TEHRAN: President Hassan Rouhani warned Tuesday that middlemen who have circumvented sanctions will need to “think of another job” as a potential final nuclear deal brings changes to Iran’s economy.

The remarks, at a ceremony in Tehran ahead of Labour Day on Friday, signalled Rouhani’s intent to tackle a black market that has thrived in Iran after official trading routes were cut off.

Although sanctions plunged the economy into recession and hurt most of the population, some Iranians have amassed fortunes from smuggling foreign goods from Turkey, Iraq and Gulf states.

“Sanctions busters should now think of another job,” Rouhani said. “With the final agreement — which if the other side has serious determination will be possible in the coming months — production and the economic situation will be much better.”

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2015

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