Bloomberg: Iran’s economy may shrink more than the International Monetary Fund forecast earlier this year because of weakness in the exchange rate, the fund’s Middle East chief said.
Iran currency crisis likely to worsen GDP shrinkage: IMF
Iran to probe alleged death of a jailed blogger
AP: Iran’s parliament announced Sunday it would probe reports that a jailed blogger died suspiciously in custody earlier this week, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Steel sanctions cut deep into Iran’s economy
Reuters: Iranian manufacturers and builders face serious shortages of steel and other metals as a new European Union export ban adds to troubles for an economy already reeling from sanctions on its finances and oil exports.
Silence is not the answer
Iran Focus: The humanitarian crisis in Iran has taken a turn for the worse, beginning a dark chapter in the country’s bleak history of violating human rights. Iran has the world’s highest execution rate per capita, and is the only country in the world which continues to execute minors.
Mideast nuke talks called off
AP: Attempts to find Arab-Israeli common ground on banning weapons of mass destruction from the Mideast have failed, and high-profile talks on the issue have been called off, diplomats said Saturday.
Iran brushes aside new US sanctions
AFP: Iran on Saturday brushed aside newly-imposed US sanctions over media censorship, which it said was essential to preserve “moral values” in the Islamic republic.
Calls for inquest into reported Iran blogger death
AP: A prominent press freedom group has joined the U.S. State Department to demand Iran conduct a full investigation into the reported death of a jailed blogger.
Four killed in Iran train derailment: state media
AFP: Four people were killed and 26 injured late on Friday when a train derailed in central Iran, the official IRNA news agency reported.
US weighs broader nuke deal with Iran
AP: The Obama administration is considering a new approach in negotiations to curb Iran’s nuclear program that would ease economic sanctions faster than previously offered if Tehran makes greater concessions than it has ever discussed.
UN atomic agency to hold December talks with Iran
AFP: The UN atomic agency said Friday it will next month hold its first talks with Iran since August over Tehran’s contested nuclear programme, in a first sign of renewed diplomatic activity since the US election.
