Value of Iranian Rial has increased by 40 percent: CBI Governor

Speaking in an interview with NBC News' Lester Holt, Hemmati talked about Iran's oil exports and the state of Iran's economy.

The governor of the CBI declined to say exactly how much oil Iran is currently selling, saying in an economic war it was unwise to reveal sensitive information about oil exports to the enemy.

But he insisted oil was getting through to various countries and that Donald Trump had definitely failed in his bid to reduce Iran's oil exports to zero.

Hemmati pointedly added: "Our oil exports have actually increased, they are currently rising, and we are using 'unconventional methods' to sell our oil, and we have managed to continue our oil exports."

In further remarks, Abdolnasser Hemmati said: "Iranian businesses have found ways around US sanctions, trading through opaque channels that skirt Washington's penalties. We have economic stability in Iran and calm in the currency markets. This shows that the Trump administration has been unsuccessful in its economic war against Tehran."

Commenting on the legality of the unilateral US sanctions, Hemmati said: "We believe that the United States cannot impose its laws and sanctions on the world. Donald Trump cannot order other countries to do whatever he wants. Trump's sanctions are illegal. We have found ways of bypassing the sanctions."

Commenting on how Iran imports goods which are on America's sanctions list, the governor of the CBI said: "Iran is not a closed country. According to official statistics of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), we are the eighteenth most powerful economy in the world in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), which is a metric for comparing economic productivity and standards of living between various countries."

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