Sunday, September 24, 2006

The Islamic Republic's Economy

[9/10/06 - 9/16/06]
  • Market Watch reported that China's Sinopec Group is close to signing a deal with Iran for a 51% stake to develop the Yadavaran oil field in the southern area of the Middle Eastern country.
  • Payvand reported that Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri-Hamaneh said that all preparatory requirements were arranged for launching Iran's oil bourse.
  • The Jerusalem Post reported that three top Japanese banks will refrain from doing business with Iran's state-run Bank Saderat Iran in line with US financial sanctions.
[9/03/06 - 8/09/06]
  • USA Today reported that as Iran hurtles toward a confrontation with the United States over its nuclear program, the nation's economy remains a dysfunctional wreck.
[8/27/06 - 9/02/06]
  • The Japan Times reported that Iran has warned Japan of a possible move to seek joint development of its giant Azadegan oil field with Russia or China if it cannot reach an agreement with Japan by Sept. 15.
[8/20/06 - 8/26/06]
  • Iran Focus reported that trade between Iran and Russia has fallen by half in the first quarter of the 2006.
[8/13/06 - 8/19/06]
  • The Mercury News reported that at least 5 million of Iran's 65 million people regularly use the Internet, according to estimates by international agencies. The figure is expected to grow sharply in the next decade.
  • IranMania reported that the total number of the cell phones in Iran will reach 15 million by February 19, 2007.
  • Iran Press News reported that 500 workers seeking work have been dispatched to Iraq.
  • Forbes reported that Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad's popular support comes from his appeals to social justice and Iranian nationalism. It also reflects working-class anger at the corruption of the past governments. However, the economic news since his election has largely been bad and is likely to cause his support to drop dramatically.
  • Iran Press News reported that the regime-run news agency, ILNA, said: “The status of 30 big factories in the province of Gilan is extremely critical and over 7000 workers are in limbo and paying for the [regime’s] erroneous policies of privatization.
  • Reuters reported that Wall Street may hit some turbulence next week, with Iran's nuclear dispute with the West poised to come to a head.
[8/06/06 - 8/12/06]
  • Iran Press News reported that Alijanzadeh, the governor of Ghaem-shahr said 20,000 workers lose their jobs in the Iranian province of Mazandaran.
  • Dow Jones Newswires reported that because Iran is ignoring the UNSC resolution on its nuclear program, Japan might have to ditch its plan to secure oil from the massive Azadegan field in Iran.
[7/30/06 - 8/05/06]
  • Khaleej Times reported that Iranian Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri-Hamaneh said Teheran will import gasoline for the next few months, cooling speculation that politically inflammatory rationing could be imminent.
  • Iran Press News reported that China and Iran have signed a $100 Billion memorandum of understanding for the export of Iranian liquid gas.
  • Reuters reported that India and Pakistan were offering to pay only half the amount for Iranian gas that Tehran was seeking as part of efforts to agree a pipeline deal.
[7/23/06 - 7/29/06]
  • Ilan Berman, American Foreign Policy Council testifying before the Joint Economic Committee of the United States Congress and said while there is no greater foreign policy challenge facing the United States today than the one posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran, there has been little public discussion about the economic dimension of the current crisis in Iran. A must read.
[7/16/06 - 7/22/06]
  • The New York Times finally reported on that Iran is struggling with the cost of its gasoline imports and debating on how to deal with the expected unrest from the lack of fuel.
  • IranMania reported that Iran’s daily consumption of natural gas has reached its highest level ever and is double the previous year.
[7/09/06 - 7/15/06]
  • Rooz Online reported that following the decrees of ayatollah Khamenei regarding the privatization of some large government businesses, military commanders are taking over most of these enterprises. The Iranian constitution forbids contracts being entered into in this manner.
  • Dow Jones reported that recently Iran has begun spending millions of dollars a day storing unwanted crude oil on ships.
  • The Financial Times reported that while an Iranian government spokesman said gasoline rationing was on the way, a member of parliament’s economic commission, said that government and legislators lacked “the necessary courage” to approve rationing.
  • IranMania reported that Iranian Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri-Hamaneh said India and Pakistan should forget buying Iran's gas at a low price.
[7/02/06 - 7/08/06]
  • Iranian.ws reported that Iran will start the initial phase of its planned Iranian oil bourse at the end of September.
  • Regnum.ru reported that Tehran is proposing to accelerate construction of Iran-Ukraine oil pipeline.
  • The Washington Times reported that while Iran plans to halt gasoline imports and introduce rationing, similar attempts to lift subsidies on key commodities in other countries have sparked widespread unrest.
  • Reuters reported that cheap fuel is seen as a national right inside of Iran. Drivers are bitter about the government's assertion that rationing could be imminent. This report explains how this crisis came to be.
  • The Financial Times reported that Iran issued an executive order for the privatization of 80 per cent of several state-owned companies. But it unlikely to succeed without massive foreign investment.
  • Gulf Times reported that Iran won’t discount the price of its natural gas due to flow through a proposed pipeline to Pakistan and India because of global demand. Europe wants to purchase it instead. Hmmm.
  • Rooz Online reported on the signing of an agreement for $7 billion between Iran’s Oil Ministry and a firm belonging to the elite Passdaran Revolutionary Guards Corps, now the largest business and economic trust in the country. Many fear this new arrangement may again produce the same kind of criminal activities that took place in the past.
  • Iranian.ws reported that Iran may run out of gasoline by the end of August, one month earlier than expected.
  • Rooz Online reported that although Iran's Supreme Leader has ordered the "privatization" of the Iranian economy, in reality, Iran's "Private Sector" = The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC).
[6/25/06 - 7/01/06]
  • Strategiy.com reported that Iran expects to earn 60 billion dollars from oil exports in its current financial year that ends on March 20, 2007. This is $10 billion more than last year.
  • RIA Novosti reported that Russia's Gazprom and Iran have agreed to study the possibility of forming a joint enterprise to develop oil and gas deposits.
  • Ilan Berman, AFPC reported that Ahmadinejad is weathering growing domestic discontent with his rule as he has failed to make good on his pre-election promises of economic prosperity. He said that more than 100,000 jobs have been lost since March and inflation is currently at some 17 percent and is expected to rise.
  • Rooz Online interviewed Hadi Zonooz, one of the authors of the letter signed by 50 Iranian economists wrote to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warning him of serious problems. He said the administration responded to the letter politically, and not economically.
  • Yahoo News reported that Iran's Revolutionary Guards are set to enter the oil and gas sectors. "The Revolutionary Guards have obtained the contract to develop phases 15 and 16 of South Pars," a huge offshore gas field. The contract was worth 2.09 billion dollars.
  • Rooz Online reported that fearing international sanctions, the Iranian regime has encouraged massive imports. The volume imports are so great that Iranian ports cannot handle the volume. But economists warn that these imports are having a crushing effect on the Iranian economy.
  • Yahoo News reported that Iran's oil minister warned that Iran would use oil as a weapon if its interests are attacked, state television has reported. "If the country's interests are attacked, we will use all our capabilities and oil is one of them."
  • Mehran Riazaty reminded us that the head of energy commission in Iran’s Parliament, Kamal Danesshyar, said that the real price of oil is $100 a barrel and it has not yet reached its real price.
  • Lawrence Kudlow, The New York Sun responded to the West's fear that the Iranian crisis may lead to sky rocketing oil prices. He argues we may instead be looking at a downward correction that will have oil prices dropping more than anyone imagines possible. A must read for those who fear Iran's "oil weapon."
[6/18/06 - 6/24/06]
  • Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States said world oil prices could triple if the diplomatic standoff over Iran's nuclear program escalates into a military conflict.
  • Mos News reported that Ahmadinejad offered Russia greater cooperation in the exploration and extraction of liquefied gas, promising to “cooperate closely” in determining the price of gas.
  • Rooz Online reported that the Iranian government’s plans to begin gasoline rationing in less than two months is expected to add fuel to the rising costs.
  • Forbes reported that a senior oil official said Iran will not sell gas at knock-down rates to India and Pakistan, amid a pricing dispute in talks over a planned pipeline.
  • The Wall Street Journal reported that many people in Iran fear that Mr. Ahmadinejad could be stoking runaway inflation. Moreover, he has created soaring expectations, particularly among Iran's agricultural and working poor, that could be hard to meet.
[6/11/06 - 6/17/06]
  • Yahoo News reported that a group of 50 prominent Iranian economists have written an open letter to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, criticizing his government policies for promoting skyrocketing inflation.
[5/14/06 - 5/20/06]
  • Pravdaprovided a Russian perspective on the coming Iran Oil Exchange, the fifth Stock Exchange of its kind in the world. The Iranian Exchange will be unique, as all trading will be conducted in Euros. How will the opening of the Oil Exchange affect the rate of the dollar?
  • UPI reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced that starting in July Iran will abandon dollar payments for its oil and natural gas exports in favor of euros.
  • The Washington Post argued why Iran is unlikely to use oil as a weapon.
[5/07/06 - 5/13/06]
  • Ken Timmerman, Iran.org reported that in a sign that the population lacked confidence in the future of the regime, Iranians are converting bank deposits into Gold coins.
  • SeattlePI reported that Iran is increasingly finding itself in economic limbo as the international community debates how to respond to Tehran's refusal to stop enriching uranium.
[4/30/06 - 5/06/06]
  • The New York Times reported that Ahmadinejad's plans to move Iran's increasing oil wealth among its citizens may be doing more to irritate political and economic tensions than to soothe them.
  • Economic Times reported that Pakistan and Iran plan to leave India in the cold and their sign oil deal on their own.
[4/23/06 - 4/29/06]
  • The Washington Post reported that Iran is scrapping a $1.2 bln deal with foreign firms. Conservative parliamentarians had argued that Iranian firms could carry out the project more cheaply. Analysts believe this could trigger a flight of engineering companies from Iran.
  • Iran Press News reported that workers representative of the Pokdasht townships said: “The problems of 228 workers from Sazmayeh mining company have not been resolved and they are owed 15 months of wages and benefits."
  • The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran's new Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh said that the country may ease the restrictive rules under which foreign oil companies can invest in the nation.
  • TMCNet reported that Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh said that the Oil Stock Exchange will be launched in Iran in the next week.
[4/16/06 - 4/22/06]
  • Iran Press News reported that Iran's brick making factories are closing rapidly with only 5 of 150 left due to stagnancy in construction in big cities such as Tehran leaving more that ten thousand unemployed.
  • Iran Press News reported that for the second time in a week protesting workers from 4 textile factories blocked the transit road between the cities of Kashan and Bandar Abbass.
  • Rooz Online reported that fear of war in Iran has lead to a demand for gold and the Central Bank of Iran has been unable to control the demand.
  • Iran Press News reported that while Iran is spending million funding Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the latest statistics on poverty in Iran show poverty is increasing.
  • The Financial Times reported that with the war of words over Iran’s nuclear programme escalating and the domestic economy stalling, Iranians are scrambling to buy gold coins.
[4/09/06 - 4/15/06]
  • Iran Press News reported more than 500 textile workers have gone unpaid for 8 months.
[4/02/06 -4/08/06]
  • Yahoo News reported investors' are worried about Ahmadinejad's anti-market policies and the Iranian people, suffering from crushing unemployment and inflation, may soon grow weary of his regime sacrificing their butter for guns.
  • Rooz Online reported that the head of Iran's Planning and Management Organization announced that the government would continue the policy of quotas for gasoline. If economic sanctions are imposed on Iran, gasoline imports could turn into a serious crisis for the country.
  • Iran Press News reported that the Islamic regime has withdrawn 700 tons of its gold reserves worth $30 billion from Swiss banks and transferred it to Asian banks located in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Rooz Online reported that Iran's parliament voted to lower the banking interest rate, despite the Banking Governor's warning of its effect on the economy.
[3/26/06 -4/01/06]
 [3/19/06 -3/25/06]
  • Free Market News reported on the count-down to war with Iran and examined the mixed signals from crude oil, gold, and Tel Aviv.
  • TMC Net reported that Iran's OPEC governor said the use of oil as a weapon in the existing tension between Iran and the West over the Islamic regime's nuclear program won't be in the interest of either side.
  • RIA Novosti reported that the Iranian Oil Ministry denied media reports that it was to open a Euro-based oil exchange.
[3/12/06 -3/18/06]
  • Interactive Investor reported that UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Iran's actions over its nuclear program are beginning to cause "serious damage" to investor confidence there.
  • The Financial Times reported that the US is looking at “creative” ways of addressing the energy worries of China, Japan and India. One option would be to tap the oil stockpiles of the 26 industrialized IAEA nations. Emergency stocks are enough to fill an 18-month hole if Iranian oil exports stopped.
  • Stratfor argued that although Iran threatened targeted oil boycotts against countries that support U.N. sanctions against it. It is not a threat that will hold much weight with China.
  • Financial Times reported that International oil companies are putting multibillion-dollar projects in Iran on hold, concerned about the diplomatic standoff over the country’s nuclear program.
[2/27/06 -3/04/06]
  • Reuters reported that Iran is preparing to grant gas contracts to European firms: Total, Shell and Repsol.
  • Rooz Online reported that that soon Ahmadinejad’s cleansing process of the banking system will be complete.
  • Iran Press News that Dr. Hadi Ghanimi-Fard, an Employment and Labor authority in Iran told ILNA, said: "In Iran there are no opportunities for prosperity for an employer, factory-owner, job creator, job or worker."
[2/20/06 -2/26/06]
  • Arab News reported March 20th is the opening day, that some believe, could shake the world economy, when Iran opens a new “bourse” (exchange) on which countries all over the world can buy and sell oil and gas not only for dollars but also for euros.
  • IranMania reported that Iran will not reduce its oil exports to use as a weapon in its nuclear row with the West.
[2/13/06 -2/19/06]
  • Rooz Online reported "dangerous" is the word that the Majlis Research Committee on the budget has used to explain Ahmadinejad's budget.
  • Rooz Online reported that Ahmadinejad has ordered government agencies to limit the country's economic relations with Europe.
[1/30/06 -2/05/06]
  • The Wall Street Journal reported that some of the world's largest finance and energy companies are severing ties with Iran.
  • Reuters reported that India has replaced its pro-Iranian oil minister with Murli Deora known to have "deep contacts" in the US Senate and business circles. The Iran gas pipeline now appears dead.
  • Rooz Online reported that Iran’s budget has unexpectedly received a 50% increase, a radical change that economic experts describe as “disastrous”.
  • Reuters reported that Iran will press on with a contentious gas pipeline to Pakistan even if India does not meet a May deadline to join the project.
[1/23/06 -1/29/06]
  • Iran Press News reported that more than 170 operational factories of industrial and manufacturing units of Iran are facing bankruptcy.
  • World Tribune.com reported that Iran reported investors have poured $23 billion in the development of the South Pars natural gas field.
  • Terry Keenan, New York Post discussed how Iran is plotting to use its oil weapon against the US.
  • Ha'aretz reported that a senior Iranian official threatened that Tehran may forcibly prevent oil export via the Straits of Hormuz if the UN imposed economic sanctions.
  • Iran Press News provided more of the statement: if our regime is referred to the security council, we have several options and one of those is to close off the Straits of Hormuz so that not one drop of oil can be exported.
  • Iran Press News reported that OPEC member nations rejected the Islamic regimes petition to decrease oil production.
  • The New York Sun Blog argued that while the president may be counting on Iran to reject Russia's offer but it also permits Iran the opportunity to now negotiate with Moscow for months on end, giving Iran more time to build its bomb.
  • Agence France-Presse reported that the US cautioned that is was not 100 per cent supportive of Russia's proposed compromise.
  • The Associated Press reported that the US ruled out any contact with Iranian delegates before next week's showdown vote.
  • Kenneth R. Timmerman, Iran.org is launching an appeal to identify and freeze Iranian government assets around the world.
  • International Herald Tribune considered the question: If sanctions are the answer, what economic levers could they safely use? Gasoline imports.
  • Ali Nourizadeh, Asharq Al-Awsat reminded us that Iran imports most of its gasoline and has only a 45 day supply.
  • Iran Mania reported EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said he doubted that Iran would cut oil exports in response to threatened sanctions.
  • The Financial Times reported that Iran's central bank vice-governor, said on Tuesday Tehran had withdrawn foreign reserves from Italian banks but not elsewhere in Europe.
  • Forbes.com reported that Swiss banking giant UBS AG said it has stopped doing business with Iran.
  • DW-World.de reported that German firms are seeking a lower profile in Iran since they have huge investments there.
  • Forbes reported that German banks want to retain their interests in Iran for the time being.
  • The Chicago Tribune reported that insurance brokerage firm, Aon Corp., will stop doing business in Iran.
  • Reuters reported that German exports to Iran will fall sharply this year as a sweeping purge of officials at Iranian ministries and state companies is causing contracts with German firms to dry up.
[1/16/06 -1/07/22]
  • Iran Press News reported that more than 780,000 single mothers are receiving government assistance and 1.5 million people are waiting for financial aide.
  • Iran Press News reported that director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of China and the Islamic Republic of Iran announced that trade between the two countries has exceeded $10 billion.
  • Reuters reported that the U.S. Energy Information Administration warned world can't afford to lose Iran's oil.
  • The New York Times reported that Ahmadinejad hinted last weekend that Iran might be willing to use the "oil weapon" - that is, curbing oil exports.
  • United Press International also reported that Iran's plan for opening an oil bourse in March of this year could threaten the world economy.
  • Adnkronos International reported that the governor of the Iranian central bank, confirmed reports that Tehran is considering shifting funds deposited in European banks to financial institutions in Asia.
  • Asharq Al-Awsat reported that Iran is ready to transfer 8 Billion Dollars from the EU to Asian banks.
  • SBS TV reported that a US senator has announced legislation that would urge the international community to impose tough sanctions on Iran.
  • The Jerusalem Post reported that Iran announced Friday it has begun pulling its foreign currency accounts out of European banks.
  • Reuters reported that an unnamed senior Iranian official said: "Yes, Iran has started withdrawing money from European banks and transferring it to other banks abroad."
  • Reuters reported that Iran's decision to withdraw investments from Europe to shield them from U.N. sanctions has unearthed an array of risks for currency investors.
  • Reuters reported that Iran, which has said it is shifting its money out European accounts as the threat of U.N. sanctions mounts, will NOT move its currency assets to Asia.
[1/08/06 -1/07/15]
  • Iran Press News reported that Islamic Republic of Iran is next to last on industrial growth index of Mid East countries.
  • Iran Press News reported that all of the Islamic regimes government employees live under the poverty line.
[1/01/06 -1/07/06]
  • Radio Free Europe reported that an influential right-wing U.S. think-tank rated Iran as one Of the World's Least Free Economies.
  • Kevin A. Hassett, Bloomberg.com reported that Iran, not Iraq, may be the big story of 2006, both politically and economically.
[12/25/05 -12/31/05]
  • The Economic Times reported that Iran thinks the OPEC oil cartel should cut its production ceiling by 1 million barrels per day when it meets on January 31.
  • Dow Jones Newswires reported that an India-Iran joint working group Wednesday resumed talks in New Delhi on a proposed natural gas pipeline project.
  • IranMania.com reported that Pakistan will take a final decision about the multi-billion Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project in two months.
[12/18-12/24]
  • The Associated Press reported that the Federal Reserve Board ordered ABN AMRO Bank NV to pay roughly 80 million dollars in fines Monday for conducting financial transactions with Iran and Libya that violated U.S. money-laundering laws.
[12/04-12/10]
  • The New York Times reported that young Iranians are following their dreams in Dubai.
  • Parisa Hafezi, Reuters reported that acting Iranian Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri-Hamaneh was nominated for the position by Ahmadinejad.
  • Iran Press News reported that a new gold mine was discovered in Iran.
[11/27-12/03]
  • Iran Press News reported that Iran has imported 3 times its export of Gas.
  • MehrNews reported that the Chairman of the Majlis Energy Commission said that preparatory measures have been taken to sell oil in euros instead of dollar, adding: the United States would soon realize that it is not the one who can always inflict economic damages.
[11/20-11/26]
  • Iran Press Newsreported that with the sum total of the regime’s debts exceeding $40 billion and the decrease of oil prices this leaves the regime with 8 months worth of monetary reserves.
  • Iran Press News reported that in the midst of the political tumult of the regime a number of Iranian oil experts have left Iran.
  • Adnkronos International reported that important newspapers in Tehran have been "advised" to reject any advertisements for products made in South Korea, in response to South Korea's support for referral of Iran to the UN Security Council.
[11/13-11/19]
  • Meysam Tavab, Rooz Online in a special report provided behind the scenes details of a meeting of government economic advisors meeting with Ahmadinejad and their counsel to temporarily close Tehran’s Stock Exchange.
  • Iran Press News reported on Iran's brain drain as 300,000 educated and skilled Iranians emigrate from Iran every year.
  • Gareth Smyth in Tehran, The Financial Times reported that Iran's state-owned Keshavarzi agriculture bank yesterday reduced its lending rate to 9 per cent, a signal that Ahmadinejad is pressing ahead with his populist agenda of "social justice".
[11/06-11/12]
  • Islamic Republic News Agency reported that Iran-China trade volume is expected to reach 10 billion dollars in 2005.
  • Iran Focus added that capital flight in Iran over the past fortnight reached its highest recorded level since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
[10/30-11/05]
  • Iran Focus reported that Iran's President's solution to the Stock Market slide: Hang two or three people.
  • MosNews reported that industrial contracts between Iran and Russia could reach $10 billion per year.
  • Rooz Online reported that despite the fall of Tehran's stock market, Farhad Rahbar, head of Iran's Planning and Management Organization and the economic brain behind Ahmadinejad's government said: Tehran's stock market has no problems.
  • CNN reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad nominated Sadeq Mahsouli, a total unknown in the energy business, as oil minister.
  • BBC News reported that the Iranian government has approved plans to offer share options to low-income families.
  • Iran Press News reported on a major drop in foreign investment.
[10/23-10/29]
  • Business Week reported that just months after Iran elected Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as President, the conservatives are fighting among themselves and business capital is fleeing the country.
  • Iran Press News reported that Ahmadinejad's own site said the escape of capital from Iran has quickened.
[10/16-10/22]
  • Shahram Rafizadeh, Rooz Online reported that the Iranian government has offered a new bill to the parliament (Majlis) to increase the price of gasoline which if passed will lead to civil unrest.
  • Iran Press News reported that the regime-run site, AFTAB expressed anxiety that economic sanctions against the regime which will mean that the sale of refined gas to Iran will be prohibited and that people are in no shape to put up with anything like this and it will lead to bedlam.
  • Iran Press News reported that according to the Deputy of the Food and Drug Ministry of the regime: Most of the food and drug products imported to Iran are counterfeit.
  • Iran Press News reported that several campaign supporters of Rafsanjani's presidential campaign, whose campaign financed loans for advertisement, etc. have not been reimbursed, are claiming bankruptcy.
  • Iran Daily reported that the governor of the Central Bank of Iran said he is hopeful that the stock market situation will return to normal and that contrary to earlier reports that the country has not severed trade ties with Britain and South Korea.
[10/09-10/15]
  • Nazila Fathi, The NY Times reported that Iran's plummeting stock market, where prices have declined nearly 30 percent since Sept. 24.
  • Iran Press News reported that the commission responsible for fighting smuggled goods and currency has been dissolved.
  • Yasser, Under Underground said "its a fact" that 30 years before Turkey’s economy was about less than half of Iran’s economy but today Iran's is less than of half that of Turkey.
  • AME Info reported that Iran has shut down production from two oil fields because of difficulties selling the heavy oil the sites produce.
  • Mehr News reported that Iranian and French auto part manufacturers have recently signed a number of joint venture contracts.
[10/02-10/08]
  • Iran Press News reported that $200 billion in capital has left Iran since Ahmadinejad's installation to presidency. It appears people are voting with their pocketbooks.
  • Iran Press News reported that a million more people are added to the illiterate population of Iran.
  • Science Daily reported that Iran will invest up to $50 billion in the oil sector over the next five years.
  • Iran Press News reported that multi-national corporations investing in Iran will no longer be insured.
  • Iran Press News reported that the governent is warning there will be a serious lack of fuel this winter in Iran, affecting power plants.
  • Farnaz Ghazizadeh, Rooz Online discussed the problems of fighting economic corruption and Iranian Officials. 704 cases of abuse of power and government posts have been finalized and 395 other files are under review.
  • Yahoo News reported that Iran could run out of oil reserves in nine decades.
[9/11-9/17]
  • Iran Press News reported that the regime is facing a $12 billion budget deficit this year.
[9/04-9/10]
  • Iran mania reported that the U.S. has finally agreed with France’s sale of the VIP aircraft to Iran.
  • Iran Mania reported that assets held by Iranian nationals residing in the United States reached $800 bln last year.
  • IranMania.com reported that Iran's stock market chief dismissed reports that the proposed oil bourse will use the euro.
[8/28-9/03]
  • The Christian Science Monitor reported that the Iranian government's plans to create an oil exchange fit into a strategy of weakening US economic hegemony.
  • IranMania reported that the Minister of Iran's Economic Affairs and Finance Davood Danesh-Jafari said Iran's Parliament needs to help check inflation.
  • Iran Press News reported Iran's central bank has announced that the total foreign debt in 2004 hit the $40 Billion mark.
  • Iranian.ws reported that Larijani said here Friday: The issue of exporting Iran's Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) to India has been finalized.
  • Hindustan Times also reported that ignoring objections from the US, India and Iran on Saturday decided to go ahead with the proposed $7.4 billion dollar pipeline project.
[8/21-8/27]
  • Toni Straka, Speaking Freely, Asia Times asked: Could the proposed Iranian oil bourse (IOB) become the catalyst for a significant blow to the influential position the US dollar enjoys?
  • Alan Peters thinks this would be a disaster for the US economy.
  • Andrew Ellson, Times UK reported that this week the price of a barrel of oil surged towards $70 a barrel, near the inflation-adjusted price last seen in 1980, shortly after the Iranian revolution. One country is causing particular concern: Iran.
[8/14-8/20]
  • Deutsch Welle asked if the recent crisis with Iran is the end of German business in Iran.
[7/24-7/29]
  • The Peninsula reported that Iranian authorities are trying to halt the downward plunge of Tehran's stock exchange.
[7/17-7/23]
  • Reuters reported in Iran a conservative storm is brewing over Iran's energy deals.
  • Iranian blogger, Aras Hassan-Nia, Roozonline reported that trading in Tehran's Stock Market took a deep dive last week and analysts expect more black days ahead.
  • Business Week reported that Royal Dutch Shell PLC disclosed in a filing this week that it faces risks of U.S. sanctions in Iran.
[7/10-7/16]
  • Red Nova News reported that the Ukraine is increasing energy machinery deliveries to Iran.
  • India Express reported that India spurred by Pakistan’s eagerness on the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline, has stepped on the gas pedal.
  • IranMania reported that the British government issued $182 m in financial support for UK companies doing business with Iran.
[7/03-7/09]
  • The Peninsula reported that Iran is in talks with Indian and Chinese firms that are interested in developing the Azadegan oil field.
  • BusinessWeek reported that since the Iranian President-elect is anti-capitalist and anti-West, investment may suffer.
[6/26-7/2][6/12-6/18]
[6/5-6/11]
 [5/8-5/14]
 [4/24-4/30]
[4/17-4/23]
[4/10-4/16]
[4/3-4/9]

posted by DoctorZin @ 2:43 PM   |