The tragic death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash has left a void in the country's leadership. Despite the somber circumstances, Dr. Tafadzwa Ruzive, a Research Fellow at the University of the Free State (UFS) with a focus on BRICS financial markets, believes President Raisi leaves behind a significant economic legacy, one that will shape Iran's future.
Dr. Ruzive highlighted President Raisi's commitment to challenging the dominance of the US dollar in international trade.
"[President Raisi] was instrumental in finding a way to trade oil without using US dollars," Dr. Ruzive told Sputnik Africa. "He managed to link the Iranian oil infrastructure," facilitating trade in other currencies, including the Iranian Ryal.
This move, according to Dr. Ruzive, is a testament to Raisi's understanding of the "problematic nature of unilateralism from the West."
He argues that Raisi's legacy will be remembered for his vision of a multipolar world, one where countries have the freedom to chart their own economic paths without external pressure.
"President Raisi's legacy will be in identifying the problematic nature of unilateralism from the West," Ruzive stated. "The greatest legacy we can remember from him is having charted a new path for where the world is going."
The South African expert credited Raisi with embracing the idea of "de-dollarization" and encouraging countries to trade in their own currencies, asserting their sovereignty and choosing foreign policies that align with their interests.