Page 2 - Iran Economy

US renews threats against Iran at UN despite Trump's de-escalation signals

After weeks of escalating tension, US and Iranian officials faced each other Thursday at the UN Security Council, where America's envoy renewed threats against the Islamic Republic despite President Donald Trump's efforts to lower the temperature between the two adversaries. The US was joined by Iranian dissidents in rebuking the government's bloody crackdown on nationwide protests that activists say has killed at least 2,637 people. Colleagues, let me be clear: President Trump is a man of action, not endless talk like we see at the United Nations, Mike Waltz, US ambassador to the UN, said in a statement. He has made it clear that all options are on the table to stop the slaughter. And no one should know that better than the leadership of the Iranian regime. Waltz's remarks came as the prospect of US retaliation for the protesters' deaths still hung over the region, though Trump signaled a possible de-escalation, saying the killing appeared to be ending. By Thursday, the protests ..

Exiled Iranian prince seeks Trump backing, not public support: Experts

No pursuit of nuclear weapons. Confronting drug trafficking. An immediate recognition of the state of Israel. Exporting copious amounts of oil and gas. Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi laid out his aspirations Thursday for Iran if its theocracy is toppled and experts say they sound exactly like what US President Donald Trump wants to hear. That plan likely is aimed at trying to secure support to lead Iran if the nationwide protests succeed in ousting the Islamic Republic. Activists describe a bloody crackdown by security forces that has killed 2,637 people and broadly smothered the demonstrations. But Trump has yet to fully embrace Pahlavi. He's really struggling to win Trump's approval, to give the impression he has that strong support, but it doesn't seem to be working, said Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute, a Washington think tank and author of several books on Iran. Many of his goals also dovetail with the wishes of hard-line Israeli Prime Minister

Who are Iran's bazaaris, and why their protests still shake the regime

As Iran's economy buckles under inflation and a weakening currency, Tehran's Grand Bazaar is again turning into a pressure point, with shop closures signalling unrest spreading beyond the market

It now takes 1.65 million Iranian rials for $1. Here's why it crashed

Iran's rial has slid to nearly 1.65 million per dollar, crushing purchasing power and trade options as sanctions, inflation, and the Israel war have converged into a full-blown currency crisis

Exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi outlines vision for a free, peaceful Iran

Earlier, US Senator Lindsey Graham on Wednesday (local time) met the exiled crown prince and reiterated Washington's support for the Iranian people against what he described as a "brutal regime"

Trump claims killings in Iran are stopping, executions not planned

Donald Trump claimed he has been assured that Iran will halt killings and not execute protesters, warning of 'very strong action' if hangings resume

Iran temporarily shuts airspace amid tensions, forcing airlines to reroute

President Donald Trump has been weighing a response to the situation in Iran, which is seeing its biggest anti-government protests in years

Iran signals fast trials, executions; warns US, Israel against action

Iranian officials signaled on Wednesday that fast trials and executions lay ahead for suspects detained in nationwide protests, while the Islamic Republic promised retaliation if the US or Israel intervenes in the domestic unrest. The threats emerged as some personnel at a key US military base in Qatar were advised to evacuate, even as President Donald Trump made a series of vague statements in a span of 24 hours that left unclear what American action, if any, would take place against Iran. In comments to reporters, the Republican president said he had been told that plans for executions in Iran have stopped, without providing many details. The shift comes a day after Trump told protesters in Iran that help is on the way and that his administration would act accordingly to respond to the Islamic Republic's deadly crackdown. We've been told that the killing in Iran is stopping it's stopped it's stopping, Trump said at the White House while signing executive orders and legislation.

Iran signals fast trials, executions for protesters despite Trump warning

The head of Iran's judiciary signaled Wednesday there would be fast trials and executions ahead for those detained in nationwide protests despite a warning from U.S. President Donald Trump. The comments from Iran's judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei come as activists had warned hangings of those detained could come soon. Already, a bloody security force crackdown on the demonstrations has killed at least 2,571, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported. That figure dwarfs the death toll from any other round of protest or unrest in Iran in decades and recalls the chaos surrounding the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution. Trump repeatedly has warned that the United States may take military action over the killing of peaceful protesters, just months after it bombed Iranian nuclear sites during a 12-day war launched by Israel against the Islamic Republic in June. Mohseni-Ejei made the comment in a video shared by Iranian state television online. If we want to do

Iran aired nearly 100 coerced confessions from protesters, say activists

They are shown handcuffed, their faces blurred. The confession videos, broadcast on Iranian state media, feature dramatic background music interspersed with clips appearing to show protesters attacking security forces. Some showcase gruesome homemade weapons that authorities claim were used in the attacks. Others highlight suspects in grainy security footage, appearing to set fires or destroy property. Iran alleges these confessions, which often include references to Israel or America, are proof of foreign plots behind Iran's nationwide protests. Activists say they are coerced confessions, long a staple of Iran's hard-line state television, the only broadcaster in the country. And these videos are coming at an unprecedented clip. Iranian state media has aired at least 97 confessions from protesters, many expressing remorse for their actions, since the protests began on Dec 28, according to a rights group that is tracking the videos. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency

Iran uses Russian tech to jam Starlink as protests grow under blackout

Iran has reportedly used Russian-made jammers to disrupt Starlink internet during protests, even as SpaceX waived fees to help people connect amid a nationwide internet blackout

Elon Musk's Starlink goes free in Iran as internet blackout continues

Unrest across Iran has sharply intensified over the past week, drawing hundreds of thousands to the streets who are calling for the downfall of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Trump urges Iranians to escalate protests, hints at action as deaths mount

Iran has experienced weeks of mass unrest. While initially touched off by a currency crisis and worsening economic conditions, the protests have increasingly taken aim at the regime

Iran allows limited overseas calls as protest death toll nears 2,000

Iran eased some restrictions on its people and, for the first time in days, allowed them to make phone calls abroad via their mobile phones on Tuesday. It did not ease restrictions on the internet or permit texting services to be restored as the death toll from days of bloody protests against the state rose to at least 2,000 people, according to activists. Although Iranians were able to call abroad, people outside the country could not call them, several people in the capital told The Associated Press. The witnesses, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said SMS text messaging still was down and internet users inside Iran could not access anything abroad, although there were local connections to government-approved websites. It was unclear if restrictions would ease further after authorities cut off all communications inside the country and to the outside world late Thursday. Here is the latest: Iranian official calls Trump and Netanyahu 'real killers of peopl

Who is Erfan Soltani, the 26-year-old Iran plans to execute over protests?

The National Union for Democracy in Iran, a US-based non-profit organisation of the Iranian diaspora, said that the Islamic Republic told Soltani's family that the 'sentence is final'

Trump keeps 'all options' open as Iran protest death toll hits 646: Updates

White House says Donald Trump is closely tracking Iran's unrest as deaths rise to 646, keeping military options open while Tehran signals readiness for war and dialogue

Trump warns of 'strong actions' in Iran as death toll crosses 500: Updates

Donald Trump said Iran may be nearing a red line as protests spread nationwide, deaths rise and Washington reviews strong options while closely monitoring the situation

Exiled Iranian crown prince Pahlavi calls for strikes, plans his return

Iran witnessed fresh protests as Reza Pahlavi urged nationwide strikes, street mobilisation and signalled his readiness to return to the 'homeland at the time of national revolution's victory'

Dozens feared dead as largest anti-govt protests intensify in Iran

Social media footage trickling out of Iran amid a blanket shutdown of internet and telecommunications networks showed hundreds of thousands marching and chanting anti-regime slogans

What to know about protests in Iran driven by inflation, economic strain

Galloping inflation and a currency crisis have provoked demonstrations across the country