Tehran: Iran's economy has displayed resilience with a notable 4% growth in the first half of the current Iranian year, as reported by the Iranian Statistics Center. This growth encompasses both the oil and non-oil sectors, with the non-oil GDP specifically witnessing a 2.6% increase at constant prices. The growth comes amidst ongoing challenges posed by international sanctions and Financial Action Task Force (FATF) restrictions, which have been cited as significant barriers to foreign investment. According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Abdolnaser Hemmati, the Economy Minister, highlighted that over the past two years and eight months, Iran has managed to attract only $2.1 billion in foreign investments. Hemmati attributed this low figure primarily to the sanctions and FATF blacklisting. However, he remains optimistic that ongoing efforts and collaborative sessions between the government and Parliament will help improve the investment climate. In related news, Iran's agricultural sector has also shown po sitive developments. The country has produced approximately 127,700 tons of honey across 92,000 apiaries since the beginning of the current Iranian year, as stated by Mohammad-Ebrahim Hassan-Nejad, the deputy minister for livestock production at the Ministry of Agriculture. This production reflects a 4.7% increase over the projected 122,000 tons for the year, marking a 5.63% rise compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, Iran continues to make strides in international relations and cultural exchanges. A sisterhood agreement has been signed between the city of Shiraz and Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, to enhance tourism exchanges. This agreement, signed in Shiraz, involved various cultural, tourism, and municipal officials, along with representatives from the Tajikistan Embassy and tourism stakeholders. On the international front, Japan has expressed willingness to assist Iran in its dealings with the FATF. After a meeting of the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism i n India, Iranian deputy finance minister Hadi Khani announced that Japan has promised to help Iran advance its case with the FATF. This development is part of Iran's broader diplomatic efforts to navigate the challenges posed by international financial regulations.