Middle East
Publisher: Business Insider
26 Dec 2014
Rouhani’s Facade Is Crumbling
Publisher: The National
11 Dec 2014
Iranian President Blames Fall In Oil Prices On ‘Treachery’
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday that the sharp fall in global oil prices is the result of "treachery," in an apparent reference to regional rival Saudi Arabia, which opposed production cuts. Oil prices have plunged by more than 40 percent since June to around $65 a barrel, placing severe strain on Iran's economy, which is already hobbled by international sanctions imposed over its nuclear program.
Publisher: IranPressNews
10 Nov 2014
Weak Iran economy adds to pressure on leaders over nuclear deal
Iran s rulers are under growing pressure to secure a nuclear deal with world powers to help ease the plight of the country s economy, which has been buffeted by international sanctions and falling oil prices that threaten to derail economic reforms. Weak demand and oversupply have sent oil prices plunging more than 25 per cent, since the middle of June, to a four-year low.
Publisher: NYTimes
28 Oct 2014
Economic Pain Looms Large for Iranians in Nuclear Negotiations
With oil prices projected to fall even further, the oil-dependent government of Iran faces growing pressure to settle the nuclear standoff. "This is a new wild card, and we don't know how it will play out," one of the senior Western negotiators said the other day, as officials mapped out a strategy that they hope can achieve a deal in less than a month's time.
Publisher: LA Times
13 Oct 2014
Oil price drop threatens to hit Russia, Iran harder than sanctions
drop in global oil prices, driven in part by a boom in U.S. shale oil production, is threatening to hit the economies of energy-exporting Russia and Iran harder than Western economic sanctions have done.. Prices have fallen about 20% on world markets since June because of an increase in oil production and an economic slowdown in Asia and Europe. If that continues, as many analysts expect, gasoline may sell below $3 a gallon at the pump in much of the United States.
Publisher: The Times of Israel
6 Oct 2014
The immodest Rich Kids of Tehran
You may have heard about the Rich Kids of Instagram, an infamous group of ultra-wealthy youth who post pictures of the fabulous cars, glamorous yachts, and watches their parents have purchased for them. It is notable that these young Iranians appear to be flaunting their wealthy and obviously-Western-influenced lifestyle to the world without fear of repercussions from Iran's government, which is known to crack down on citizens engaging in what the regime deems subversive activities. Recently, seven Iranians were sentenced to prison sentences (since suspended) for uploading a video of themselves dancing to Pharell s music video "Happy."
Publisher: CNBC
23 Sep 2014
The Iranian economic surprise: Things are looking up in the Middle Eastern country
Publisher: Middle East Eye
4 Aug 2014
Iran: one year under Rouhani
"Prices are still high and girls are being bothered again about their veils," she said, referring to Iran's morality police who have taken to the streets in the sweltering summer heat to ensure women comply with clothing regulations. - Meanwhile, international human rights organisations have decried the rise in executions since Rouhani took office, while the sentencing of journalists and activists who were apprehended during the Ahmadinejad era for political reasons continue under Rouhani s watch. Domestic news media has become more openly critical of the government, but a number of reformist-minded journalists have been detained in recent months.
Publisher: Worldbulletin News
3 Aug 2014
How Iran sanctions fears hurt humanitarian trade
The sanctions regime, imposed by the United States and European Union over Tehran's nuclear programme, permits trade in humanitarian goods such as food and phamaceuticals. Yet many banks are steering clear of financing any deals with Iran due to a series of fines handed out by U.S. authorities for dealing with sanctioned countries, including a recent $8.97 billion penalty for BNP Paribas of France. So from January to March this year the Greek-run tanker lay at anchor before it was forced to head to Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates to refuel - this also being difficult in Iran due to the sanctions.
Publisher: Rooz Online
19 May 2014
Annual Loss of Nuclear Program $160 Billion Dollars
As the fourth round of nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 major world powers stalled in Vienna last week, the White House issued a warning that time was not limitless and a senior cabinet minister in Ahmadinejad s administration revealed that the nuclear program cost the country some $160 billion Dollars annually. These and other developments have cast a shadow of doubt on the success of the talks and informed sources have leaked that the differences are over Iran s military programs.
Publisher: Al Jazeera
26 Apr 2014
Iran petrol prices surge after subsidies cut
Petrol prices in Iran have leapt by up to 75 percent, after state subsidies were cut, in a risky move that President Hassan Rouhani hopes will improve an economy battered by Western sanctions. The price hikes, which began at midnight on Thursday, will test Rouhani's support among a population fed up with the high inflation that he has pledged to reduce, as he pursues talks with world powers aimed at ending sanctions imposed over Iran's nuclear programme
Publisher: Fortune
22 Mar 2014
In Iran, post-sanctions price increases deliver painful blow
Massive cuts to Iran's generous subsidy regime could lead to significant popular unrest in the country in the coming weeks and months. The cuts, which coincide with the first day of the Iranian calendar, are necessary in order for the government to close the huge revenue gap brought on by the ratcheting up of international sanctions by the West. The potential unrest could push the Mullahs to work faster to resolve its nuclear issues with the West and finally focus on improving economic opportunity for their downtrodden citizens.
Publisher: NYTimes
21 Mar 2014
In Iran, Hopes Fade for Surge in the Economy
Suffering in an economy dragged down by years of mismanagement and the effects of international sanctions, Iran s increasingly impoverished middle class voted in huge numbers last summer for President Hassan Rouhani, who promised to reignite growth by restoring ties with the rest of the world. But more than six months after Mr. Rouhani took office, hopes of a quick economic recovery are fading among ordinary Iranians, business owners and investors, while economists say the government is running out of cash.
Publisher: Spiegel Online
3 Jan 2014
Geneva Deal Sparks New International Investor Interest in Iran
Rohani needs economic success stories. He has to sweep aside the sanctions but, more importantly, move faster than inflation, which is eating away at the already meager income earned by millions of Iranians. The monthly minimum wage is only 140 ($190). Iranians are suffering under the embargo, and they are not just holding the Americans responsible for this. The price of gasoline has multiplied; milk and cheese now cost three times as much as they did two years ago. But it looks like the nuclear negotiations could spark an economic upswing in Iran. Although none of the sanctions have been lifted, droves of Western business people are already flocking to Tehran. Iran has the world's fourth-largest known oil reserves, and the second-largest gas reserves. Business deals worth billions of euros can be made here.