidential election said that Iran can avoid sanctions through adopting more prudent measures. In an interview with the Mehr News Agency released on Saturday, Aboutorabi-Fard said that “right economic decisions” are very important in neutralizing sanctions against the country. Criticizing the economic decisions of the Ahmadinejad government, he said, “On the one hand the United States is making efforts to reduce Iran’s foreign revenues, and on the other hand we are increasing the country’s expenses.” Aboutorabi-Fard, the current Majlis deputy speaker, added, “I have repeatedly said that we should decrease our current expenses.” Asked whether he would withdraw from the election race in favor of another candidate, he said as long as his presence at the scene would help reinforce “national unity” and “Islamic solidarity” he will stay in the contest. “If I feel that my presence is in contradiction with the designated goals, I may quit the scene,” he opined. On the cost of his electoral campaigns, he said that 100 academics have announced to support him both financially and intellectually. He added that there are a number of other resources as well that he would announce later on.