Tag Archives: iran

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Iran threatens higher oil prices, says “No way will it fall below $100”

“Iran can have an effect on world energy and fuel. Fuel prices will go up dramatically. If sanctions are not removed, particularly sanctions against banks and other economic sanctions, the price of oil will go above $150 a barrel.”-Mahmoud Bahmani, Iran’s central bank

A top U.S. Federal Reserve official said that gasoline prices above $4 a gallon would throw the U.S. economy into another recession.

Iran is the world’s third-leading oil exporter, and thanks to U.S. backed sanctions, has just expanded their own oil refining abilities, now making them an exporter of gasoline as well.

On top of any threats of increased oil prices, Iranian oil Minister Massoud Mir-Kazemi, said factors remain that will ensure that oil prices will continue to go up, regardless of how much oil is pumped out of the ground: “The price of oil depends on two things: First, the fundamentals, including supply and demand, and then the political, psychological and unforeseen elements. Based on these factors, oil prices should increase again by end of the year.”

 


Business/Economics, International

Iran and Pakistan speed up pipeline development, Germany onboard

The Iran-Pak (or Pak-Iran) Gas pipeline just got a boost from Germany.  A German company signed a deal to lay the new pipeline between Pakistan and Iran.

The German company might be ILF Consulting Engineers, who were hired to do a feasibility study earlier in the month of April.

The pipeline will begin from Iran’s Assalouyeh Energy Zone in the south, run through Pakistan, and could end up in China, depending on future deals with China.  Originally the pipeline was to run to India, but there were issues with the Indian government.

Business/Economics, International

Iran and Germany sign Gas deal, so much for U.S. backed UN sanctions

Germany has agreed to provide Iran with the latest technology and training, to take advantage of the South Pars natural gas fields in Iran.

Iran is also working with several European countries for similar deals: “We are in talks with many foreign companies to attract U.S.$20 billion of investment.”-Mahmoud Zirakchianzadeh, Managing-Director of the National Iranian Offshore Oil Company

Iran has already signed a deal with South Korea.

Iran had signed a deal with the French, but said the French failed to live up to their end of the bargain.

Iran hopes to push production of the South Pars gas fields up to 1.1 billion cubic meters per day.

Business/Economics, International

Iran says U.S. led military actions cause of World Instability, part of Control though Chaos

“Military buildup does not result in energy security, rather it causes instability in the energy market.”-Massoud Mir-Kazzemi, Iranian Oil Minister

Mir-Kazzemi says the West’s militant approach to world issues is the root cause of instability in the global energy market.  The U.S. does not have an interest in creating “win-win” situations.

Iran suggests that the situation in Libya is all about driving up the price of oil, in the interests of Western oil companies.  It is also true that non-western oil companies are benefiting as well.

Iran is the current President of OPEC.  The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries was created in September 1960. The members are Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.

International

Construction workers kidnapped in Afghanistan

12 Iranian construction workers were kidnapped in Afghanistan.  They were building a police training center.

Iran blames “foreigners” which could refer to Western forces, or to al Qaeda.  The Iranian government did not specify.

In the last few years Iran and Afghanistan have made major economic deals, including construction programs and gas/oil shipments.

In the late 1990s, the Taliban killed several Iranian diplomatic officials, which prompted Iran to mass hundreds of thousands of troops on Afghanistan’s border.

International, Technology

Iran launches first domestically produced Anti-Aircraft missile

The missile system is actually based on the old U.S. designed Hawk missile system.  The Iranians call their updated version ‘Shahin’ (not to be confused with ‘Shaheen’ which is a different missile system).

Most of the upgrades are related to search and track capabilities.  They say it’s a mid-altitude missile, one source saying its range is 15 miles (maybe they meant 15 kilometers?).  I can’t be sure of the performance claims, simply because the Iranian media gives wildly different data.  One source said the missile could reach 150 kilometers (93 miles), that’s the Thermosphere, man!

International, Technology

Iranian automaker boosting exports with its Dena Car

“The LX model is outfitted with an EF7 gasoline engine and a CNG-based engine. The ELX version is equipped with a turbo-charged EF7 engine.”-Nima Mosleh, IKCO deputy CEO for New Product Development

The Iran Khodro Company says it hopes exports of their new car, Dena, will hit 15,000 for the new year.

The car called Dena (not to be confused with a U.S. kit car), is a sedan and IKCO’s fourth domestically produced car.  Iran has been enjoying a growing car market through out the Middle East, and Central Asia.

Last year Iran Khodro exported 40,000 cars.

 

Business/Economics, International

Common Visa for people of Iran, Iraq, Syria & Turkey

It might be soon that the people of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran will have a common visa, that will allow unhindered travel between the countries.

The visa (international travel document) is being called Shamgen, similar to the European Union’s Schengen visa.  Sham is the ancient name for Syria.

Shahbaz Yazdani, Deputy Head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, said the four countries are still hammering out details of the visa plan.  Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran are working for a economic union similar to the EU.

 

International, U.S.

Iran building border fence, to stop drug trafficking and terrorists

Iran is building a fence along its Pakistani border.  They say since the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan drug trafficking has increased, along with anti-Iranian terrorists.

Iran has spent U.S.$700 million, in the last two years,  fighting drug trafficking and U.S. supported terrorist.  They also claim that a Pakistani based group known as Jundollah, has been conducting terrorist operations against Iran for years.

The new fence will be built in the mountainous regions, where it is difficult to maintain a sizable border patrol force.