Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Aug 29: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has called for greater reliance on domestic production and a gradual reduction in the US dollar's role in key transactions, describing economic self-reliance as essential to building a "Resistance Economy" amid mounting US pressure on Tehran.
In a detailed message posted on X, Khamenei outlined what he described as the responsibilities of a service-oriented administration and said economic resilience must be treated as a national framework rather than merely a policy option.
He stressed that boosting economic growth, increasing domestic production and gradually phasing out the dollar from its important role should be placed at the centre of Iran's economic strategy.
"The key to resolving all these matters in this field lies in relying as much as possible on domestic production," Iranian state broadcaster Press TV quoted him as saying.
Khamenei said imports should be used "properly and wisely" in areas where domestic production is insufficient, while emphasising that Iran should reduce its dependence on foreign economic systems.
He also called for greater attention to the country's economic and livelihood challenges, particularly inflation, unemployment and the management of prices and markets for goods and services.
The Supreme Leader stressed the need to increase investment and ensure that funds are directed towards productive and necessary sectors of the economy.
According to Press TV, Khamenei called for a comprehensive approach covering economic growth, increased investment, boosting production, gradually reducing the dollar's role and placing the full range of "Resistance Economy" policies at the centre of economic planning.
Khamenei linked the push for economic self-reliance to what he described as pressure from the United States and Israel.
Without directly naming specific countries in his criticism, he said Iran's adversaries were attempting to convince the Iranian people that economic progress could be achieved only by submitting to their demands.
"This nation's sworn enemy seeks to insinuate that the path to progress passes through submission to their unreasonable demands," he said, arguing that Iran's past experience demonstrated the opposite.
His remarks come as Washington intensifies financial pressure on Tehran through a campaign announced by the United States as "Operation Economic Outcast."
The US State Department said shortly before Khamenei's message that the operation was continuing in full force and announced further measures targeting Iran's access to the international financial system.
Washington imposed sanctions on Reza Mohammad Taeedi, identified as the manager of the Dubai branch of Iran's Bank Melli, along with a Hong Kong-based company that the US accused of helping designated Iranian individuals and entities gain access to international financial networks.
The US said Bank Melli has served as a major financial hub for Iran's armed forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force and the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, both of which are under US sanctions.
The US Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network also proposed a rule that would revoke Banque Misr UAE's correspondent banking access to US financial institutions.
According to the State Department, Treasury considers Banque Misr UAE an important channel through which the Iranian regime accesses US dollars.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Washington would continue targeting individuals and entities involved in what it described as illicit financial activities on behalf of the Iranian government.
"As the regime prioritises its malign activities above the needs of its people, we will sever the economic lifelines sustaining it," Pigott said, adding that the US would target individuals and entities, including those working for Iranian banks outside the country.
The latest measures form part of a broader US effort to restrict Iran's international financial connections and reduce the revenue available to the Iranian government.
On August 24, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the launch of "Operation Economic Outcast", saying the campaign was intended to sever Iran's financial links around the world and cut off revenue sources supporting the Iranian regime.
Against this backdrop, Khamenei's call to reduce dependence on the dollar and strengthen domestic production signals Tehran's intention to deepen its economic self-reliance as US sanctions and financial restrictions continue to tighten.