PERSIAN NEWS TRACKER |
"Honoring foreign celebrations is the spread of Western culture…Our country has an ancient civilization and various days to honor kindness, love and affection."
—Ali Nikou Sokhan, Head of Iran’s Printing Works Owners’ Union, explaining the Iranian government’s ban on selling Valentine’s Day cards, items bearing heart shapes, and red roses.
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WEEK IN REVIEW |
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SPECIAL REPORTSFive months after the UN Security Council, United States, and European Union passed their latest round of sanctions against the Islamic Republic, Iran continues to escape complete economic isolation due to its ability to leverage economic relations with Asian energy firms, medium-sized European companies, and Turkish financial institutions. The extent to which economic hardship can influence Iranian officials’ foreign policy decision-making—the objective behind the sanctions—remains unclear... |