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Source: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/852fac38-a05f-11dd-80a0-000077b07658.html
Iran Feels Pinch of Oil Price Fall
[Financial Times-UK] Anna Fifield - Iran, the world's fourth-largest oil producer, earned about $54b from oil exports in the first half of this year, after reaping $70b last year. The government budget assumes oil prices of $55 a barrel, and any surplus is channeled into an oil stabilization fund. But this year Ahmadinejad's government has authorized the withdrawal of about $17b from the fund to finance his policies. Some analysts say Ahmadinejad can weather the downturn in oil prices, at least for now. Ali Shams-Ardakani, an energy expert, suggested lower prices would make the government "more cautious," but that its current policies would still be "manageable" if prices fell to $65. Anything below $55 would become uncomfortable, he added.