Iran’s economy is set to shrink by 9.5% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF said the decrease was down to tighter U.S. sanctions on Iran. The World Bank said the Iranian economy would be 90% smaller than it was two years ago by the end of the 2019/20 financial year.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the Islamic Republic would be scaling back its commitments further under the nuclear deal. Senior Iranian officials said that they would be limiting international inspectors’ access to its nuclear sites, while Rouhani suggested that the government was working on developing advanced IR-9 centrifuges for uranium enrichment.
Elsewhere, unrest in Iraq as mass protests swept Baghdad was countered by Iran-backed militia who used snipers to target protesters. Iraqi security forces said the militia fighters had acted independently of the Iranian government. Iraq’s government is also backed by militia groups supported by Iran.
And finally, Reuters revealed that the U.S. carried out a covert cyber attack on Iran, in response to the drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’s Aramco oil facilities. Officials told the news outlet that the operation focused on Tehran’s ability to spread propaganda.
- Iranian officials unveiled video footage of a secret underground missile base in Iran, but are sanctions enough to stop Tehran developing its military arsenal?
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- The incoming High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy appears to be pro Iran, but his stance is worrying analysts.
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- Chronic mistreatment of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) community in Iranian prisons has been highlighted by human rights organizations. →Link to source
- Iranian officials lodged a complaint with FIFA over an incident which involved Bahraini football fans booing Iran’s national anthem during a football match.
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