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Grand Ayatollahs Chide Khamenei Over Iran's Faltering Economy

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has yet to acknowledge the extent of Iran’s economic troubles, which could undermine the stability of the country and its theocratic regime, Shahir Shahidsaless reports.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during the 16th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Tehran, August 30, 2012. REUTERS/Hamid Forootan/ISNA (IRAN - Tags: POLITICS) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

In public, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not acknowledged the full nature and magnitude of Iran’s current economic predicament which could undermine the stability of the country and its theocratic regime.

In a recent visit to cities in the northeastern province of North Khorasan, Khamenei, referring to the sharp devaluation of the national currency, the rial, reiterated, “They [enemies] express their joy in a childish way and say that they have managed to create problems for the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic. … Is our situation worse than yours?” 

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