TEHRAN, Iran

Iranian President Hasan Rouhani said Tuesday that the country's economy is progressing although the US reimposed economic sanctions in August 2018.

Rouhani said his government continues implementing plans to support the most affected populations from the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Iranian news agency, IRNA.

The Iranian economy was badly damaged by the US after Washington withdrew from a nuclear deal with Iran and resumed economic and commercial sanctions on Tehran.

"Despite the severe damages that the Iranian economy had endured due to the [US] sanctions, the Iranian government didn't allow those who imposed such sanctions from achieving their goals," said Rouhani.

Figures by OPEC show Iranian oil exports have declined because of sanctions from an average of 3.9 million barrels per day to 2 million barrels.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara