Sanctions take toll on ordinary Iranians
CNN / Shirzad Bozorgmehr and Moni Basu
23-Jan-2012 (7 comments)

 

Tehran, Iran (CNN) -- Many in the West would like to see Iran punished for its nuclear ambitions. Tehran's residents would like those people to take a glimpse into their lives.

The European Union announced Monday it is banning the import of Iranian crude oil and blocking trade in gold, diamonds, and precious metals, among other steps, adding to sanctions already imposed by the United States and the United Nations. The measures take a big toll on Iran's lifeblood oil revenues.

The lives of ordinary Iranians have been deeply touched in recent weeks by the Western sanctions. Several spoke to CNN about how they are coping with staggering inflation and a plunging national currency, although none felt comfortable being fully identified, fearful of the Islamic Republic's long reach into private lives.

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vildemose

 Anahid jan: No problem. I

by vildemose on Mon Jan 23, 2012 02:30 PM PST

 Anahid jan: No problem. I have no idea what the mullahs are cooking up but it won't be good.

A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny.--Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.


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G. Rahmanian

These Two Reporters

by G. Rahmanian on Mon Jan 23, 2012 02:07 PM PST

These Two Reporters have no clue what's going on in Iran.

Any Iranian would tell you more than 50% of the population lives under povert line. And this didn't come anout as a result of oil embargo.

There has been a standstill in some sectors of the economy for years as a result of regime's devastating economic policies and not because of the sanctions. Sanctions are having deeper impact because of such policies.

In a country where the officials boast of "independence" and and is not bound by international law, sanctions did not have to have such impact.


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Anahid Hojjati

thanks Yolanda, Esfand and Vildemose

by Anahid Hojjati on Mon Jan 23, 2012 12:32 PM PST

For all the links.


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vildemose

"The economic situation in

by vildemose on Mon Jan 23, 2012 12:10 PM PST

"The economic situation in Iran is a disaster. Trade is at a minimum, and everyone is in a state of panic," said Abdullah, a 47-year-old merchant in Tehran's grand bazaar. He imports and exports semiprecious stones and silver, and says this month he is making less than $100 a day on average for a store that costs $400 in rent and expenses. "We are all slowly going bankrupt.

Since the rial started plummeting in December, Iranians say many people have rushed to turn their capital into dollars or gold. Many middle-class Iranians are selling properties and withdrawing money from saving accounts that promised a 17 percent interest rate.

Iranian newspapers dedicated much of their front pages to the news of the currency rates and the government crackdown on black-market dealers. By midday Monday, the official news agency IRNA reported that money-exchange shops weren't buying or selling dollars and didn't list a price on their board. Black-market handlers continued to deal in the back alleys of downtown Tehran, according to IRNA.

//online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203735304577164640064408710.html

A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny.--Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.


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yolanda

........

by yolanda on Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:18 AM PST

Thank you, Mouse!

China will still buy Iranian oil, but they want 40% discount!

"Dubowitz estimates that if China were the only remaining buyer of Iranian crude, it might command as much as 40 percent discounts"

//www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-23/china-gets-cheaper-iran-oil-as-u-s-pays-tab-for-hormuz-patrols.html

What a friend for?


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Esfand Aashena

Yolanda, Khamanei's reaction to the EU embargo was leaked!

by Esfand Aashena on Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:49 AM PST


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yolanda

........

by yolanda on Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:37 AM PST

So Khamenei still says that sanctions have no effect! When was the last time he bought anything from a store?


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