Wednesday, January 4, 2012

U.S. Sanctions Are Starting To Devastate The Iranian Economy

An Iranian man walks past a currency exchange shop in northern Tehran Tuesday. The Iranian rial fell to a record low against the dollar after US President Barack Obama signed a bill Tuesday imposing fresh sanctions against the country's central bank. Morteza Nikoubazl/Reuters

Why Iran's Currency Dropped To Worst Low In Two Decades -- Christian Science Monitor

The value of Iran's currency, the rial, to the dollar fell nearly 30 percent after President Obama approved new Iran sanctions on Saturday.

Iran's currency, the rial, has plummeted to its lowest value against the dollar in more than two decades after President Obama signed legislation Saturday targeting Iran's Central Bank.

The rial dropped almost 30 percent in two days, hitting exchange rates as low as 17,800 rials per dollar on Monday as Iranians rushed to sell their local currency holdings in favor of havens such as the euro, the United Arab Emirates dirham, the US dollar, and gold.

Washington's new financial legislation against Tehran will sanction foreign firms that purchase Iranian oil – by far the chief source of Iranian government revenue – and penalize banks engaging in financial transactions with Iran. The legislation won't be enacted for another six months, in order for the White House to prepare for any potential fallout on global oil prices, and the rial strengthened today somewhat to 16,200 rials to the dollar.

Read more ....

My Comment: The Iranian government is denying any linkage between the imposition of new sanctions and the drop in value of its currency. OK .... I have the Brooklyn Bridge to sell to you.

No comments: