31.10.09 Iran Strategic Focus
October issue: Table of contents
COMMENTARY
> Al-Qa'ida style terrorism in Iran? IRGC attack raises fears:
Baluchi-Sunni
terrorists; Derailing Iran-US negotiations; Pakistan based Al-Qa'ida.
MONTH IN REVIEW
> Foreign relations: Nuclear file; US continues dual-track approach
> Domestic issues: New fighter jets; Rumours of Leader's death circulate;
Iran sentences opposition figures; Supreme Leader approves IRGC changes;
Crackdown
on Green Movement; IRGC top commanders killed
> Key risks and signs.
SPECIAL FEATURE
> Shifting subsidies: The cornerstone of Iran's economic recovery plan.
OIL AND GAS
> Contracts: Gas sweetening contracts; Iran and China sign major deal;
Total
deal worth $7.5-8 billion; Persian LNG talks;
> Gas exports: Iran and Bahrain to resume gas talks; MPs against gas
export
surge; A bigger share in the world markets
> Gas imports: Azerbaijan gas to Iran this winter? More from Turkemenistan
> LNG news: LNG project behind schedule; Iran LNG financial difficulties;
> Iran-Turkey: Paying for unused gas consumption; Revising gas export
agreement; Increasing exports to Turkey
> Negotiations: Iran suspends gas talks with OMV; Switzerland seeks
transit
agreement
> Investment news: Ready for foreign investment; NIGC needs $182 billion;
OVL, IOC, OIL to invest; Majles research centre calls for investment
> Gas storage: Storing gas in Azerbaijan; Sofregaz rejoins Yortshai
project;
Shourijeh reservoir shared with Turkmenistan
> Gas production; Doubling production in five years; Qatar extracts more
gas
from joint gas field
> Oil and gas in brief: New discoveries; Incomplete projects; Gas Khordo
and
Bid-boland to be privatised; Fears of a gas shortage in winter; Gas consumption
growth above average; Iran's essential role in Nabucco
> Upstream project update: Drilling operations at Azar to begin soon;
Belorusneft begins exploration.
ECONOMY AND BUSINESS
> Huge stock market transaction
> Gasoline news: Venezuelan imports barred; US congressmen warn Shell;
Subsidy quota reduced
> Economic indicators: Economic freedom drops; Production units; Debt to
CBI;
Record supplementary budget; Targeted subsidies; Auto import tariff revised;
Government statistics innacurate
> Supreme Audit Court Investigation
> Economic briefs: Government share of OSF; Service imports ballooning;
New
Bank Saderat manager.
IRAN DIARY
> Four Tehrani hostages freed
> Mottaki in Sri Lanka
> No damage in Tehran quake
> Five IRGC commanders killed.
> Swedish ambassador summoned
> Turkish PM brings large delegation.