Irans economy expanded 4 percent in the six    months from March 21, President Hassan Rouhani said today, in a    return to growth following two years of recession.  
    In the 16 months since it came to power, the government has    also curtailed inflation from 40 percent down to 17 percent,    Rouhani said in a speech in the eastern city of Birjand,    according to the Iranian Students    News Agency. Economic revival has begun.  
    Efforts to secure a deal with world powers over the Islamic    Republics nuclear program have won Iran some relief from    economic sanctions, though talks on a permanent deal have been    extended until July amid major differences. A 45-percent plunge    in the price of crude this year threatens to slash oil revenues    that account for the bulk of government spending.  
    Rouhani today blamed plots by nations he didnt name for    driving down the price of crude. Oil wont remain at this    level, he said. Our future is bright.  
    The government, which based its current budget on the    assumption oil would sell for $100 a barrel, is basing its    spending plan for the next financial year on an average of $72.    Brent crude was trading at $60.71 at 2:05 p.m. in Dubai.  
    The International Monetary Fund expects Irans economy to    expand 1.5 percent in 2014 after shrinking 5.6 percent and 1.7    percent in the previous two years respectively, according to    estimates in April, before crudes slide. The IMF predicted    growth of 2.2 percent in 2015.  
    To contact the reporter on this story: Ladane Nasseri in Dubai    at lnasseri@bloomberg.net  
    To contact the editors responsible for this story: Alaa Shahine    at asalha@bloomberg.net Mark Williams, Amy    Teibel  
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Original post:
Iran Exits Recession With 4% Growth in Six Months, Rouhani Says