L.A. Times: Ban on Iranian pistachios is boost for California farmers

by Sam Razi | Sep 30, 2010 | Business, Featured, From the Web, Politics, World

L.A. Times | September 29, 2010 By P.J. Huffstutter New U.S. trade sanctions linked to Tehran’s nuclear program remove a competitor from the domestic pistachio market. California pistachio growers are finding themselves the unexpected beneficiaries of U.S. trade...

Business Week: Iran government may curb currency exchange rates

by Sam Razi | Sep 30, 2010 | Business, Featured, From the Web, Politics

Business Week | September 30, 2010 TEHRAN, Iran Iran’s finance minister says the government may intervene to halt a recent hike in hard currency exchange rates to the riyal. Shammeddin Hosseini told state radio the increase reflects what’s happening on...

Business Week: Senior China official calls for stronger Iran ties

by Sam Razi | Sep 30, 2010 | Business, Featured, From the Web, General, Politics, World

Business Week | September 30, 2010 By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN BEIJING A senior Chinese official has called for stronger trade and diplomatic ties with Iran, potentially bolstering criticism that Beijing is undercutting U.N. sanctions aimed at forcing Tehran to reveal more...

AFP: Japan to withdraw from Iran oil project

by Sam Razi | Sep 30, 2010 | Business, Featured, From the Web, General, Politics, World

Associated Free Press (hosted by Google) | September 30, 2010 TOKYO — The Japanese government and oil developer Inpex Corp. plan to completely withdraw from Iran’s largest onshore oil field project to avoid possible US sanctions, news reports said Thursday. The...

L.A. Times: IRAN: Gold bazaar on strike as merchants square off with government over tax hike

by Sam Razi | Sep 26, 2010 | Business, Featured, From the Web, Politics

L.A. Times Blog | Babylon & Beyond | September 26, 2010 Tehran’s main gold bazaar is usually glittering with precious baubles and jewelry fit for royalty, but the last several days have seen it shuttered and empty as the union of goldsmiths and jewelers...

L.A. Times: Iran: Bazaar strike triumphs as government retreats from tax hike

by Sam Razi | Jul 7, 2010 | Business, Featured, From the Web, Politics

L.A. Times | July 7, 2010 After just one day of protests, the Iranian government has retreated from its proposed 70% hike in the income tax for merchants and traders in bazaars. On Tuesday, gold and jewelry vendors shut down Tehran’s old bazaar in protest of the...