31.01.10 Iran Strategic Focus
January issue: Table of contents
COMMENTARY
> Outlook 2010
> Domestic politics: Khamenei and Rafsanjani; The likely scenario
> International affairs: Nuclear negotiations; Regional relations
> Economic prospects: Redirecting subsidies; Privatisation; Impact of
external developments; The private sector
> The final word.
MONTH IN REVIEW
> Foreign relations: World condemns crackdown; Iran blacklists Western
organisations; Swedish diplomat freed; EU delegation's visit cancelled; Cutting
diplomatic ties with Britain?
> Nuclear file: Smuggling uranium? Nuclear memo forged? Iran sets deadline
for the West; Nuclear deal may be on track; Buried nuclear plants; No accord
over
Iran
> Domestic issues: Opposition figures arrested; Proposals of compromise on
political deadlock; Authorities warn of harsher crackdown; Iranian diplomat
quits
in protest; Karroubi's motorcade attacked; Ex-prosecutor in prison deaths;
Senior physicist assassinated; Live TV debates; Police warning over SMS/ email;
> Key risks and signs: Foreign sanctions; Domestic issues; Subsidies and
inflation.
OIL AND GAS
> Gas sector news: Total in talks with CNPC; Phase 2 of Tang-e Bijar; NIOC
and Petropars to sign South Pars deal; Declining role in global market;
Pakistan
hinders pipeline; Gas transmission increases; LNG exports to India; Gas
negotiations; Iran and Turkey hold talks; Hasheminejad plant receives Turkmen
gas;
Petrochemicals gas supply; Gas to Europe through IGAT 6; Majles approves price
hike
but rejects gas proposal; Deal with Azerbaijan
> Oil sector news: Oil production to rise; Vietnam seeks investment in
Iran;
Oman oil from Hengam joint field; Investments in energy sector
> Upstream project update: Esfandiar still not financed; Aghajari still
not
operational.
ECONOMY AND BUSINESS
> Lopping off zeroes
> Majles finalises subsidy bill
> Economic reports: Global export share falls; Unemployment rate; GDP
rises,
trade balance declines; Production costs up; Government debt to banks up;
Higher
weight, lower value; Dubai's top trading partner
> Foreign banks and investment
> Economic briefs: Import tariffs; Government may lift gasoline quota; WTO
approves Iran's trade regime; Five key stock players blacklisted.
IRAN DIARY
> British ambassador summoned
> Tehran U professor killed
> Japanese ambassador confers with Larijani
> Iran sends to Haiti
> Iran-Iraq border officials hold talks
> Iraqi VP meets Ahmedinejad.