Target: Iran

[Ender]

It was Shah Reza, father of the late Shah who changed the name of the country from Persia to Iran in the 1930's. Reza was a modernist who sought to de-islamify the country. Persia (Fars) is merely a province anyway in terms of ethnicity. While today the Basij sometimes beat women who refuse to cover their hair, Reza Shah's secret police beat women who did. What would replace Islam is the old religion, Zoroastrianism, which he also supported. Iran is a short form of the Persian phrase used by Cyrus the Great, the Zoroastrian founder of the Achaemenid Persian Empire 2500 years ago and means "Land of the Aryans." This had absolutely nothing to do with the German Nazi Party and their ideology and when war lurked on the horizon, Reza Shah did everything he could to distance himself from the Nazis and declared Iran neutral. It didn't work, mainly because Iran had oil that the USSR needed to defeat Hitler so they invaded and occupied Iran anyway and Reza Shah was deposed. One of the major WW2 conferences that featured Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill occurred in Soviet occupied Tehran...I think in 1943.

Interesting stuff.

I believe why Iran is still in the West's gun scope is because of oil.

[Vieux Canard]

Interesting stuff.

I believe why Iran is still in the West's gun scope is because of oil.

I don't think so. I think it's because Iran insists, like Russia, of being independent. It is also because Saudi Arabia and Israel fear it, for completely different reasons. Israel want to occupy Southern Lebanon for it's land and water resources of the Litani River and Hezbollah stands in it's way, as does Assad of Syria. Saudi Arabia wants to be the big dog in the islamic world and their version of islam (which frankly sucks) conflicts with Iran's.

[nikcers]

I don't think so. I think it's because Iran insists, like Russia, of being independent. It is also because Saudi Arabia and Israel fear it, for completely different reasons. Israel want to occupy Southern Lebanon for it's land and water resources of the Litani River and Hezbollah stands in it's way, as does Assad of Syria. Saudi Arabia wants to be the big dog in the islamic world and their version of islam (which frankly sucks) conflicts with Iran's.

The zionists want genocide, they won't accept anything else as an option.

[Vieux Canard]

Interesting stuff.

I believe why Iran is still in the West's gun scope is because of oil.

I should also add that while Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, the late shah is hated my most Iranians, his father, Reza Shah is beloved and if you follow any Iranians protests by the educated young people that occur from time to time you will see signs and chants in his praise.

[Ender]

I don't think so. I think it's because Iran insists, like Russia, of being independent. It is also because Saudi Arabia and Israel fear it, for completely different reasons. Israel want to occupy Southern Lebanon for it's land and water resources of the Litani River and Hezbollah stands in it's way, as does Assad of Syria. Saudi Arabia wants to be the big dog in the islamic world and their version of islam (which frankly sucks) conflicts with Iran's.

I agree with this as well.

When Prime Minister Mossadegh dared to nationalize Iran's oil, he became a target.

Interesting article here about the alphabets finally releasing the info on the coup.
http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/06/20/...an-tehran-oil/

[Swordsmyth]

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman urged the international community to step up economic and political pressure against Iran in order to avoid a large military conflict in the Middle East.
During a whirlwind tour of the United States this month, during which he met President Donald Trump in the oval office, Saudi Arabia’s rising leader has urged his interlocutors to sanction his country’s archenemy Iran.

More at: https://www.yahoo.com/news/saudi-ara...125039602.html

[Swordsmyth]

Four days into 2018, two Iranian nationals tried to buy parts of an advanced missile in Kyiv, according a spokesperson for the Ukrainian intelligence service. This effort appears to have violated a UN arms embargo on Iran.
Masked men in Ukraine’s secret police arrested the men and found parts of the missile in their vehicle, according to the spokesperson. What followed became a secret diplomatic incident, and both men were detained and then quietly deported to Iran.

More at: https://www.thedailybeast.com/ukrain...ile?yptr=yahoo

[Swordsmyth]

Israel's Defense Minister says Iran is on the brink of economic and military collapse, and that Israel will attack Tehran "and destroy every Iranian military outpost in Syria threatening Israel," according to Arab-language publication Elaph and reported by Israeli media Thursday.
“They know that the Iranian regime is in its final days and will soon collapse,” said Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, adding "If they attack Tel Aviv, we will attack Tehran."

Liberman suggested Iran is vulnerable on two fronts, economic and military - and that an American withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal would significantly damage the regime's economy during a period in which the Islamic Republic is devoting resources to a military build-up in Syria against the West.
“Iran is trying to establish bases in Syria and arm them with advanced weapons,” Lieberman said. “Every military outpost in Syria in which Iran seems to be trying to dig in militarily, we will destroy.”
Lieberman says that Israel must prevent an Iranian military build-up on their border. “We won’t allow it, whatever the cost,” he said.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...its-final-days

[goldenequity]

Israel's Defense Minister says Iran is on the brink of economic and military collapse, and that Israel will attack Tehran "and destroy every Iranian military outpost in Syria threatening Israel," according to Arab-language publication Elaph and reported by Israeli media Thursday.
“They know that the Iranian regime is in its final days and will soon collapse,” said Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, adding "If they attack Tel Aviv, we will attack Tehran."

Liberman suggested Iran is vulnerable on two fronts, economic and military - and that an American withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal would significantly damage the regime's economy during a period in which the Islamic Republic is devoting resources to a military build-up in Syria against the West.
“Iran is trying to establish bases in Syria and arm them with advanced weapons,” Lieberman said. “Every military outpost in Syria in which Iran seems to be trying to dig in militarily, we will destroy.”
Lieberman says that Israel must prevent an Iranian military build-up on their border. “We won’t allow it, whatever the cost,” he said.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...its-final-days

Sep 25, 2012
Israel Lobbyist - We Need a False Flag to Start War with Iran



"I mean, look people, Iranian submarines periodically go down, someday one of the might not come up, who would know why?
. . . we are in the game of using covert means against the Iranians, we could get nastier about it"

=====

April 21, 2018
IRGC Navy Commander Ali Fadavi Threatens to Sink U.S. Ships

[goldenequity]

So now it's the missiles... (not just the 'nukes') 'All your self-defense R belong to US!!'

Pompeo lands in Saudi Arabia, immediately calls for new sanctions against Iran
https://www.rt.com/usa/425439-pomepo...-saudi-arabia/



"We are urging nations around the world to sanction any individuals and entities associated with Iran’s missile program,
and it has also been a big part of discussions with Europeans,”
Brian Hook, a senior policy advisor on Pompeo’s team, told journalists shortly after landing in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on Saturday evening.

“Iran’s missiles prolong war and suffering in the Middle East, they threaten our security and economic interests and they especially threaten Saudi Arabia and Israel,”

US President Donald Trump has threatened he will not recertify the 2015 nuclear control agreement with Iran on May 12, which he has described as “the worst ever,”
unless European signatories, including the UK, Germany and France “fix” its “serious flaws."
(so Trump blackmails BOTH Iran AND Europe with threats and sankshuns. Shalom)

“There’s been no decision, so the team is working and I am sure we will have lots of conversations to deliver what the president has made clear,”
Pompeo told the media on Friday in Brussels.

As well as delivering diplomatic gains, Pompeo has promised to return “swagger” to the US State Department,
which he admitted was “demoralized” in recent months due to the internal divisions regarding White House foreign policy and the management of Rex Tillerson,
who was occasionally ignored and belittled by Trump before resigning late last year.




So simple:
Neocons/zionists/wahhabists hate Iran?
God bless Iran then...

[goldenequity]

i24NEWS EnglishVerified account
BREAKING: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives on first visit to Israel for talks with Netanyahu on Iran nuclear deal

i24NEWS EnglishVerified account
BREAKING Bolton on Iran deal: "[Trump] has made no decision on the nuclear deal, whether to stay in or get out"

[pcosmar]

So simple:
Neocons/zionists/wahhabists hate Iran?
God bless Iran then...

All the right enemies.

[goldenequity]

Some companies have opted for leaving the Iranian market to comply with US regulations and avoid facing sanctions blackmail,
others haven’t decided yet on what to do.

List of European Companies Operating in Iran

►France (38):
Accor; ADP; ADYA FOILS; Airbus (the plane-maker may leave Iran in the immediate future);
Alliance Export; ALSTOM; Auto Chassis International Pars; Avicenne Gerontologic;
Balmoral Intl SAS; Bel Rouzaneh Dairy; Boeing France (the airplane-manufacturer may withdraw from Iran in the near future); Bureau Veritas;
CBE Group; CGG; Cohen Amir-Aslani; Danone; Eiger International; Engie; Faurecia Azin Pars Seating;
Gaz de France (GDF SUEZ); GEA; Golden Group; Hyper Market Maf Pars; Intertek International Limited (SAI);
Negotium Partners; Nexans Co.; PSA Group; Renault; RGG Capital;
Schneider Electric Co. (Telemecanique Iran); SNCF; Suez Environnement;
Thales; Total (the oil and gas giant is leaving Iran);
Vecteur Cast; Vinci Technologies; Vision France Consulting; Well Services of Iran (WSI — Schlumberger Methods).

►Germany (35):
AIOTEC GmbH; Alldos Eichler GmbH; Allianz (an international financial services provider, which is pulling out from Iran);
Bada AG; Bayer Parsian AG; BASF Iran (PJS) Co.; BASF's Wintershall; Butting GmbH (CamalAmiran Co.);
COMMERZBANK; Eisenmann Co.; Eltherm GmbH; Evonik Iran; Ferrostaal; Germanischer Lloyd (GL); HERRENKNECHT; ILF Consulting Engineers Pars (PJSC);
KOBOLD Messring GmbH Iran; KROHNE Iran; KSB Aktiengesellschaft; Linde Co.; Minimax GmbH & Co. KG, Iran Branch Office; Minova CarboTech Iran Branch; Nivea;
PM Piping (Project Materials Group); Regalbuto Steel GmbH; Rieckermann GmbH (Iran Liaison Office);
Salzgitter Mannesmann International Tehran; Siemens Co. (the tech giant is leaving the Iranian market to comply with US regulations);
TGE Gas Engineering GmbH; TUV NORD Iran (RWTUV Iran); Uhde GmbH Iran Branch; Volkswagen;
WIKA Instrumentation Pars Kish Ltd.; Wintershall Iran Holding GmbH.

►Italy (21):
AGIP; AlItalia; Ansaldo Energia SpA; CONDOTTE D'ACQUA; Danieli Cina (the steel manufacturer has halted work in Iran);
Edison International; Enel; Eni (the energy company is leaving Iran); Ferrovie dello Stato; Fiat-Chrysler; FINCANTIERI; Fincantieri SpA;
GEOLOG International BV — Iran; ITINERA; Kinetics Technology (KT);
Saipem; Seli; SSE SpA Iran Branch; Tecnimont SpA; Tectubi Raccordi S.p.A.; TELECOMA ITALIA GROUP.

►UK (16):
Atlantic International Operation Limited; BG — British Gas Iran; BHP Billiton; BP Iran Ltd.; Cameron Integrated Services (South Well Drilling Engineering Co., SWDEC);
Daimler; Energy Deployment Co. Ltd. (EDC); Euroinvest; Flowstream International Ltd.; KBC Iran Office;
Lloyd's Register Group Ltd; Lloyd's of London (the insurance market may halt cooperation with Iran in the short term);
Pergas International Consortium; Royal Dutch Shell; UK P&I (the mutual steam ship assurance association may pull out from Iran in the near future);
Welding Alloys Group (Aliaj Joosh Iran).

►Switzerland (8):
ABB (PJSC); BUCHER; Burckhardt Compression Tehran SSK; MSC BASEL (the shipping giant may stop cooperating with Iran in the short term);
SGS Iran Limited; Sulzer Co.; Weatherford; ZURICH INSURANCE.

►Spain (7):
Esproenko Pars; JC Valves; Sercobe Co.; Star Petroleum Middle East; TAIM WESER Iran Office; Tubacex Service Solutions Pars (TSS Iran); Tubos Reunidos Group.

►Denmark (6):
Ecco; Haldor Topsoe; LEO Pharma; Maersk (the container shipping company is abandoning Iran);
Novo Nordisk; Welltec Oilfield Services Iran (Touse Mohandesi Fanavari Chah Mayadin).

►Norway (6):
Barwil; Fugro-Geoteam AS; Hydro; ROXAR Norway; Saga Energy (the energy firm is leaving Iran); SPT Group Norway.

►Czech Republic (6):
Bresson Energy; Energo-Pro; Moravia Steel; Ostroj; Solek Holding; SOR Libchavy.

►The Netherlands (5):
AkzoNobel; BAF Valves Pars; ENI Iran B.V.; Royal Dutch Shell; Zagroz Equipment Engineering Co.

►Sweden (4):
Alfa Laval Iran Co. Ltd.; Atlas Copco Iran; Camfil Farr Co.; NYNAS.

►Austria (2):
Christof Industries — Geety Sanaat Mayestan Co. (GSM); Oberbank; O.M.V.

►Finland (2):
Metso Iran (Garno Group); Styrochem of Finland.

►Macedonia (1):
ABE Power Co.

►Poland (1):
PGNiG (the national oil company has suspended a project in Iran).

►Romania (1):
Robust Star Group.

►Cyprus (1):
Sezzol Group.

[goldenequity]

Exposee 0f MEK nutjob proxiis

VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: We obtained never-before-seen footage of the MEK's secret base in Albania. The MEK is an Iranian opposition group with a history of terrorism. More recently it's paid thousands to @AmbJohnBolton & @RudyGiuliani. More tonight at 9PM ET
https://twitter.com/OARichardEngel/s...62744518217733

[goldenequity]

Brasco_Aad‏ @Brasco_Aad · 1 min.
#India tells @realDonaldTrump to go to hell.


Hannahkaviani‏@Hannahkaviani · 2 hod.
. @Reuters : #India only abides by sanctions imposed by the #UN & not those imposed by any other country, such as ones announced by the #US against #Iran, India's FM said. Swaraj will meet @jzarif who arrived in New Delhi to build support against the U.S. rejection of #irandeal

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-de...-idUKKCN1IT16P

[Swordsmyth]

Brasco_Aad‏ @Brasco_Aad · 1 min.
#India tells @realDonaldTrump to go to hell.


Hannahkaviani‏@Hannahkaviani · 2 hod.
. @Reuters : #India only abides by sanctions imposed by the #UN & not those imposed by any other country, such as ones announced by the #US against #Iran, India's FM said. Swaraj will meet @jzarif who arrived in New Delhi to build support against the U.S. rejection of #irandeal

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-de...-idUKKCN1IT16P

India is misleading the world by saying that it will only adhere to UNSC sanctions and not unilaterally imposed US ones because this only reflects the state’s official intent and doesn’t account for why two of its Iranian-linked banks are complying with American demands.
People all across the world, and especially in the multipolar bloc of BRICS, collectively let out a sigh of relief after Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Saraj said that “India follows only U.N. sanctions, and not unilateral sanctions by any country”, formalizing New Delhi’s intent to continue trading with Tehran in spite of enormous pressure from Washington to curtail its economic connections with the sanctioned Islamic Republic.
That official statement accurately reflects the Indian government’s intentions in continuing to purchase oil from its third-largest supplier and hints that it won’t let its North-South Transport Corridor (NSTC) plans with Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia be deterred by America, but it nevertheless fails to account for why two of the country’s Iranian-linked banks are complying with American demands.

While marketed as “multi-alignment”, this double-dealing policy of deceit is actually nothing more than a clever way of implementing unipolar policies under a multipolar guise.

Reuters quoted Ajay Sahai, Director General of the Federation of Indian Exporters Organisation (FIEO), as saying that “IndusInd and UCO bank are telling exporters that you complete all Iran business by August 6”, which is right around the time when the US’ more robust anti-Iranian sanctions are expected to kick in. The news outlet also claims to have seen an IndusInd letter from 24 May that backs up Sahai’s account.

More at: https://www.globalresearch.ca/the-in...g-them/5642490

[Swordsmyth]

Protests are continuing to grow across Iran even as the regime in Tehran attempts to crush them. The demonstrations are increasing at a time when the leadership of the ‘Islamic Republic’ is struggling to adapt to its newly-reduced status after US President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 Joint Collective Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal between the regime and the P5+1 group of nations.

Despite the frantic efforts by leadership officials to sign new financial and trade agreements and obtain credit lines from various allies to stave off collapse and allow the regime to continue funding its regional interventions, Iran’s currency exchange rate is approaching freefall while inflation is skyrocketing, with U.S. economist Steven H. Sanke announcing on Sunday that the current inflation rate stands at 78.55 percent. Meanwhile one U.S. dollar at the time of writing buys 42,270 Iranian riyals.
This economic crisis has had a devastating effect on the lives of ordinary Iranians already suffering due to the regime’s negligence, with the collapse in the last year of many state-backed finance houses under the corrupt mismanagement of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) with no warning or compensation leaving many citizens penniless and further intensifying public anger against the regime’s oppressive policies. Many workers at state-backed institutions have been unpaid for months, leading to strike action and protests among groups as diverse as factory workers and teachers. Meanwhile farmers across Iran have been protesting over increasingly severe water shortages, with the effects of climate change exacerbated by disastrous regime mismanagement of resources, leaving many unable to irrigate their fields or even feed their livestock; a large number of Iran’s farmers fear that they may be driven into insolvency as their crops fail.
Iranian authorities’ typically brutal efforts to crush the protests, with thousands of protesters arrested, beaten, imprisoned and tortured, and activists regularly, often publicly, executed on clearly fabricated charges, have not succeeded in quelling public anger; indeed, the regime’s savage response to public anger has simply further antagonised citizens who’ve suffered four decades of oppression, extremism and broken promises from the leadership.

Another notable feature of the current protests, along with their grassroots nature, is the unity across the social, religious and racial spectrum. This harmony between regime opponents is among the Islamic Republic’s greatest fears; like all totalitarian regimes, the theocrats in Tehran clings to power not only by brute force but through instilling an Orwellian mindset of being engaged in permanent war against an external enemy — usually the United States, Israel and Britain — using a strategy of ‘divide and rule’ tactics, sowing mistrust and division amongst various ethnic groups, sects and classes within Iranian society and accusing any dissidents of being heretics, “Israeli agents” and “CIA spies” who can then be blamed for the problems in Iranian society caused by the regime’s own brutality, corruption and incompetence. With Iranians having long ago seen through this cynical ploy and no longer willing to play the regime’s cynical divisive game and blame the USA, Israel or other nations for the problems caused by the regime’s own mismanagement, crimes and corruption, the Khomeinists are in deep trouble.

More at: http://dailycaller.com/2018/06/15/ir...=atdailycaller

[Swordsmyth]

Iran may surrender to Trump sooner than we thought. Today some of upper-middle class parts of Tehran&teachers across the country were on the streets protesting. It was interesting as Tehran’s Bazaris chanted political slogans”our enemy is here,they lie when they say is America.”

https://twitter.com/Raman_Ghavami/st...65416850841600

[Swordsmyth]

Iran’s budget was designed and passed through the parliament calculating dollar’s rate at 38000Rial.However,now the gov claims official exchange rate is 1$=42000Rial but in practice(market) is 72400 Rial. This means increase in inflation rate,increase in prices by %62. It is over

https://twitter.com/Raman_Ghavami/st...70451366137857

[Swordsmyth]

Follow the link for the charts, I couldn't get them to show up here.




The Iranian rial just hit an all-time low (see chart below). The Islamic Republic of Iran remains in the ever-tightening grip of an economic death spiral. The economy is ever-vulnerable because of problems created by the last Shah, and added to massively by the incompetence and shenanigans of the theocratic regime. Indeed, the economy is more vulnerable to both internal and external shocks than ever. How fast the death spiral will spin is anyone’s guess.


With the collapse of the rial, Iran's inflation has surged. The most important price in an economy is the exchange rate between the local currency and the world’s reserve currency — the U.S. dollar. In Iran, the IRR/USD exchange rate, represents the most important price. By using active and available black-market (read: free market) data for the Iranian rial, I have transformed the black-market exchange rate into accurate measurements of country wide inflation. The economic principle of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) allows for this reliable transformation.
The chart below shows how Iran’s implied annual inflation rate has surged to an annual rate of 147% with the collapse of the rial’s value against the U.S. dollar. That’s a whopping 137.3% points higher than the official rate of 9.7%. And for Iranians, these contrasting figures bring back a line from the Marx Bros. “Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?”

Another useful dimension for checking Iran’s temperature on a daily (if not minute-by-minute) basis is the black-market premium. The black-market premium (BMP) is calculated by using the following formula:


A 111.71% black-market premium indicates that Iranians were willing to pay 111.71% more for U.S. dollars in the black-market than if they were lucky enough (read: privileged enough) to obtain them at the official exchange rate.

For a fuller picture of the black-market premium, I have plotted it while President Hassan Rouhani has been in office. As we can see, the recent spikes have been associated with President Trump’s attacks on and subsequent cancellation of the JCPOA nuclear deal, as well as increased rhetorical and real attacks on Iran via the U.S. Treasury Department's sanctions war machine.


More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...tion-soars-147

[AngryCanadian]

Follow the link for the charts, I couldn't get them to show up here.




The Iranian rial just hit an all-time low (see chart below). The Islamic Republic of Iran remains in the ever-tightening grip of an economic death spiral. The economy is ever-vulnerable because of problems created by the last Shah, and added to massively by the incompetence and shenanigans of the theocratic regime. Indeed, the economy is more vulnerable to both internal and external shocks than ever. How fast the death spiral will spin is anyone’s guess.


With the collapse of the rial, Iran's inflation has surged. The most important price in an economy is the exchange rate between the local currency and the world’s reserve currency — the U.S. dollar. In Iran, the IRR/USD exchange rate, represents the most important price. By using active and available black-market (read: free market) data for the Iranian rial, I have transformed the black-market exchange rate into accurate measurements of country wide inflation. The economic principle of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) allows for this reliable transformation.
The chart below shows how Iran’s implied annual inflation rate has surged to an annual rate of 147% with the collapse of the rial’s value against the U.S. dollar. That’s a whopping 137.3% points higher than the official rate of 9.7%. And for Iranians, these contrasting figures bring back a line from the Marx Bros. “Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?”

Another useful dimension for checking Iran’s temperature on a daily (if not minute-by-minute) basis is the black-market premium. The black-market premium (BMP) is calculated by using the following formula:


A 111.71% black-market premium indicates that Iranians were willing to pay 111.71% more for U.S. dollars in the black-market than if they were lucky enough (read: privileged enough) to obtain them at the official exchange rate.

For a fuller picture of the black-market premium, I have plotted it while President Hassan Rouhani has been in office. As we can see, the recent spikes have been associated with President Trump’s attacks on and subsequent cancellation of the JCPOA nuclear deal, as well as increased rhetorical and real attacks on Iran via the U.S. Treasury Department's sanctions war machine.


More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...tion-soars-147

Today, we see Iran isolated for its acts of war in Syria, and its bellicose rhetoric of genocide.

Iran prevented ISIS and other Jihadists from taking over in Syria with Russia, it seems the Islamic west is very upset about that.

[Ender]

Iran may surrender to Trump sooner than we thought. Today some of upper-middle class parts of Tehran&teachers across the country were on the streets protesting. It was interesting as Tehran’s Bazaris chanted political slogans”our enemy is here,they lie when they say is America.”

https://twitter.com/Raman_Ghavami/st...65416850841600

The "protestors" are backed by the alphabets.

[Swordsmyth]

The "protestors" are backed by the alphabets.

I know that, the words are not mine they are a quote from the linked source who is one of the protesters.

[Swordsmyth]

Numerous shops in the Grand Bazaar in Tehran were closed by striking owners and disruptive protests over Iran's struggling currency and the government's monetary policies, the BBC reported June 25.

More at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/situa...-bazaar-tehran

[Swordsmyth]

A fresh wave of protests erupted in Iran over the weekend against the plunging value of the local currency and rising prices, in what some observers and analysts describe as the biggest protest in the capital Tehran since 2012, just before the previous sanctions on Iran were imposed.
After U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and re-imposed sanctions on Tehran—including on its oil industry and exports—expected to kick in later this year, the value of the Iranian rial has plunged to record lows against the U.S. dollar on the black market.
On Sunday, one U.S. dollar was being offered for as much as 87,000 Iranian rials, compared to around 75,500 rials on Thursday—the previous trading day before the Iranian weekend.
Demand for dollars has been high in recent months among Iranians because they fear that the renewed U.S. sanctions would reduce oil exports and exports of other goods. The plunge of the rial against the dollar has angered Iranians who see prices of imported goods rising.
On Monday, protesters clashed with police in front of the Parliament in Tehran, the Associated Press reports, citing videos posted on social media networks.
According to the BBC, thousands of people took to the streets and shops were shut, while riot police fired tear gas at protesters.

More at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-N...ions-Loom.html

[Swordsmyth]

Iran is banning imports of over 1,300 products, preparing its economy to resist threatened U.S. sanctions, amid rare public protests against the plunge of its currency to record lows.Police patrolled Tehran’s Grand Bazaar on Monday as security forces struggled to restore normality after clashes with protesters angered by the rial's collapse, which is disrupting business by driving up the cost of imports, witnesses said.
Traders from the bazaar, whose merchants supported Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution, told Reuters by telephone that most shops remained closed.
"Police have dispersed the protectors. We are all angry with the economic situation. We cannot continue our businesses like this. But we are not against the regime," said a merchant in the bazaar, who asked not to be identified.
Industries and trade minister Mohammad Shariatmadari slapped the import ban on 1,339 goods that could instead be produced within the country, Iran's Financial Tribune newspaper reported on Monday, quoting an official document.
Prohibited imports include home appliances, textile products, footwear and leather products, as well as furniture, healthcare products and some machinery, the Tehran Times said.
The order suggests the U.S. sanctions threat is pushing Tehran back toward running a "resistance economy" designed to conserve foreign exchange reserves and become as self-sufficient as possible in many products.

More at: https://www.yahoo.com/news/iran-bans...-business.html

[Vieux Canard]

I wonder if Admiral Fadavi is related this guy...

Sep 25, 2012
Israel Lobbyist - We Need a False Flag to Start War with Iran



"I mean, look people, Iranian submarines periodically go down, someday one of the might not come up, who would know why?
. . . we are in the game of using covert means against the Iranians, we could get nastier about it"

=====

April 21, 2018
IRGC Navy Commander Ali Fadavi Threatens to Sink U.S. Ships

[AngryCanadian]

Iran may surrender to Trump sooner than we thought. Today some of upper-middle class parts of Tehran&teachers across the country

-Thats what they said about Assad to. They were wrong. This Trump praising like a god is i have to admit getting out of hand. Iran wont be a walk in the park for regime changers.

[AngryCanadian]

Sep 25, 2012
Israel Lobbyist - We Need a False Flag to Start War with Iran



"I mean, look people, Iranian submarines periodically go down, someday one of the might not come up, who would know why?
. . . we are in the game of using covert means against the Iranians, we could get nastier about it"

=====

April 21, 2018
IRGC Navy Commander Ali Fadavi Threatens to Sink U.S. Ships

“They know that the Iranian regime is in its final days and will soon collapse,”

Thats what Israel said about Assad. It seems they were wrong.

[Swordsmyth]

Significant economic protests have hit Tehran for the third day and now appear to be spreading to merchant sectors in other cities, similar to the early phase of protests that gripped mostly provincial cities and towns throughout Iran in January.
On Monday merchants in Tehran's sprawling Grand Bazaar shuttered their stores in what state media has described as a protest against rising prices and a weakened currency. Iranian media also acknowledged the heavy presence of security forces in and around the bazaar to maintain order, and reports of clashes in front of parliament.



Video uploaded to social media and featured in Western news reports show large crowds being dispersed by police tear gas, and some instances of security forces in riot gear charging into half-shuttered shops and hauling away occupants.
Unconfirmed reports and social media video also indicate that police are smashing windows and destroying merchandise and vehicles in retaliation for the unauthorized closure of shops.

#BREAKING: #Iran's Islamic Regime Riot Police destroys bikes of shopkeepers who were protesting the Regime in Laleh-Zar district of #Tehran now. #IranProtests #IranStrikes #IranRegimeChange pic.twitter.com/NKHKanIlio
— Babak Taghvaee (@BabakTaghvaee) June 26, 2018

Protests happening in a few cities in #Iran including Tehran. Mostly at the Bazar and in response to economic troubles and a decrease in the value of the currency. In this video crowd chants: Iranians it’s enough, show your pride. pic.twitter.com/QZcga6wB8v
— Negar (@NegarMortazavi) June 25, 2018

#BREAKING: Protesters including shopkeepers are resisting the #Iran's Islamic Regime security forces now in #LalehZar street of #Tehran. #IranProtests #IranStrikes #IranRegimeChange pic.twitter.com/bzNuzfBPP1
— Babak Taghvaee (@BabakTaghvaee) June 26, 2018

The AP reports that protests and clashes with police grew "a day after protests forced two major shopping centers for mobile phones and electronics to close in Tehran." While a number of Western media reports are predictably framing the growing unrest as fueled by anti-regime "demonstrators" pressuring traders to close their shops, it appears rooted more simply in shopkeepers' efforts to survive as the Iranian rial plummets.
However, the BBC acknowledged:

The Iranian authorities attempted to halt the rial's slide in April by unifying the official and black market exchange rates and by banning trading at anything other than the official rate of 42,000 rials to the dollar. But dealers say the authorities have failed to keep up with the demand for hard currency since then.

The bazaar closure is rooted in fierce elite competition driven by economic self-interest and not popular politics, according to Iran business analyst Esfandyar Batmanghelidj.

Caveat Emptor in #Iran: The bazaar of today is not that of forty years ago. It is no longer at the heart of Iranian civil society, and rarely mobilizes other than for its own economic self-interest. This is crucial to understanding yesterday's closures.https://t.co/CKHKATPEzj
— Esfandyar Batmanghelidj (@yarbatman) June 26, 2018

Day after Bazaar protest amid devaluation, Iranian rial strengthens 14% in single day. But greatest enemy of business is not weak rial but rather instability. Hopes that secondary FX market to be rolled out will stabilize exchange rates & give businesses access to hard currency.
— Mohammad Ali Shabani (@mashabani) June 26, 2018

Currently, a dollar is worth as much as 90,000 rials compared with 65,000 rials before President Trump announced he would pull the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal, and compared with 42,890 at the close of 2017. Thus the official government-set exchange rate of 42,000 rials to $1 was quickly surpassed in the black market, translating into the simple math of merchants losing money merely by staying open.

Merchants in the city of Kermanshah have joined the strikes that started in#Iran’s capital Tehran. There are reports that the strike in Tehran continued for a third day. Merchants are angry with the fall of the value of Iranian Rial and the deteriorating economy. #IranProtests pic.twitter.com/Z9tEl0cpzE
— Rana Rahimpour (@ranarahimpour) June 26, 2018

19- Update
June 25, 2018
Tehran, Iran
Protests against the regime of mullahs! Iranians chant: "Reza Shah, God bless your soul"
Reza Shah Pahlavi founded the Pahlavi Kingdom that lasted until overthrown in 1979 by Khomeini who had the support of the west.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/t5nYux7lay
— بابک ِ وزیر (@Babak_1992) June 26, 2018

[Attention: Bad language] Another video of the Islamic Regime's riot police damaging shops and motorbikes of the shopkeepers on strike today in #Tehran, #Iran. #IranProtests #IranStrikes #IranRegimeChange pic.twitter.com/BynrrK7ME0
— Babak Taghvaee (@BabakTaghvaee) June 26, 2018

In response the government and Iranian Central Bank have indicated plans to create a "parallel market" next week to combat the black market - though it's unclear what this entails - and to help merchants access hard currency for their imports.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tuesday that his country is in a "fight" with the US, blaming US pullout of the JCPOA for "an economic war" and Iran's current crisis. “The US cannot defeat our nation, our enemies are not able to get us to their knees,” he said in response to the growing demonstrations.

Riot police patrol Tehran's Grand Bazaar following economic protests [26 June] #verified pic.twitter.com/KxUxgN103n
— RTDigital (@RT_Digital) June 26, 2018

Confrontations between protesters and police appear to have continued throughout the day Tuesday, with some video footage revealing grievances over Tehran's costly intervention in places like Syria while the economy is in tailspin at home.
The Washington Free Beacon reports, for example, that citizens are taking to the streets to express opposition to the hardline ruling regime by chanting, "Death to Palestine" and "Leave Syria, think of us," according to an independent translation of videos showing the protests.

#Tehran bazaar protest today: “Leave Syria, find a solution for us.”#بازار pic.twitter.com/fCLwT8Dk30
— Farnaz Fassihi (@farnazfassihi) June 25, 2018

Like the late December and early January protests that briefly gripped Iran and focused an international media spotlight on clashes, we could be witnessing the opening act of economic grievances increasingly turning fiercely anti-regime.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...rchant-protest