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Prices soar as sanctions hit ordinary Iranians | Alrroya
Prices soar as sanctions hit ordinary Iranians
Wednesday, 14 July 2010 at 17:36, Reuters, Tehran
Some worry about higher food prices, some fret about overseas travel and others about business, but it is clear that ordinary Iranians are feeling the effects of sanctions imposed over Tehran's nuclear programme.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has scoffed at US sanctions as "pathetic" and said a UN resolution had no more worth than a "used handkerchief" and, although some Iranians backed their leader's tough position, others were antiestéticarful for the future.
The latest measures are mainly aimed at vital sectors of the economy such as banking and energy, which analysts say will raise the cost of trade by making it more difficult to tras*fer funds or insure cargoes.
In shops and markets, people say they are struggling to cope, squeezed by soaring rents and grocery bills on the one hand and stagnant salaries on the other.
"Prices go up as soon as there is talk of sanctions. The nation is paying a heavy price for the nuclear dispute," said an English teacher in Tehran, who asked not to be identified.
"Do the officials know how difficult it has become for ordinary people to even feed their children?" said the 45-year-old father of two, who earns about $400 per month.
Architect Mohammad Sadati, 36, was also in no doubt about the cause of the rising prices.
"As soon as there is talk about the possibility of new sanctions against Iran, the price of everything goes up," he said.
The United States, the United Nations and the European Union have imposed new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear enrichment activities, which the West antiestéticars could lead it to make a bomb. Iran says its nuclear programme is peaceful.
A growing number of oil companies, trading houses and other international firms have stopped doing business with Iran this year as the United States has led international efforts to isolate Tehran.
Earlier this month, Washington enacted unilateral sanctions which for the first time allow it to punish the U.S. operations of international firms that supply fuel to Iran.
Last week, media reports said Iranian aircraft had been denied fuel in Germany, Britain and a Gulf Arab state because of the latest U.S. sanctions. An Iranian official denied it, calling the reports "psychological warfare".
However, BP confirmed on Tuesday it had stopped supplying jet fuel to Iran Air at Germany's Hamburg airport.
Mahtab Heshmati said she was worried by the prospect of Iran's international isolation.
"I have two children studying abroad. I hope sanctions will not isolate Iran in a way that we will not be able to fly abroad and see our children," she said.
Political analysts say growing economic problems are likely to undermine the government's efforts to persuade Iranians that the restrictions will not cripple Iran's economy.
Businessman Habib Rostami says he was forced to shut down his food import company because of limitations imposed on Iran's financial sector.
"Doing business in Iran is becoming more and more difficult," he said. "The prices of goods are so high that ordinary Iranians cannot afford them."
Critics say Ahmadinejad's harsh anti-Western rhetoric has provoked the West to take a tougher line but his resistance to international pressure has struck a chord at home.
Retired teacher Nasrin Nemati, 41, complained of high inflation but said she was proud of the government for taking a stand.
"I am ready to pay the price to preserve our nuclear programme," she said. "Who are the Westerners to tell us to halt it?"
The fourth round of UN sanctions calls for measures against new Iranian banks abroad if a connection to the nuclear or missile programmes is suspected, as well as vigilance over tras*actions with any Iranian bank, including the central bank.
It expands a UN arms embargo against Tehran and blacklists three firms controlled by Iran's national shipping company and 15 belonging to the Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Prices soar as sanctions hit ordinary Iranians
Wednesday, 14 July 2010 at 17:36, Reuters, Tehran
Some worry about higher food prices, some fret about overseas travel and others about business, but it is clear that ordinary Iranians are feeling the effects of sanctions imposed over Tehran's nuclear programme.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has scoffed at US sanctions as "pathetic" and said a UN resolution had no more worth than a "used handkerchief" and, although some Iranians backed their leader's tough position, others were antiestéticarful for the future.
The latest measures are mainly aimed at vital sectors of the economy such as banking and energy, which analysts say will raise the cost of trade by making it more difficult to tras*fer funds or insure cargoes.
In shops and markets, people say they are struggling to cope, squeezed by soaring rents and grocery bills on the one hand and stagnant salaries on the other.
"Prices go up as soon as there is talk of sanctions. The nation is paying a heavy price for the nuclear dispute," said an English teacher in Tehran, who asked not to be identified.
"Do the officials know how difficult it has become for ordinary people to even feed their children?" said the 45-year-old father of two, who earns about $400 per month.
Architect Mohammad Sadati, 36, was also in no doubt about the cause of the rising prices.
"As soon as there is talk about the possibility of new sanctions against Iran, the price of everything goes up," he said.
The United States, the United Nations and the European Union have imposed new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear enrichment activities, which the West antiestéticars could lead it to make a bomb. Iran says its nuclear programme is peaceful.
A growing number of oil companies, trading houses and other international firms have stopped doing business with Iran this year as the United States has led international efforts to isolate Tehran.
Earlier this month, Washington enacted unilateral sanctions which for the first time allow it to punish the U.S. operations of international firms that supply fuel to Iran.
Last week, media reports said Iranian aircraft had been denied fuel in Germany, Britain and a Gulf Arab state because of the latest U.S. sanctions. An Iranian official denied it, calling the reports "psychological warfare".
However, BP confirmed on Tuesday it had stopped supplying jet fuel to Iran Air at Germany's Hamburg airport.
Mahtab Heshmati said she was worried by the prospect of Iran's international isolation.
"I have two children studying abroad. I hope sanctions will not isolate Iran in a way that we will not be able to fly abroad and see our children," she said.
Political analysts say growing economic problems are likely to undermine the government's efforts to persuade Iranians that the restrictions will not cripple Iran's economy.
Businessman Habib Rostami says he was forced to shut down his food import company because of limitations imposed on Iran's financial sector.
"Doing business in Iran is becoming more and more difficult," he said. "The prices of goods are so high that ordinary Iranians cannot afford them."
Critics say Ahmadinejad's harsh anti-Western rhetoric has provoked the West to take a tougher line but his resistance to international pressure has struck a chord at home.
Retired teacher Nasrin Nemati, 41, complained of high inflation but said she was proud of the government for taking a stand.
"I am ready to pay the price to preserve our nuclear programme," she said. "Who are the Westerners to tell us to halt it?"
The fourth round of UN sanctions calls for measures against new Iranian banks abroad if a connection to the nuclear or missile programmes is suspected, as well as vigilance over tras*actions with any Iranian bank, including the central bank.
It expands a UN arms embargo against Tehran and blacklists three firms controlled by Iran's national shipping company and 15 belonging to the Revolutionary Guard Corps.
