Commission warns of jobs crisis for Iranian university graduates

- The Research and Education Commission of Iranian Parliament has announced that four million university graduates are currently unemployed across the country. - 12/10/13

Iran Central Bank Can Help Slow Inflation: Official

- Iran's central bank can help cut the country's 40 percent inflation rate in half by bringing greater discipline to money markets and ending funding for some housing and other projects, a top bank official said. -Ladane Nasseri, Bloomberg - 12/9/13

Sanctions Crucial Issue in Iran Talks

- Sanctions relief for Iran is the linchpin of the Islamic Republic's motivation for cooperation with world powers in their efforts to curb elements of Iran's nuclear activities. The recent interim accord hammered out in Geneva freezes for six months Iran's nuclear program... -Andre de Nesnera, VOA - 12/5/13

Iran Names 7 Western Oil Companies It Wants to Return

- Iran on Wednesday named seven Western oil companies it wants back in its vast oil and gas fields once international sanctions are lifted and said it would offer contract terms in April next year. -Reuters - 12/5/13

Medicine imports to Iran rise 40% in month: report

- Imports of medicine to Iran increased by 40 percent in the past Iranian calendar month of Aban (ended Nov. 21) compared to its preceding month, according to Iran's Customs Administration. - 12/4/13

Iran, Iraq Warn OPEC of Big Oil Increases

- Iran and Iraq on Tuesday put OPEC on notice of substantial oil output increases to come, saying others in the producer cartel will need to give way to make room for them. Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said Iran will take six months after sanctions are lifted to return to full oil output capacity of 4 million bpd. -Reuters - 12/4/13

Over 2 million foreigners working in Iran: Labor Minister

- More than two million foreign national are currently working in Iran, Iranian Labor and Social Welfare Minister Ali Rabiei said on Monday. The foreign workers in Iran are just busy with uncomplicated and unprofessional jobs, while unemployment crisis in Iran is related to university graduates - 12/3/13

Top US Lawmakers Want Additional Iran Sanctions

- WASHINGTON - U.S. lawmakers of both major political parties are expressing skepticism over last month's interim accord on Iran's nuclear program. Congress' appetite for boosting sanctions against Tehran has not waned, despite Obama administration warnings that heightened measures could torpedo delicate diplomacy. -Michael Bowman, VOA - 12/2/13

PSA, Renault ready to return to Iran market

- French automakers PSA Peugeot Citroen and Renault are planning to return to Iran's market following a recent nuclear deal reached between Tehran and six major world powers in Geneva which will ease sanctions on auto industry. - 11/30/13

European Firms Size Up Post-deal Iran Opportunities

- BERLIN - The phone hasn't stopped ringing at the German-Iranian Chamber of Commerce since six world powers reached a deal with Tehran to curb its nuclear program, opening the prospect that Iran can begin to shake off its economic isolation. -Reuters - 11/29/13

Iranian President Hassan Rohani slams previous administration for food, cash shortages

- Iranian President Hassan Rohani discussed his administration's first 100-day report on the national broadcasting network. Rohani criticized the former administration for leaving many major national stocks at alarmingly low levels. "For example, wheat silos in one of the provinces only had a three-day supply," he said, instead of the acceptable level of a three- to four-month supply. - 11/28/13

In Tehran, Optimism in Wake of Nuclear Deal

- The nuclear deal between Tehran and the so-called P5+1 - the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia, plus Germany - is spurring hope of some revival for Iran's struggling economy. On the streets of Tehran, and in the bazaars, there seems to be a newfound confidence - particularly for consumers such as Nahid Habibi, a Tehran resident who is perusing gold jewelry. -Jeff Seldin, VOA - 11/28/13

India Considers More Oil Imports From Iran

- NEW DELHI - India hopes to increase crude oil imports from Iran after a deal with six Western countries gave Tehran limited respite from sanctions. The deal comes as a relief to India which maintains friendly relations with Iran and wants to boost trade and other links with Tehran. -Anjana Pasricha, VOA - 11/28/13

Investor Sentiment Rises on Iran Nuclear Agreement

- Oil prices fell following the breakthrough accord in Geneva that limits or freezes parts of Iran's nuclear activities. In exchange for curbing Iran's nuclear program, the deal will ease some of the crippling economic sanctions that have caused massive inflation in Iran and weakened its currency. Although the deal is preliminary, analysts believe investors are optimistic it could eventually lead to an increase in the world's oil supply. -Mil Arcega, VOA - 11/26/13

REVISITING IRAN - Part I: Perceptions/Misperceptions

- My trip coincided with the intensified negotiations between Iran and the representatives of the permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany in attempts to resolve the West's stated concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions, also bearing on the increasingly draconian economic sanctions imposed against Iran, and even dovetailing with the ongoing explosive situation in the nearby Syria, where Iran is actively involved in supporting the Assad regime. -Kam Zarrabi - 11/25/13

Iranian currency gains strength on news of nuclear accord

- The dollar exchange rate fell once again in Iran on news that an agreement on Iran's nuclear activities was reached in Geneva between the county's negotiating team and the world powers. - 11/25/13

Iran Window Shops at Airshow, Optimistic About Sanctions Relief

- Senior Iranian aviation executives were at the Dubai Airshow in a discreet campaign to update their aging passenger jets this week, even as Iran negotiated with international powers to ease economic sanctions over its nuclear program. -Reuters - 11/22/13

Iranian factory workers protest over feared job cuts

- More than 800 workers at the Isfahan Polyacryl Factory staged a demonstration against the governor's failure to live up to his promises. One of the protesters told ILNA that the government had promised to halt the policy of downsizing the factory, which had led to a pause in the protests. - 11/19/13

Iran's largest gold processing plant to come on stream

- The largest gold processing plant in Iran will be inaugurated by the end of the next Iranian calendar month of Azar (December 21). The Zarshouran plant will be established in West Azarbaijan province, northwest of Iran. - 11/19/13

Crippling debt sinks National Iranian Gas Company

- Iran's National Gas Company says it has gone into insolvency with debts of 100 trillion rials. Hamidreza Araghi, the CEO of the National Gas Company, confirmed the news to Mehr News Agency, saying: "The ministry of oil, public works and the Parliament are currently involved in restructuring the company's financial assets - 11/18/13

Key International Airshow Opens in Dubai: First Day Brings $192 Billion In Orders

- The biennial Dubai Airshow opened Sunday at the new Al-Maktoum International airport with about 1,000 exhibitors from the global civil and military aviation industries showing off their newest technology. The five-day Dubai event has become a key sales battleground for rival aircraft builders Boeing and Airbus, which are both vying for sales worth billions. - 11/17/13

Total ready to resume business with Iran: CEO

- Total SA, Europe's biggest oil refiner, will resume business with Iran if diplomatic talks lead to the removal of sanctions, Chief Executive Officer Christophe de Margerie said at a conference in Abu Dhabi. - 11/15/13

Iranian currency shows signs of recovery amid nuclear talk optimism

- The dollar's rate of exchange against the Iranian currency rial fell below 30,000 rials on Saturday November 9.The Mehr News Agency reports that foreign currency traders sold the dollar at 29,950 rials today on the open market, and similar declines in other currencies' exchange rates were also reported. - 11/10/13

Tehran Stock Exchange main index posts 99.4% gain since March

- The Tehran Stock Exchange main index (TEPIX) has gained 99.4 percent since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21, 2013). The TEPIX hit 76,000 on Wednesday. - 11/9/13

Chinese firms in talks with Iran companies to buy LPG

- Three Chinese companies are in talks with three producers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in Iran on term supply contracts for next year. China resumed its LPG imports from Iran in June after a one-year break. Over the past years, China has been a regular importer of Iranian LPG. - 11/8/13

Iranian administration to go on paying cash subsidies

- The Iranian parliament (Majlis) approved a bill on Sunday that allows the administration to pay cash subsidies as much as the past at least by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2014). MPs approved the bill with 125 votes in favor, 51 against, and six abstentions. - 11/6/13

Iran, Armenia agree to expand cooperation in energy sector

- Iran and Armenia have reached new agreements to expand cooperation in the energy sector. Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian and his Armenian counterpart Armen Movsisian met in Tehran on Tuesday. The two sides agreed to construct a new power transmission line in order to boost the exchange of electricity between the two countries. - 11/6/13

Iran elected gas exporting countries chief

- On Sunday, Iran was elected as the new secretary general of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF). The decision was made at the 15th ministerial meeting of the GECF in Tehran on Sunday. - 11/4/13

Iran 'Likely' To Abandon Pakistan Gas Project

- The Iranian oil minister says Tehran will probably abandon a multibillion-dollar contract to supply natural gas to Pakistan. Bijan Zanganeh said on October 30 that the contract "is likely to be annulled." - 10/31/13

Norway Again On Top In Legatum's Prosperity Index

- The London-based Legatum Institute has issued its latest "Prosperity Index," once again placing Norway first in rankings that aim to reflect overall wealth, health, and happiness. The index assesses 142 countries. - 10/29/13

Iran cuts saffron export duty to zero

- Iran's saffron exports will increase by 15 percent in the current Iranian calendar year, which began on March 21, the secretary of the National Iranian Saffron Council said in May. Farshid Manouchehri added that Iran exported 126 tons of saffron, valued at $384 million, to different countries in the past Iranian calendar year. - 10/29/13

Iran oil revenues to hit $54.5bn once sanctions lifted: Oil Minister

- Iran Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh says the country will earn USD 54.5 billion in oil revenues annually once the US-led sanctions targeting Iran's energy sector have been lifted. "We must try to have the [anti-Iran] sanctions lifted in order to speed up the process of the country's development," Zanganeh said on Sunday. - 10/28/13

EU seeks to tighten Iran bans despite court rulings

- The European Union (EU) is trying to bolster unilateral bans imposed against Iran despite recent rulings by the EU courts calling for the removal of sanctions on a number of Iranian entities, a report says. - 10/28/13

From Caspian Sea to Arctic to Middle East, How Oil Pipelines Threaten Democracy & Planet's Survival

- Today we spend the hour looking at politics, money and the pursuit of oil, focusing on what's known as the Oil Road, a series of pipelines stretching from the oil-rich Caspian Sea to Europe. Key nations along the route include Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. The oil giant BP operates the main pipeline. -Democracy Now - 10/27/13

White House Presses Senate to Delay new Iran Sanctions

- he White House hosted a meeting of aides to Senate committee leaders on Thursday seeking to persuade lawmakers to hold off on a package of tough new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, a senior Senate aide said. -Reuters - 10/25/13

Former administration left over $72b in debts: President Rohani

- The administration of former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has left $72 billion dollar of debt, President Hassan Rohani said on Monday. The government is now indebted the sum to the banking system, the private sector, and contractors, Rohani was quoted as saying by the Mehr News Agency. - 10/23/13

Iran Sends Out Feelers for Return to Oil Markets

- Iran is reaching out to its old oil buyers and is ready to cut prices if Western sanctions against it are eased, promising a battle for market share in a world less hungry for oil than when sanctions were imposed. -Reuters - 10/23/13

Foreign currencies getting cheaper for Iranian traders

- Iranian currency traders are noting a fall in the exchange rate for the dollar against Iran's national currency, the rial. ISNA reports that the dollar was traded below 30,000 rials on the open market on Monday October 21, and similar declines were also registered with other foreign currencies. - 10/22/13

Iran considering increase in interest rates

- The Iranian administration is considering an increase in interest rates, the country's Money and Credit Council member Mohammad Nahavandian has said. "Currently, the country is grappling with inflationary recession, so that it is not possible to change the rates swiftly," he was quoted as saying by the Mehr News Agency. - 10/22/13

US: Talk of Easing Iran Sanctions 'Premature'

- U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew says talk of a possible easing of U.S. sanctions against Iran is premature, despite last week's discussions in Geneva on the country's disputed nuclear program. - 10/21/13

Reports: US Considering Easing Iran Sanctions Pain

- News reports say the Obama administration is considering gradually unfreezing some of Iran's overseas funds to ease the pain of sanctions aimed at curbing the country's nuclear program. The proposal would reportedly free up Iran's assets in installments. - 10/19/13

A magic comeback? Even the carpet bazaaris are raising their hopes of the new president

- JUST north of Khayyam underground railway station, named after Persia's pre-eminent 11th-century poet, lies Tehran's sprawling carpet bazaar, said to hold the largest collection of handmade rugs on earth. The carpet business, Iran's largest after oil, is emerging from one of its darkest periods. -Economist - 10/18/13

Iran Floats Prospect Of Opening Energy Industry To West

- In anticipation of a thaw, Iran is preparing to capitalize on improved relations with the West. And to win skeptics over to the idea that crippling economic sanctions targeting Iran should be dropped, Tehran is floating a huge incentive -- the prospect of giving Western investors access to the country's vast oil and gas reserves. -Frud Bezhan, RFE - 10/16/13

Iran's auto production drastically down

- Iran's minister of Industry, Mining and Trade says the country's auto production decreased by 44 percent in the first six months of the year. ISNA reports that Mohammadreza Nematzadeh told a press conference that the industry had expected to produce 900,000 cars this year; however, the reduced output so far has thrown that goal into question. -Frud Bezhan, RFE - 10/16/13

Iranian government says family subsidies budget facing enormous shortfall

- The deputy head of budgets and planning for the Rohani government says the budget for paying family subsidies is facing a shortfall in the trillions. Mohammadbagher Nobakht said the government is looking at stopping payments to families in the top three income tiers. Currently, the subsidies are given out to all families irrespective of income. - 10/14/13

Tehran Stock Exchange up 80% for the year

- The Tehran Stock Exchange main index (TEPIX) has gained around 80 percent since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21, 2013). The TEPIX hit 68,461on Wednesday. - 10/12/13

Iran Khodro to dispatch 10,000 cars to Russia a year

- Iranian largest carmaker Iran Khodro (IKCO) is going to dispatch 10 thousand cars to Russia per annum based on mutual agreements, said IKCO deputy CEO in export and international affairs. - 10/12/13

European companies likely to be losers in US-Iran rapprochement

- If the sanctions against Iran are lifted, the Iranians will look mainly towards American firms in the oil and automobile sector to fill the gap, George Malbrunot, a journalist for French newspaper Le Figaro, told RT. - 10/10/13

Iranian tractors to be exported to South Africa

- A delegation from Iran's Tractor Manufacturing Industrial Group started its negotiation on Monday with Board of Directorate of South Africa Economic Technical Strengthening Organization to export tractors to the country. - 10/8/13

Iranian finance minister says scrapping sanctions won't be a cure-all

- Iran's minister of economic and financial affairs says the elimination of sanctions against the Islamic Republic is a long-term consideration that the government should not focus on to resolve its current problems. - 10/7/13

To This Tycoon, Iran Sanctions Were Like Gold

- He called himself the "economic basij," a reference to Iran's hard-line paramilitary organization and defender of the Islamic Revolution. He drove a black Mercedes 500 SL and wore a $30,000 watch, as befits a man who put his self-worth at $13.5 billion. -Thomas Erdbrink - 10/5/13

Iran Wants Sanctions Relief Amid New Nuclear Talks

- It's been hammered time and time again by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, whether on his official Twitter feed or during his speech at the United Nations. Iran's new president said it's time for economic sanctions to end. "These sanctions are violent, pure and simple," he said. For the Iranian people, the international sanctions have been devastating. -Jeff Seldin, VOA - 10/5/13

US Says Core Iran Sanctions Must Remain for Now

- A top U.S. official says limited sanctions relief for Iran is possible if it takes confidence-building steps to allay concerns about its nuclear program, but that fundamental measures must remain in place until all issues have been dealt with. - 10/4/13

U.S. holds back on considering new Iranian sanctions

- The U.S. Senate has delayed looking at a new package of sanctions on Iran until after nuclear talks between Iran and the 5+1 are held later this month. The delay, according to Reuters, could create a more amicable atmosphere for the talks in Geneva. - 10/3/13

Iranian economy needs major reforms: Official

- Major economic reforms should be carried out in four sectors of the Iranian economy, the Iranian president's economic advisor has said. Masoud Nili added that the foreign currency market, the cash subsidy payment, the privatization process, and the banking system should be reformed, IRNA reported on Tuesday. - 10/3/13

Iran's inflation rate falls by 3% to 36%

- Central Bank of Iran (CBI) has announced that the inflation rate for the 12-month period ended the sixth Iranian calendar month of Shahrivar (August 23-September 22) hit 36 percent, a 3 percent fall compared to the previous month. - 10/1/13

U.S. dollar fall against Iranian rial would be harmful: Central Bank Chief

- The U.S. dollar exchange rate in Iran is reasonable and any further fall of the rate will be harmful to the Iranian economy, the Iranian central bank governor said on Tuesday. The current [free market] exchange rate is reasonable. It is the bottom rate and it will hardly fall further, Valiollah Seif added. - 9/25/13

Iranian shipbuilding company in Bushehr lays off entire workforce

- All 1,500 workers at the Sadra Shipbuilding Company (Iran Marine Industrial Company) in Bushehr Province have been laid off. ILNA reported earlier that 800 employees had been laid off, and now the remaining 700 workers have also lost their jobs. The international sanctions on Iran have created widespread economic problems that have strained many industrial sectors. - 9/23/13

Iranian currency rises in anticipation of Rohani visit to UN

- Reports from Tehran indicate the Iranian currency is gaining in value following its sharp decline over the past two years. Reports indicate that the dollar is now being traded below 30,000 rials while only a week ago it was trading at 32,000 rials. - 9/22/13

Iran's annual petrochemical output may double to $40B: Oil Minister

- The value of Iran's annual petrochemical output may double to $40 billion, Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said. For the time being, the value of domestic petrochemical products per year is about $20 billion, he said, hoping that the figure would increase to $40 billion. - 9/21/13

Russian firm ready to develop Iranian gas field

- Zarubezhneftegaz Company of Russia has announced readiness to develop a newly discovered gas field in Iran. The Russian company had signed an MOU with Iran in 2010, the Pana News Agency reported. The gas field is located near the South Pars gas field in the Persian Gulf. - 9/20/13

UK asks US, EU to exclude BP from anti-Iranian oil embargo

- Britain has called on the US and the European Union to partially ease the anti-Iranian embargo imposed on a joint UK-Iran natural gas field in the North Sea. UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) consulted the US and EU officials over releasing sanctions on Iran's state oil company, the Wall Street Journal said in a report. - 9/18/13

Iran: Rohani calls on IRGC to help build economy

- Iranian media report that in a meeting with commanders and senior staff of the IRGC, the Iranian president said: "With our economy under target, the Guards have to move in and take on three or four large national projects." He added: "While the IRGC should be aware of politics, it should not interfere in it because the Guards belong to all of the people of Iran." - 9/16/13

EU court rejects sanctions on Iran shipping firm

- The European Court of Justice has struck down the European Union's sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and seven other Iranian companies, the IRISL chief says. - 9/16/13

Iran's National Development Fund to boost assets to $61B

- Assets of Iran's National Development Fund will increase by over $8 billion in the current Iranian calendar year to reach $61 billion, the NDF deputy director has said. Qasem Hosseini said the figure represents the worst case projection. - 9/14/13

Iranian Tycoon Owes Iran $2 Billion

- According to Iran's oil minister, billionaire businessman Babak Zanjani owes the Iranian treasury $2 billion. Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh told reporters yesterday that "Zanjani has not yet returned $2 billion in oil sales. He said the money has been deposited in his account, but the account has been blocked by the Americans." - 9/13/13

Iran's economy shrank 5.4% in past calendar year: Central Bank

- TEHRAN - The Central Bank of Iran has confirmed that the national economy contracted by 5.4 percent in the past Iranian calendar year, which ended on March 20, Iranian Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Ali Tayyebnia stated. - 9/11/13

NUMBER ONE: Iran pegged as country with world's highest inflation rate

- The World Economic Forum reports that Iran has the highest inflation rate among 148 countries listed in its study for 2012. ISNA reports that Iran sits at the top of the forum's inflation chart with a rate of 30.6 percent in 2012. - 9/8/13

EU Court Deals Blow To Iran Sanctions

- A top European Union court has ruled that the EU should unfreeze the assets of seven Iranian banks and other businesses hit by sanctions. The European Court of Justice said on September 6 there was not sufficient evidence that the businesses concerned were involved in Iran's disputed nuclear program. - 9/7/13

Iran's inflation rate hits 39%, up over 5% in one month

- Central Bank of Iran (CBI) has announced that the inflation rate for the 12-month period ending in the fifth Iranian calendar month of Mordad (August 22, 2013) hit 39 percent. The inflation rate for the 12-month period ending in the fourth Iranian calendar month of Tir was 33.9 percent, the Mehr News Agency reported. - 9/7/13

Iran Oil Minister orders more attractive oil contracts

- Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh has ordered a review of buy-back oil contracts in a bid to make them more attractive for potential foreign investors, a senior oil official says. - 9/2/13

US: Iran Can't Access Much Oil Income

- The U.S. has concluded that nearly half of Iran's monthly earnings from crude oil exports are accumulating in accounts overseas because of sanctions that restrict Tehran's access to the money. The senior U.S. official also disclosed a previously unreleased government estimate that crude oil revenues have fallen 58 percent since late 2011 because of sanctions. The revenues averaged an estimated $8 billion a month in the first half of 2011, then fell to $6.3 billion in the first half of 2012 and an estimated $3.4 billion monthly in the first half of 2013, according to the assessment. -AP - 8/31/13

Iran to export $60B of gas to Oman in 25 years

- Iran and Oman have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) according to which Oman will buy around $60 billion worth of natural gas from Iran during 25 years. The two sides have come to terms to build a pipeline for the export of Iranian gas to the Persian Gulf Arab state within two years. - 8/28/13

Iran boosts iron exports to China, India as oil sales slump

- Iran is raising its exports of iron ore and iron products to China and India in an attempt to replace at least a small part of the massive revenue that has been lost due to sanctions on its oil sales. -Reuters - 8/26/13

New Iran's Central Bank chief calls exchange rate "reasonable"

- Valiollah Seif has been appointed as the new head of Iran`s Central Bank, Iranian media reported on Sunday August 25. The appointment was approved by the new president, Hassan Rohani, as well as ministers of the Economy and Industry. - 8/25/13