Urgent Need for Government to Return to Regulatory Role | Overlapping Roles Harm Competition
Hamidreza Salehi, a member of the Board of Representatives of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the importance of addressing economic challenges and incorporating the perspectives of the private sector in drafting agreements and memoranda of understanding. He stated that the government should act as a regulator in the economy.
He highlighted the absence of the private sector in economic decision-making, noting that economic issues should play a central role in negotiations, with input from business stakeholders.
Salehi added that private sector representatives were largely excluded from bilateral agreements, including those with China and Russia, despite their significance. He also pointed to Iran’s strong potential in energy sectors such as oil and gas, which could have been better leveraged.
He stated that Iran requires nearly $1 trillion in investment in infrastructure, energy, and related sectors—something that cannot be achieved without foreign investment and active private sector participation.
He further noted that the “no war, no peace” situation has discouraged investment and created uncertainty, making long-term planning difficult.
In the short term, he argued that easing restrictions on the private sector is essential. Currently, the government simultaneously acts as trader, regulator, and competitor, which undermines fair competition.
He concluded that many economic imbalances stem from the government’s failure to shift from direct involvement to a regulatory role.
