Ahmadinejad promises upgraded nuclear fuel and reduction of inflation

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad presenting his budget in Parliament

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad informed the parliament that he will soon have “joyous” news regarding the production of 20 percent enriched uranium and also claimed his government will reduce the inflation rate down to less than five percent in the next two years.

Fars news agency reports that Mahmooud Ahmedinejad introduced his budget for Iran’s next calendar year starting March of 2010, saying: “During the ten day celebration of the anniversary of the Revolution (February 1 to 11), we will announce the joyous news regarding the production of 20 percent nuclear fuel.”

He added that “this news is so sweet that all the nation as well as all other freedom-loving nations of the world will be gladdened by it.”

Iran had previously announced that if the West does not agree with their conditions, they would engage in production of 20 percent enriched uranium.

Western relationships with Iran has been challenged by their failure to reach an agreement regarding the logistics of the exchange of 3.5 percent enriched uranium from Iran with 20 percent enriched uranium from Russia.

Ahmadinejad also informed the parliament that his proposal regarding the restructuring of government subsidies will also reduce the inflation rate to less than five percent within the next two years. Iran’s current inflation rate stands at 13.5 percent.

Ahmadinejad called on the parliament not to delay in processing his proposal regarding the government subsidies and ensured the House that the plan was prepared with the collaboration of “100 thousand experts.”

He added that the budget is not “complicated and there is no need for the parliament to waste time reviewing it.” He claimed the budget was particularly intent on “fairness and a fair distribution of opportunities and possibilities.”

He also added that reduction of current government expenditure and expansion of development and investment budget is another characteristic of this budget.

Ali Larijani, the Speaker of the Parliament, commented on the delay of the budget saying it should have been presented to parliament over a month ago. He urged the MPs to speed their review of the budget.

Contrary to custom, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad did not announce the amount of the total budget while he presented it to the House.