Following last month’s widespread socio-economic protests Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has ordered the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other branches of Iran’s armed forces to reduce their involvement in the country’s economy. If followed through, this would have a seismic impact on the economy, but details are notably sparse.
The surprise announcement was made by Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami in an interview on 20 January with the Persian language government daily Iran. Mr Hatami, a non-IRGC-affiliated military officer, said that Mr Khamenei instructed the IRGC and the regular military “to get out of business not directly affiliated to their work.” (CONTINUED - 1089 WORDS)
