Behind the Headlines/October 30

In tonight’s program of Behind the Headlines we will look at the latest news of Iran and the Middle East as well as finding out what the new US sanctions mean to the ordinary Iranian people and their economic plight.

We will also ask who and why is behind the current animosities between Iran and the US, whereas before the Islamic revolution the two countries were close allies.

Our guests tonight are Ardavan Roozbeh, Hamed Shaybani and Navid Jamshidi.

We begin with looking at the rapid fluctuation in the value of US dollar in Iran’s foreign exchange market as some accuse the government for it.

Navid Jamshidi:

This accusation is somehow true. We had not seen this rapid fluctuation for a few days but it suddenly started again yesterday. US dollar is now selling at 14,800 rials.

Some experts inside the country say there might be some behind the scene decisions by the government as we are approaching the 4 November and the beginning of the new banking and oil sanctions.

It could be that on that day the value of the US dollar might drop by government injecting millions of it into the market.

Ardavan Roozbeh:

We cannot really say anything with certainty at this moment, as the value of US dollar in Iran is dependent on many changing factors.

However, one of the main reasons for this has always been the bad economic decisions by the government as was the case during the Ahmadinejad’s era.

The most challenging issue of Iran’s economy is its link to security organs. Our people simply do not trust the government when it comes to protection of their wealth and savings.

National security has its own meaning and is a combination of economic and social security for the citizens. But under the current regime in Iran none are provided aseven a teachers’ union leader is arrested without any charges and is sent to hospital and chained to his bed!

Hamed Shaybani:

If you look at the 40 years of the rule of the Islamic republic you would find out why the Iranian people do not trust this regime.

Just look at the many election promises that its leaders have given to our people without fulfilling one single one of them.

The current social movement in Iran is not confined to one class as our people do not fear the regime any more and are openly challenging its existence wherever they find an opportunity.

The fear is now on the part of the regime as it is gradually approaching its downfall, which I believe is not that far away.