The IMF said it has revised its earlier figures on Iran's economy after a brief visit to the country, expressing his admiration for some of the controversial plans introduced by the hardline president.
A mission led by Dominique Guillaume, Deputy Division Chief in the IMF, who traveled to Iran for two weeks in May and June this year, concluded that the government had succeeded "in reducing inequalities, improving living conditions and support domestic demand. "
The IMF had predicted that Iran's economy would suffer zero growth in 2011 but now says that real GDP growth rebounded to an estimated 3.5% last year and forecast "continued positive growth 2010/11. "
He also said inflation had declined from 25.4% to 12.4%. The statement attracted wide coverage in Iran state media said the IMF had "corrected" itself.
Independent experts, however, raised doubts about the IMF's latest findings and questioned his support for Ahmadinejad's policy of ending subsidies for long, but essentially expensive fuel, food and other newspapers, implemented last December.
The IMF statement said: "The mission commended the authorities for the initial success in implementing its ambitious reform of subsidies."
Hassan Hakimian, an expert in economics and director of the Middle East Institute at SOAS in London, said: "The IMF has always advocated the abolition of subsidies on food and energy in Iran however, it is difficult to digest is the basis of their suggestions for improvements. living standards and greater equality through this program in such a short space of time.
"I think the IMF is on the optimistic side and is more like rash decision. Most independent observers believe it is too early to draw conclusions such ... and has not yet produced the evidence necessary to sustain claims made. "
According to Hakimi, the official data on Iran's economy as inflation and unemployment rates often takes place both internally and externally.
Nezami Narajabad Borgh, assistant professor of economics at Rice University in Texas, criticized the IMF's "retrospective" and "hasty conclusions" and said the rift between Iran's parliament and government on the plan showed that it had worked successfully . "The grants scheme has increased the fiscal burden of government. The IMF completely contradicts his own previous views ... and has ignored the independent views, such as those expressed by the World Energy Outlook.
Since Ahmadinejad took office in 2005, independent economists have been silenced and some, like Saeed Laylaz and Fariborz Raeis-Dana, have been arrested.
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