Photos: Iranian Woman Mahnaz Mirzaei Rules Sarapardeh Coal Mine! - Mahnaz Mirzaei was born in 1980 in the town of Zarand in Kerman province of Iran. She received a Bachelor of Mining Engineering from Kerman's Shahid Bahonar University. Mirzaei who is interested in tough or in her words "manly" jobs, chose to work at a coal mine. In 2005, she started working at an underground mine. Because of her hard work, dedication and interest, she was promoted to the head of the mine in 2006. - 3/8/14
| |
|
|
Petrochemical Industry Key to Iran's Economic Growth - Recently, Dr. Masoud Nili, Rouhani's economic advisor, called on the private sector to identify an industry or a group of industries with the highest potential for economic growth until the end of this year and generate 3 percent growth until the end of next year. Iran's top five industries include auto manufacturing, construction, agriculture, petrochemicals, and tourism. -Leila Piran - 3/7/14
| |
Battle Over 'Resistance Economy' Deepens Divisions in Iran - While government media and propaganda organizations are filled with the term "resistance economy" these days, reports indicate a deepening difference among economic activists and the various contradictory rules in the laws and economic practices. In this light, the government has suddenly reduced its direct subsidies to the public while at the same time major economic corruption cases are surfacing almost at a daily frequency. -Firoozeh Matin - 3/6/14
| |
Iranian President Hassan Rohani adopts Supreme Leader's idea for "Economy of Resistance" - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei introduced the term "economy of resistance" in the midst of the country's rising economic problems and the widespread international sanctions imposed on the country, calling on the branches of government to devise methods of getting through the growing number of global crises in order to become "an inspiring model of an Islamic economic system." - 3/5/14
| |
Iran, China explore mutual investment opportunities - A delegation of over 100 Chinese traders and economic managers attended a conference, titled Iran-China Investment and Business Cooperation Forum, in Tehran on Sunday. Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng led the delegation. - 3/3/14
| |
Iranian businessman released, faces corruption trial in Turkey - Reza Zarrab, an Iranian businessman, is the prime suspect in the financial corruption case in Turkey involving several senior government officials. The newspaper Today's Zaman reports that Zarrab and two sons of ministers in the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan were released today by order of the Supreme Court of Turkey, following their arrest on financial corruption charges in December 2013. - 3/1/14
| |
Iranian Power Minister warns utility rates to rise dramatically - Iranian Power Minister Hamid Chitchian says the price of utilities will increase by 25 percent in the coming Iranian year (starting March 21). Chitchian told the Reporters Club that the increase has been approved by cabinet and will take effect in the New Year. - 3/1/14
| |
Indian PM calls for expansion of relations with Iran - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called for the expansion of relations with Iran in all spheres during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in New Delhi on Friday. Singh and Zarif discussed the most recent developments in bilateral relations and important regional issues. - 3/1/14
| |
Iran Says Pakistan Obliged To Finish Pipeline - A report by the French AFP news agency on February 26 quotes Iran's Oil Ministry as calling on Islamabad to honor its contractual commitments and complete a pipeline for Iranian gas exports to Pakistan. - 2/27/14
| |
Iran must break chain of sanctions: President Rouhani - Addressing a large gathering of people in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas on Tuesday, Rouhani said that in the first steps, part of the sanctions on the insurance and banking systems, shipping, and automobile imports have been lifted. - 2/26/14
| |
Iran's family cash benefits now only aimed at families in need - Iran's Minister of the Economy has announced the family cash benefits, which so far have been sent to all households to cushion the removal of government subsidies on energy and food staples, will only be provided for families that demonstrate their financial need for such supplements, starting in the New Year. - 2/26/14
| |
Iran to attract $100bn under new oil contracts: Official - Iran is predicted to attract USD 100 billion in investment in its energy sector over the next four years after its new model of oil contracts takes effect, a top official says. Mehdi Hosseini, who advises Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh on oil contracts, made the announcement on Wednesday; three days after Iran unveiled the draft for its new oil contract terms. - 2/26/14
| |
Nurses at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Hospital stage sit-in - One hundred nurses at Imam Khomeini Hospital staged a sit-in at the hospital to protest "management's refusal to address [their] collective demands." The head of the Nurses Association, Mohammad Sharif Moghaddam, told ILNA that management has ignored earlier promises to end discrimination in pay levels among nurses and has refused to cooperate with nurses' representatives to monitor the pay schedules. - 2/24/14
| |
Iran, China finalize roadmap to double bilateral trade - Iran and China have signed an agreement finalizing a roadmap to double bilateral trade over the course of three years. Iranian Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Ali Tayyebnia and Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng signed the agreement in Tehran on Sunday. - 2/24/14
| |
Iranian Oil Minister reveals extent of financial frauds - Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh has written on his Facebook page that his ministry has been dealing with financials frauds totaling more than four trillion rials. Babak Zanjani, an Iranian tycoon and Basij member, was arrested in November in relation to a debt to the ministry of $8.2 billion dollars. - 2/20/14
| |
Iran needs $31b to inaugurate 60 petrochemical projects - Iran needs $31 billion to inaugurate 60 semi-finished petrochemical projects, the National Iranian Petrochemical Company's managing director said on Monday. Once the projects come on stream, they will increase the country's annual petrochemical output by 55 million tons, he said, adding that $74 billion is needed to expand the national petrochemical industry in the next 8-10 years. - 2/20/14
| |
Cash subsidy payments will only go to low-income families, Iranian MPs decide - On Monday, Iranian MPs approved a clause in the national budget bill for the next Iranian calendar year, which starts on March 21, according to which cash payments in the second phase of the subsidy reform plan will only be given to low-income families. - 2/18/14
| |
Iran, Turkey start talks on gas pipeline project - Turkish daily Today's Zaman reported that the country has started talks with Iran to establish a pipeline to transfer natural gas from Iran to Europe through Turkish soil. The pipeline will stretch about 5000 kilometers. It starts from Iran and then reaches to central Turkey and Greece. - 2/14/14
| |
Iran Plans to Offer Better Oil Exploration Terms Than Iraq - Iran will offer international companies better oil contracts than OPEC-rival Iraq as the Islamic republic seeks long-term investment to revive its energy industry, a government adviser said. -Bloomberg - 2/14/14
| |
Obama Says U.S. Will Continue To Enforce Sanctions On Iran - Speaking on February 11 at a press conference with visiting French President Francois Hollande, Obama said that the United States will "come down like a ton of bricks" on any business seeking to negotiate contracts with Iran. - 2/12/14
| |
Iranian president signals eagerness to attract foreign investment - Iranian President Hassan Rohani told a meeting of ambassadors and foreign political representatives in Tehran that Iran is prepared to finalize the talks with 5+1 and welcome foreign investment from international companies. - 2/11/14
| |
Iranian Parliament Passes Budget in Win for Rouhani - he first state budget proposed by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has sailed through parliament, handing him a political victory as he seeks to build domestic support for international negotiations on the country's nuclear program. -Reuters - 2/11/14
| |
Khamenei controls massive financial empire built on property seizures - A Reuters investigation details a key to the supreme leader's power: a little-known organization created to help the poor that morphed into a business juggernaut worth tens of billions of dollars. - 2/10/14
| |
Iran: Khamenei Says Don't Pin Hope On Sanctions Relief - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is urging officials not to base their hopes for the country's economic recovery on sanctions relief from any deal reached with world powers. - 2/8/14
| |
Critics Spoil Iranian Government's Food-Aid Initiative - A well-intended initiative to feed the needy has backfired on Iran's president. Braving heavy snow amid a bitter cold snap, low-income Iranians across the country lined up this week outside state-owned stores to receive free food packages. But the effort, which was launched on February 2, has drawn enough criticism to warrant a rare public apology from President Hassan Rohani. -Javad Kooroshy and Farangis Najibullah, RFE - 2/7/14
| |
President Rohani points to foreign investment as an economic cure for Iran - Iranian President Hassan Rohani spoke on live television about his government's actions to attract foreign investment, describing the positive steps he has taken to resolve the country's economic problems. - 2/7/14
| |
Mideast Wary Over Iraq-Iran Plan to Unite in Oil Market - Iraq is planning to triple its oil-producing capacity by 2020, hoping to leverage its natural resources in a power arrangement with Iran that could challenge Saudi Arabia's domination of the world oil market. -Jeff Seldin, VOA - 2/6/14
| |
Kerry Warns French Companies About Doing Business With Tehran - Reports from Washington on February 5 said Kerry called his French counterpart, Laurent Fabius, to say the visit of a French business delegation to Tehran earlier this week "is not helpful" to negotiations currently under way to convince Iran to halt its nuclear development program. - 2/6/14
| |
French business delegation aims for early bird advantage in Iran - A delegation of more than 100 French companies arrived in Tehran on Monday in the biggest demonstration of western business interest in Iran for more than a decade. The three-day visit, includes top French companies such as oil major Total, engineer Alstom, telecoms group Orange and carmaker Renault - 2/4/14
| |
Long Lines, Empty Hands: Rouhani Government's Distribution of Small Economic Relief Packages - One hundred days after his election, Hassan Rouhani told reporters in November, "The Government will provide something small this year for people in low-income tiers. God willing, we hope to present people with two packages of staples for the low-income tiers by the end of this [solar] year [March 20, 2014]." - 2/4/14
| |
The Arrests of Iranian Miners Continue - Despite the promises made by president Hassan Rouhani's first vice-president about a review of the arrested workers cases because of workers protests, arrests of miners belonging to the Chadormalu mining complex continue and have now topped 28 miners. The vice-president had promised that nobody would be arrested because of "issues related to their wages." -Niusha Saremi - 2/4/14
| |
Airbus to increase spare parts export to Iran - Customer Support Director of Airbus Company in the Middle East region Paul Claassen said on Tuesday that the company is going to increase export of spare parts to Iran. In an exclusive interview with IRNA, he said the recent agreement signed by Iran and G5+1 has provided a suitable opportunity for export of spare parts for Iranian passenger planes. - 2/4/14
| |
Switzerland, Europe's leading exporter to Iran: report - Switzerland exported 2.6 million tons of goods to Iran, valued at $1.9 billion, in the 10-month period, ranking the sixth major exporter to Iran next to the United Arab Emirates, China, India, South Korea, and Turkey. - 2/2/14
| |
Iran seizes assets of tycoon under investigation - The Iranian judiciary says the assets of detained Iranian tycoon Babak Zanjani have been confiscated. The Mehr News Agency reports that all the assets under Babak Zanjani's name have been identified and confiscated by order of the prosecutor. - 1/31/14
| |
Rouhani Reaches Out at Davos - Last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, President Hassan Rouhani tried to persuade world business leaders to invest in Iran, especially in its hydrocarbon and automobile sectors. His appeal is not likely to set off a gold rush; investors will wait to see if the nuclear agreement with the P5+1 is successfully concluded sometime this summer. -Djavad Salehi-Isfahani - 1/30/14
| |
Iran's 2014 Budget Taking Shape - As the Iranian parliament begins to discuss the 2014 budget, which takes March 21, some challenges are beginning to emerge in a country with an inflation rate of 44 percent, negative economic growth and high unemployment. In particular, subsidy reform presents lawmakers with a major challenge. -Ali Sajjadi, VOA - 1/30/14
| |
Renault set to resume car assembly in Iran - French carmaker Renault says it has resumed shipments to Iran for vehicle assembly, less than two weeks after Iran's nuclear deal with world powers took effect. Renault's regional boss Gilles Normand said the automaker expects its car manufacturing in Iran to pick up in the first half of the year. - 1/29/14
| |
Turkish Central Bank Makes Massive Rate Hike to Save Lira - The bank raised its overnight lending rate to 12 percent from 7.75 percent, its one-week repo rate to 10 percent from 4.5 percent, and its overnight borrowing rate to 8 percent from 3.5 percent - all much sharper moves than economists had forecast. -Reuters - 1/29/14
| |
Iran, Middle East's biggest crude steel producer in 2013: WSA - Iran was the biggest producer of crude steel in the Middle East in 2013, according to the World Steel Association's latest press release. Iran produced 15.4 million tons of crude steel in 2013, a 6.6 percent rise compared to 2012. - 1/28/14
| |
US, EU to lift sanctions against 14 giant Iranian petrochemical companies soon - The United States and European Union would soon exclude 14 Iranian major petrochemical companies from the list of sanctions after the implementation of the Geneva deal started on January 20. - 1/27/14
| |
Iran determined to reach final nuclear deal, seeks investment: President Rohani - Iran is determined to negotiate a comprehensive deal on its nuclear program with major powers, President Hassan Rohani said on Thursday, inviting Western companies to seize opportunities now and invest in the country. - 1/25/14
| |
U.S. Warns That Iran 'Not Open For Business' Despite Accord - Officials in Washington have warned that an interim accord on Iran's nuclear program does not open the door to new economic opportunities with Tehran. "The New York Times" quotes Treasury Undersecretary David S. Cohen as saying that "Iran is not open for business," adding that "a vast network of complicated sanctions" remain in force. - 1/25/14
| |
Rouhani Says Iran Wants Nuclear Deal, Investment - Rouhani told corporate chiefs Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he sees Tehran "pursuing policies of moderation, prudence and hope in the future global economy." He said Iran has the potential to be one of the world's top 10 economic powers in the next 30 years, and plans to reopen trade with other countries. - 1/24/14
| |
Iran-China trade hits $31b in 10 months: Envoy - The value of trade between Iran and China stood at $31 billion in the first ten months of 2013, the Chinese ambassador to Tehran announced. The two-way trade grew by 5.3 percent in the first ten months of 2013 in comparison to the corresponding time last year, IRNA quoted Chinese Ambassador Yuhang Yang as saying on Monday. - 1/22/14
| |
Iran's oil sales rise as sanctions pressure eases - sources - Iran's oil exports have picked up modestly in January for the third consecutive month, according to sources who track tanker movements, adding to signs that the easing of sanctions pressure on Tehran is helping its oil exports to recover. -Reuters - 1/22/14
| |
As Sanctions Are Relaxed, Western Businesses Look To Iran - The easing of sanctions on Tehran that has just taken effect is sending Western companies rushing to seek new business opportunities in Iran. A group of senior French executives, including from the energy and automotive sectors, is heading to Tehran early next month. They follow a delegation of British lawmakers who visited this month. -Charles Recknagel, RFE - 1/21/14
| |
EU Eases Some Sanctions Against Iran - PARIS - The United States and other world powers are easing economic sanctions against Iran after international inspectors confirmed that Tehran has started to curb its most sensitive nuclear enrichment activity. -Lisa Bryant, VOA - 1/21/14
| |
Iran sees a 'big jump' in gas exports in 2015 - Iran will "witness a change in the revenues of the country from crude oil to natural gas," Owji said. He pointed to the country's goal to triple gas shipments to some of its neighbors, saying, "By signing new deals with Turkey and Iraq, Iran will increase natural gas exports to about 100 million cubic meters by next year from a current 35 million." - 1/20/14
| |
Sanctions Eased, Iran Gets Feelers From Old Trading Partners - For critics of the interim nuclear agreement with Iran, Hossein Sheikholeslami might seem to embody their worst fears. Mr. Sheikholeslami has been busy in recent weeks, since the deal was agreed to in principle, shuttling back and forth between the capital and the airport to welcome all the guests: parliamentary missions from old European trading partners like Germany, Italy and Finland, which are eager to renew contacts. -Thomas Erdbrink, Washington Post - 1/20/14
| |
Iran's Intelligence Minister Says No Need For Media To Cover Economic Corruption - Iranian Intelligence Minister Mahmud Alavi says there is "no need" for media to publish details of cases of economic corruption. Alavi, who was speaking on January 14 to Iran's semiofficial Mehr news agency, added that the coverage of corruption cases by the media could hurt investment in the country. -Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE - 1/16/14
| |
World Bank forecasts 1% GDP growth for Iran in 2014 - Iran's gross domestic product (GDP) will grow by 1 percent in 2014, according to the World Bank's newly-released Global Economic Prospects. The report has predicted 1.8 percent and 2 percent GDP growth for Iran in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Iran's GDP growth was -1.3 percent in 2013, the report said. - 1/16/14
| |
Reported Russia-Iran Oil Talks Concern U.S. - White House spokesman Jay Carney says the United States has raised concerns with Russia about reports that Moscow and Tehran are negotiating a barter agreement for Iranian oil. - 1/15/14
| |
Iran's Oil Plans in 2014 - Iran's oil sector is like an ageing wrestler who could still surprise opponents with a show of strength. With this essential industry currently flat on its back, President Hassan Rouhani's team has to find a way to get their champion back on its feet. Meanwhile, international oil companies are looking on from the sidelines, and whispering some encouragement. -Robin Mills, LobeLog - 1/14/14
| |
US to release $550M of Iranian blocked funds in February - Iran will get a first installment around February 1 of USD 550 million of USD 4.2 billion being unblocked under a six-month landmark nuclear deal with the West, a US official said. "The installment schedule starts on February 1 and the payments are evenly distributed" across 180 days, a senior US administration official told AFP. - 1/13/14
| |
Iran's bad loans amount to $32B: Central Bank - Bad loans of the Iranian banking system amount to 800 trillion rials (about $32 billion), Iran's Central Bank Governor, Valiollah Seif, announced on Wednesday. Special committees will be formed in bank branches in order to collect the debts, the Mehr News Agency quoted Seif as saying. - 1/10/14
| |
Tycoon's Huge Debt To Iranian Oil Ministry Causes Worry - Iran's oil minister has reiterated concerns that Babak Zanjani, the Iranian tycoon who is currently under arrest on suspicion of financial fraud, owes a debt of over two billion euros to the oil ministry. - 1/9/14
| |
Iran's return to oil markets will not lower prices: Oil Minister - The return of Iran to oil markets will not lead to a decrease in prices, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said on Monday. In a message to members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Zanganeh also said that unconventional oil production from shale reserves by non-OPEC countries will not be a threat to OPEC. - 1/7/14
| |
Italian entrepreneurs to foster trade ties with Iran - A group of Italian businessmen and economic entrepreneurs will travel to Iran in the near future in order to promote business partnerships and long-term cooperation with their Iranian counterparts. - 1/6/14
| |
Petroleum plant accident kills two in Lorestan Province of Iran - The head of Crisis Management for Lorestan Province reported on Sunday January 5 that two workers are dead following an accident at the Khorram Abad Petrochemical Plant. - 1/6/14
| |
Iranians abroad to lose benefit payments - Iranians residing outside the country will no longer receive the government's monthly benefit payments that now go to all families. ILNA reports that the spokesman for the public works and budget commission announced that it is looking at cutting off the benefits paid out to 4.5 million Iranians who have Iranian birth certificates but reside outside the country. - 1/4/14
| |
Babak Zanjani, Iran's 'Economic Basij,' Now In Trouble At Home - With an estimated net worth of nearly $14 billion, Babak Zanjani is possibly Iran's richest man. Little was known, however, about the tycoon at home or abroad until his name appeared late in 2012 in connection with Western economic sanctions imposed on Iran over its disputed nuclear program. - 1/1/14
| |
Iran's inflation rate hits 35.5%, down 0.4% in month - The Statistical Center of Iran has announced that the inflation rate for the 12-month period ended the ninth Iranian calendar month of Azar (endd on December 21) hit 35.5 percent, a 0.4 percent fall compared to the previous month. - 1/1/14
| |
Iranians Pile Into Stocks as Nuclear Deal Spurs 133% Gain - For evidence of how Iranians are embracing President Hassan Rouhani's pledge to re-establish ties with the world economy after decades of crippling sanctions, take a look at the Tehran Stock Exchange. -Ladane Nasseri, Bloomberg - 1/1/14
| |
Iranian billionaire Babak Zanjani arrested: Judiciary - Experts say Babak Zanjani's estimated net worth is around USD 13.8 billion. The corporate mogul, aged nearly 40, owns and operates many holdings and companies, including the UAE-based Sorinet group, Qeshm Airlines and Rah Ahan Football Club in Iran. - 12/31/13
| |
Iranian tourism lingering under shadow of government control - In view of efforts to improve diplomatic relations with the West, Iran's tourism industry is anticipating improvements after years of stagnation. However, the government's lack of support and certain shortages are challenging travel agencies, tour organizers and the hospitality sector. - 12/31/13
| |
Iran lawmakers accuse billionaire Zanjani of corruption - Twelve Iranian parliamentarians have accused Iranian billionaire Babak Zanjani of corruption, calling for an inquiry into his financial activities, Press TV reports. The Iranian parliamentarians made the request through a letter to the heads of the three branches of the Iranian government. - 12/30/13
| |
Iran: President Rohani Targets Profiteers Exploiting Sanctions - Iranian President Hassan Rohani has called for a task force to combat those who are driving up their profits by taking advantage of the sanctions. Iranian media reported on Saturday December 28 that deputy president Eshagh Jahangiri has been appointed as the head of this task force, and the government has announced that "healthy economic activity is a priority of the government." - 12/29/13
| |
Dubai and Iran gain as trade revives - Trade in foodstuffs between Dubai and Iran is picking up, spurred by a more stable exchange rate and hopes for an Iranian re-engagement in the global economy. Related ■ Iran MPs want higher uranium enrichment in case of new sanctions ■ Iran 'committed to nuclear deal' despite US blacklisting ■ Sheikh Khalifa accepts invitation to visit Iran The gradual recovery in the flow of some goods across the Strait of Hormuz reflects a more buoyant Iranian economy, led by a stronger currency and gains in the stock market -The National, UAE - 12/28/13
| |
U.S. oil giants keep from lobbying over Iran - Reuters reports that big U.S. oil companies are refraining from lobbying for expanding relations with Iran. According to Reuters, oil companies such as Exxon Mobil Corp. stand to gain huge profits from gaining access to Iranian oil through the easing of U.S. sanctions, as Iran has some of the world's largest and most cost-effective oil resources. - 12/24/13
| |
Local dealers whet Iran's appetite for U.S. muscle cars - Snow falls heavily on the busy street. A fresh white blanket blurs the sleek lines of a Dodge Challenger -- an iconic vehicle that defines the United States' love affair with muscle cars. This is not New York, Montreal or Tokyo but Tabriz ... -Reuters - 12/24/13
| |
Iraq eyes $15b annual trade with Iran - The Iraqi government hopes to raise the volume of its annual trade exchanges with Iran to USD 15 billion from the current USD 12 billion, Iraqi officials say. - 12/24/13
| |
Iranians Hope for Improved Economy in 2014 - While Iran's nuclear program, presidential elections and new talks with the West got most of the attention this past year, the issue that hits closest to home for most Iranians is the economy, which has been battered by international sanctions. -Jeff Seldin, VOA - 12/20/13
| |
Tehran stock market sets new record - Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) market has set a new record in trading volume, hitting the 88,169-unit mark after a daily trade volume increase of 1,144 units. - 12/18/13
| |
EU removes Iranian shipping directors from blacklist - After Iran and the 5+1 reached an agreement in Geneva on November 25, the EU announced that it would begin easing sanctions on Iran in December - 12/14/13
| |
US Targets More Companies Evading Iran Sanctions - The United States has targeted more than a dozen companies and individuals for evading international sanctions against Iran and for providing support for Tehran's nuclear program. - 12/13/13
| |
Home
