Prospects for Iran’s economy are attracting widespread attention following the implementation in January 2016 of a nuclear accord between Iran and the United States, the European Union, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom, and the subsequent easing of international sanctions.
Numerous business and government delegations have been visiting Tehran and other cities to size up the potential opportunities and to sign deals and commercial agreements.
Iran for years was largely cut off from the globalisation trends that have supported growth around the world. With some of the sanctions lifted, the country now has an opportunity to reconnect with the global economy — but many questions remain.
How big is that opportunity, for Iran and for the global economy? How could both Iranian and international companies capture it? And what measures would Iran need to adopt in order to help usher in a new era of prosperity?
This report discusses the strengths and challenges of Iran’s economy and its potential over the next two decades to 2035. It is the fruit of several months of in-depth research, including an examination of key sectors of Iran’s economy ranging from oil and gas to fast-moving consumer goods, agriculture, and information and communications technology.
We find that Iran has the potential to add $1 trillion to GDP and create nine million jobs by 2035.
If it is to realise this potential, Iran will have to put in place key enablers of rapid growth — including measures to increase the attractiveness of the country to foreign investors, ensure macroeconomic stability, strengthen and deepen its financial system and its international connectivity, raise productivity, and upgrade its industrial infrastructure.
The McKinsey Institute report on Iran’s potential has been made available for download and review in the following section.
https://rasatrade.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Iran_Report.pdf
