Steep Slide in Currency Threatens Iran’s Economy

April 11 2018; The New York Times

TEHRAN — All this week panicked Iranians have gathered in throngs outside banks and other financial businesses hoping to buy dollars, as the government seeks to head off a collapse in the rial, the national currency.

But they have met with nothing but frustration, told there were no dollars or other currencies for them to buy at the official government rate. In an effort to stop the run on foreign exchange, the government has forbidden anyone from holding more than the equivalent of $10,000 in dollars or euros, which account for most of the foreign exchange in Iran.

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Family calls for independent probe into death of Iranian-Canadian in jail

Feb 14, 2018 Reuters 

LONDON (Reuters) - The family of an Iranian-Canadian environmental activist who died in prison in Tehran last week called for an independent investigation into his death, and said they were under pressure from authorities not to publicize the case.

Kavous Seyed-Emami, an environmental activist and sociology professor, was arrested on Jan. 24 and died in prison. Iran’s judiciary said Seyed-Emami, 63, had committed suicide.

The Canadian government said on Tuesday it was “seriously concerned” about the circumstances surrounding his death.

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Iran Protests: “Reformists, Hardliner, The Game is Now Over"

December 30, 2017; Huffington Post

Iran is experiencing a political earthquake. The fault lines are clear: on the one side, the theocratic regime and its suppressive forces; on the other, the Iranian people. At least two dozen cities across the country witnessed large-scale demonstrations on Saturday and Friday against a regime that has been sorely incapable of addressing the country’s economic demands. There were protests in over 30 cites today and three people shot dead in Doroud as security forces opened fire.

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Remarks by President Trump on Iran Strategy

President Trump, October 13, 2017 Whitehouse.gov

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. My fellow Americans: As President of the United States, my highest obligation is to ensure the safety and security of the American people.

History has shown that the longer we ignore a threat, the more dangerous that threat becomes. For this reason, upon taking office, I've ordered a complete strategic review of our policy toward the rogue regime in Iran. That review is now complete.

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Iranian ex-pats rally while Rouhani rails

September 20, 2017 Fox News

While Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addressed the United Nations General Assembly Wednesday, thousands of Iranian expats rallied outside to call for an end to the Islamic republic's brutal regime.
"We want the American people to know that the Iranian people do not want a clerical regime," said Sonia Samsami, the U.S. Representative of the National Council of Resistance to Iran. "Regime change at the hands of the people is the only solution to the Iran crisis.

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