In the Press

Coverage in the Turkish media (PDF)

30 Nov 2015

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has described as “historic” and a “great victory” the lifting of sanctions against Iran, declaring that the country is now reopening its doors to the international economy. For Iran, long frozen out of the global economy for its contested atomic programme, implementing the nuclear deal will be a welcome change.

Star Kobi | Türk markaları İran’da kendi pazarlarını oluşturacak güçte (“Turkish brands have the power to create their own market in Iran”)

24 Nov 2015

Interview by Star KOBI with Dr. Bijan Khajehpour

CGEP | Iran Post Sanctions: How Much Oil will Hit the Market?

29 Sep 2015

Speaker: Dr. Bijan Khajehpour (his presentation starts at min 17:20):

Al Jazeera | Bijan Khajehpour about the Iran Deal

5 Aug 2015

BBC | Bijan Khajehpour about the Iran Deal

18 Jul 2015

BBC interviews Bijan Khajehpour outside Palais Coburg right after news breaks on signing the Iran deal.

Al-Monitor | “Preventing Iran’s post-sanctions job crisis”

17 Jul 2015

The speculation is over. Iran and the world powers have reached a deal on Iran’s nuclear program that could potentially remove the main sanctions against Iran by early 2016, allowing it to normalize trade, financial and investment relations with other countries. Although Iranian-US trade relations will not be sanctions-free in the foreseeable future, the situation could feasibly return to…

Al-Monitor | “Iran-Russia Relations After Nuclear Deal”

12 Jul 2015

There has been a lot of speculation about how the lifting of sanctions and the re-engagement of Western companies in Iran would influence Iran’s relations with Russia. The simplistic view is that a resurgent Iran would compete with Russia as a major exporter of oil and gas, hence compelling Moscow to stand in the way of Iran developing its oil and gas potential. However, the reality is more complex and any projection of Tehran-Moscow ties will need…

Al-Monitor | “What will happen once Iran’s assets are unfrozen?”

26 May 2015

One of the issues currently debated among Iranian decision-makers and economists is how the country will use its sizable hard currency holdings once they are released by international banks in the process of sanctions relief. There are different calculations regarding Iran’s frozen assets in international accounts, but the most reasonable figure is $120 billion. Considering that the country’s total trade volume in 2014 was about $160 billion, it is clear that Tehran will…

Al-Monitor | “Iran slashes interest rates to boost economy”

15 May 2015

According to the Central Bank of Iran (CBI), the maximum interest rate that banks can offer on one-year savings will be 20% as opposed to the previous 22%. CBI Gov. Valiollah Seif said the council aimed to create a scenario in which interest on savings would be higher than inflation, while loans would be less expensive for industry. In other words, there is a desire to make loans extended by banks and financial institutions more affordable, thereby helping…

Al-Monitor | “Iran’s water crisis reaches critical levels”

1 May 2015

Al-Monitor reported in May 2014 that Iran faced an unprecedented water shortage, and now, a year later, the crisis has deteriorated to the point of raising the alarm that a large number of Iranians might be forced to migrate, including externally, to access water if workable solutions are not found in the next few years. Addressing this critical issue will require Iranian authorities to…

Al-Monitor | “Iran’s housing bubble”

19 Apr 2015

The housing and construction sectors have been significant for the Iranian economy both in terms of employment as well as capital formation. Contributing to about 5% of the country’s gross domestic product, the health of the construction sector has also been an indicator of the overall economic outlook in the country. However, recent property price developments have caused a slowdown in investments in this important sector, leading to questions on the future of…

Al-Monitor | “How the nuclear deal will help Iran’s economy”

10 Apr 2015

An old Iranian proverb that has been borrowed from the poet Sheikh Bahai reads, “A good year can be recognized through its spring time.” Well, emotionally, the Iranian New Year started with a major boost, when it was announced April 2 that Iran and six world powers had identified solutions that could provide the basis for a comprehensive nuclear agreement. Street celebrations and a hero’s welcome extended to the nuclear negotiating team were all…

Al-Monitor | “Khamenei calls for greater domestic production”

23 Mar 2015

As usual, the Iranian new year started with a major policy speech by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who yet again dedicated an important part of the oration to outlining economic strategies and necessities. The supreme leader said the Iranian economy was in need of a serious and grand move that has to rely on indigenous capacities. Khamenei described the economic field as a battlefield and rejected the notion of economic growth and progress based on…

Al-Monitor | “Will Iran’s corruption fight attract private investors?”

17 Feb 2015

With the imprisonment of Iran’s former First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi Feb. 15 on charges of corruption and embezzlement, Iran’s fight against corruption has taken on unprecedented dimensions. Incidentally, through this and other cases, the complex structures of financial and administrative corruption that persisted in…

Bloomberg | “Pay Your Taxes: Iran’s Rouhani Confronts Powerful Corporations”

2 Feb 2015

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s bid to raise tax revenue to counter the slump in oil prices is pitting him against businesses controlled by his boss: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran’s economy has been limping badly. The U.S.-driven sanctions imposed because of …

Al-Monitor | “Iran’s new budget to focus on privatization, subsidy reforms”

8 Jan 2015

The Iranian economy has embarked on 2015 with a number of challenges that will directly influence the overall economic performance of the country. Low and falling oil prices as well as the wait-and-see mode in the nuclear negotiations are inducing massive uncertainties into Iran’s economic outlook.