More on the Falling Rial from Djavad Salehi-Isfahani

Virginia Tech economist Djavad Salehi-Isfahani’s recent explanation of the rial situation in Iran generated a lot of attention, and much in the way of non-expert criticism, likely because it deviates considerably from the prevailing narrative on Iran’s economy: it’s about… Continue Reading →

Consider the human costs of using the “military option” on Iran’s nuclear facilities

I’ve been meaning to write about this report on the multifold human costs of militarily striking Iran’s nuclear facilities and am happy to find that it’s already been noted by Golnaz Esfandiari as well as Gordon Lubold, among others. (Marsha Cohen’s… Continue Reading →

UN Chief: Sanctions “affecting humanitarian operations” in Iran

This is becoming a recurring theme: sanctions are affecting the supply of humanitarian essentials for Iranians regardless of special waivers. Reuters has the report: “The sanctions also appear to be affecting humanitarian operations in the country,” Ban wrote in the report,… Continue Reading →

Netanyahu is using his Iraq script for Iran

Haaretz reporter Barak Ravid references Jim Lobe’s widely read article about Bibi Netanyahu’s testimony to Congress on Iraq one year prior to the US-led war in 2003. In sum, the Israeli Prime Minister seems to be reading from the same… Continue Reading →

Current Economic Unrest Unlikely to Alter Iran’s Nuclear Calculus

via IPS News As Iran faces economic unrest, discussion is intensifying over the impact sanctions are having on Iran’s economy. But experts doubt that the current situation portends the end of the Iranian regime or Iranian capitulation to Israeli and… Continue Reading →