The Latest from Iran (5 April): The Economy, Anyone?
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at 5:01
1547 GMT: More news on Ebrahim Yazdi, the former leader of the Freedom Movement of Iran who was detained from early October until 20 March. This week, he gave an "interview" that alarmed many members of the Green Movement. (see our coverage on April 3)
Today, several sources are reporting that Yazdi has condemned the interview, given to IRNA without his consent while he was being detained in a "safe house." Also, Abdol-Ali Bazargan, a leader of the Freedom Movement in exile, presumably close to Yazdi, has said that the interview was faked, a montage of statements that has no credibility.
1531 GMT: MP Hamidreza Katouzian, head of energy committee, has released a statement that, without proper investment, Iran will become the largest importer of oil and related products. He also said that subsidy cuts were generally positive, but that the lack of refunds will put Iranian industry in dire condition.
1525 GMT: The Supreme Leader's younger brother, reformist Seyed Hadi Khamenei, has sent Mir Hossein Mousavi a letter of condolences after the death of his father last week. Hadi Khamenei is highly critical of, and estranged from, his brother.
1456 GMT: Check Engine - Oil Light is On:
Ghassem Noudeh Farahani, the head of domestic guilds, has announced that he predicts prices on all goods to increase by 15-20% this year alone.
MP Moayed Hosseini-Sadr, a member of the Energy Committee, has criticised the formula for deriving the price of gas, claiming that the way many are calculating the price of gas is not legal. The government has increased gas prices up to 40 times higher than previous, although there was only a shallow rise in price expected. Hosseini-Sadr said that gas prices should not exceed 90% of the exported gas price.
High gas prices have forced the free bakeries in the city of Khoy, and perhaps elsewhere, to stop business.