Iran Central Bank Chief Rejects US Economic Collapse Claims as ‘Delusional’
Central Bank of Iran Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati dismisses US predictions of economic collapse, labeling Washington's sanctions and forecasts as illusory.
POLICY WIRE — Bangkok, Thailand — Central Bank of Iran Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati pushed back against Washington’s narrative on Wednesday, characterizing US assertions that the Iranian economy is on the brink of collapse as entirely illusory.
Speaking during an International Monetary Fund meeting in Bangkok, Hemmati argued that Iran has maintained significant economic resilience. He maintained that the nation continues to function despite the ongoing impact of a US naval blockade, which is specifically designed to halt Iranian oil exports and deplete state financial reserves.
The governor’s comments follow a recent address at a banking conference in Tehran, where he dismissed similar predictions from the United States as a form of psychological warfare. According to the Tasnim News Agency, Hemmati stated, Collapse has never occurred and will never occur.
Hemmati specifically addressed remarks made by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who had previously claimed that the Iranian economy would face total collapse within a two-week window. In response, the governor cited a Persian proverb, noting that chickens are counted at the end of autumn, suggesting that the validity of such predictions should be measured by actual outcomes rather than speculative timelines.
The central bank chief emphasized that the Iranian economy has persisted through months of war, international sanctions, and severe restrictions on oil trade. He dismissed the US forecasts as delusional, asserting that the promised collapse has failed to materialize as the country navigates the current geopolitical pressure.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
