Brazil's Lula Pledges to Protect Economy Amid Mideast Tensions
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Brasilia, April 3 (NationPress) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stated on Thursday that while he cannot foresee an end to the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, he is committed to protecting Brazilians from the economic repercussions of the conflict.
In a discussion with local television network Record Bahia, Lula da Silva highlighted the unpredictability of the ongoing conflict.
"The war continues, ... The concrete fact I can provide is that we are exerting every possible effort to prevent the reckless war on Iran from affecting the financial stability of our citizens," said Lula da Silva.
"We will not permit the rise in international prices to burden the truck drivers or impact the households, particularly the housewives. That’s why we are implementing numerous measures. We have a robust oversight process currently active in Brazil," he added.
The president also cautioned against speculation in the domestic fuel market and announced the implementation of stricter regulations to prevent price manipulation, indicating that security personnel are involved in monitoring potential irregularities within the distribution network.
According to him, his administration has enacted tax exemption and subsidy initiatives aimed at mitigating fuel price hikes in the domestic market, as reported by Xinhua.
Earlier on April 1, Lula da Silva asserted that the United States has created a false narrative as a justification for what he called an 'unnecessary war' against Iran.
"The United States has engaged in an uncalled-for conflict in Iran, alleging that the country possesses nuclear weapons or is attempting to develop them. That is a fabrication!" Lula remarked during an interview in Brazil's northeastern state of Ceara.
He noted that the U.S. has a history of initiating wars based on falsehoods, referencing the unsubstantiated claims regarding Iraq's supposed weapons of mass destruction.
"This is merely a pretext ... and warfare has never resolved any issues," Lula stated.