VOL. XLV

No 12

25-March-2002

IRAN

Expediency Council Again RescuesBuyback Program

Iranshighest legislative body, the Expediency Council (EC), has overturned a rulingby the Guardians Council (GC) that provisions for oil and gas industry buybackcontracts in next years budget were un-Islamic and contrary to theconstitution. The decision marks an end to moves by the GC composed ofconservative clerics to block the opening of the Iranian economy within thecontext of the debate on the current budget...