0545 GMT: Economy Watch. Deputy Minister of Industry Hamid Safdel has said that Tehran will cut imports of non-essential goods. He urged Iranians to reduce their use of foreign-made cellphones and cars.
A rise in imports, couple with a fall in Iran's exports, has cut into the Islamic Republic's trade surplus. The Government has also been under pressure to limit the imports as Iranian domestic production declines amid sanctions and economic and currency problems.
Safdel said importers of goods in two non-essential categories will not be allowed foreign exchange --- discounted against the open-market rate --- in the Central Bank's "trade room". Goods affected include cigarette papers, wallpaper, cellphones, luggage, clothing. and cars.
However, there are no plans to raise import tariffs on luxury items, Safdel said. Instead, Minister of Industry Mehdi Ghazanfari urged Iranians to limit their use of such goods and turn to domestic manufacturers.
0515 GMT: Today European Union foreign ministers will announce more sanctions on Tehran, in which German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle declared is "a clear signal to Tehran...[that] it is time for a political solution".
Diplomatic sources have said the EU will put further restrictions on Iran's banks --- with all deals barred above a "relatively low" threshold --- trade, and gas exports, and agree for the first time to act against the telecommunications sector.
Europe's limited imports of Iranian gas will be prohibited, and an extra 30 companies will be put on a list of firms whose assets are frozen.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic prefers to highlight the Tehran visit of the United Nations-Arab League envoy on Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi. Iranian State media said an "unofficial detailed proposal...aimed at solving the Syrian crisis" had been presented to Brahimi, and they featured his comments, in a press conference with Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi:
There are some ideas in your proposals which can help by adding to that forwarded by other nations who are also important with regards to the Syrian situation. We hope all these ideas gather into a project to put an end to the Syrian people's nightmare.
Brahimi later met with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose website put out these remarks by the President:
Fighting in Syria means the spread of insecurity in the whole region and efforts exerted to break up Syria will lead to decades of insecurity in the region due to the country's ethnic structure. The solution to improve the Syrian situation is for all parties to reach this conclusion that with calmness and security, the Syrian issue can be solved.
No one should seek to impose his opinion on others and the Syrian people in completely free elections should say their views and everyone should respect the Syrian people's choice.
Posted via email from lissping
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.