Twelve months on, a nuclear deal remains elusive and sanctions remain in place. But Iran's business community are still supportive of the centrist cleric. "We saw nothing but darkness before.
Now we see light at the end of tunnel," says one Iranian businessman, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "The currency market is stabilised. We have faced no foreign exchange shortage for imports in recent months." Nonetheless, the four month extension to negotiations for a permanent deal on Iran's nuclear programme with the six leading nuclear powers - the US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany - has led to more uncertainty for Iranian businesses as they wait anxiously for increased trade with the outside world and improved access to technology. Last year's interim nuclear deal released $4.2bn of Iran's blocked funds, suspended restrictions on gold and precious metals trading, the petrochemical and automobile sectors and eased the purchase of aeroplane parts and medical and health-related initiatives. But business leaders say they have yet to see any benefit and complain that international banks are reluctant to re-engage with Iran for fear of US retaliation.
More at: Financial Times
