IRAN
 
Iran’s Economy Facing a Challenging Year
 
By Jahangir Amuzegar
 
On 23 February some 20mn Iranian families, comprising 73mn individuals, were informed by their banks that a sum of IR850,000 (approximately $70 at the official exchange rate) had been deposited in their account as a bonus to help them celebrate Nowruz (the Persian New Year on 21 March). Twelve million ‘poor people’ covered by the Imam Assistance Committee, or the National...