Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that the country’s future economic trajectory hinges on moving beyond oil dependency toward a technology-led model rooted in innovation and scientific progress.
Speaking at a Saturday evening meeting on strategies for technological development, Pezeshkian stressed that global economic shifts—particularly in the Persian Gulf—are redefining national growth models.
He argued that Iran must generate wealth through industries built on scientific achievements and by transferring knowledge from universities into industrial and innovative enterprises. “The government’s foundation is to make technological and scientific transformation the central framework for all decision-making,” Pezeshkian said, adding that innovation should underpin both economic planning and governance reform.
The president highlighted the importance of drawing on the “successful experiences” of BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states, which he described as key partners in shaping Iran’s future development.
Participants at the session outlined a roadmap for advancing Iran’s technological landscape. They called for elevating technology to a national priority, concentrating resources on high-impact sectors, while also forging deeper partnerships with allied and leading countries to benefit from their expertise. The discussion further underscored the importance of modernising governance by implementing large-scale technological projects to close gaps with global trends. Strengthening the private sector was also identified as a central goal, enabling the rise of Iranian technology firms capable of competing internationally. These companies, officials said, should be positioned to make inroads in high-potential fields such as biotechnology, nanotechnology, advanced industries, and artificial intelligence.
Pezeshkian underscored that his administration views technological advancement not as a supplementary policy, but as the cornerstone of Iran’s long-term economic strategy.
