WANA (July 13) – During Hassan Rouhani‘s eight-year presidency, the country’s international reserves plummeted while its foreign debt increased. However, the 13th government not only boosted the international reserves but also achieved a remarkable feat by reducing Iran’s foreign debt to the lowest level in three decades, a testament to their financial acumen and dedication.

 

Iran’s foreign debt was $9.142 billion at the end of 2020 and about $8.7 billion by the end of June 2021. According to the latest statistics, the Raisi administration has settled nearly $4 billion of this debt.

 

Central Bank statistics show that the Raisi administration substantially settled Iran’s foreign debts, decreasing the debt to $5.142 billion by December 2023, marking the lowest level in three decades. This significant reduction has bolstered Iran’s financial stability, providing a sense of reassurance to the nation.

 

Foreign debt includes:

  • A country’s debt to foreign lenders.
  • Encompassing loans from private foreign banks.
  • Other governments.
  • International financial institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

 

At the end of 2021, coinciding with the 13th government’s tenure, the foreign debt stood at $8.675 billion, and this government managed to pay off $467 million of this debt. This was just the beginning, as in 2022, the Raisi administration successfully paid $2.393 billion of the debt to foreign countries, the highest debt repayment in the last decade.

 

Now, as the 14th government begins its term, it faces the lowest level of foreign debt in three decades and has minimal concerns about borrowing from previous administrations, thanks to the efforts of the 13th government, which increased the country’s foreign exchange income and settled the debts.

WANA - Iran's foreign debts

WANA – Iran’s foreign debts