Former Minister Abbas Akhoundi Says Iran’s Geography Should Boost Public Welfare

Abbas Akhoundi said Iran’s unique geopolitical position should be used to increase public welfare, according to reports. He made the remarks at the 147th specialized meeting of the Baran Foundation and said Iran’s GDP has reached $350 billion and contrasted that with the accumulated wealth of Gulf Arab states, which he said is $5.2 trillion. He asked why the gap between the north and south of the Persian Gulf should be so large and added that if geopolitical position does not translate into geoeconomic strength it becomes largely rhetorical. (Sources: Arman-e Melli newspaper and Jamaran)