Page 6 - IRANRptJul18

Khamenei warns “those who disrupt economic security”
“We will not surrender before America, we will protect our historic dignity,” he said. “We have to show the world that we will tolerate tough times, we will tolerate difficulties but we will not trade in our independence, our freedom or our faith.”
As a pragmatic centrist, Rouhani is now under serious pressure from hardliners who were always opposed to Iran signing the JCPOA, saying that of the signatories the US in particular was not to be trusted. They now feel vindicated.
In comments largely aimed at his domestic critics, Rouhani promised that to ease the burden on the public purse in challenging times his government would cut spending, reduce international travel and fly economy class. Additionally, he said ministries should issue bonds to give Iranians alternatives to the dollar and the euro for investing their assets.
Foreign Minister Zarif, meanwhile, met with lawmakers to brief them on the government’s latest nuclear deal standpoint. The growing discontent in the Iranian parliament over Rouhani’s performance was illustrated by the issuing of a letter, signed by 187 MPs—more than half of the total—asking that the president make changes to his administration’s economic team.
A group of 23 lawmakers took matters further by commencing proceedings to impeach Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli for failing to cope with the consequences of the turmoil afflicting Iran's economy.
With business at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar back to normal on June 27, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei took a chance to warn against further trouble and demanded that the judiciary punish those “who disrupt economic security”
In his response to the Tehran protests, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted: “It should surprise no one #IranProtests continue. People are tired of the corruption, injustice & incompetence of their leaders. The world hears their voice.”
The rial traded at 78,500 against the dollar in the unofficial market on June 27, according to foreign exchange website Bonbast.com. That was an improvement on the levels above 92,000 seen at the start of the week. At the end of last year, the currency traded at 43,000 to the USD.
2.2 US to tolerate India’s Iran trade corridor but demands end to oil imports
US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on June 27 told India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Washington would back his country’s plan to develop the Iranian sea port of Chabahar to open up a trade route to Afghanistan that avoids its arch-rival Pakistan.
“We realise we’re threading a needle when we do that,” said Haley on a visit to India, describing the balancing act of ensuring Indian use of the Iranian port while the US simultaneously attempts to throttle Iran’s economy to force it to renegotiate the nuclear deal.
6 IRAN Country Report July 2018 www.intellinews.com