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Iran Tightens Its Belt and Its Fist

(Economist-UK) Iran spends $100 billion each year to pin down petrol, gas and electricity prices, besides the cost of staples. The symptoms of the malaise are legion: tea kettles simmer all day; the streets clog with recreational drivers out for a spin; lights glare because no one can be bothered to turn them off. "We can do it because we have oil," Iranians used to tell incredulous visitors. Last month the price of petrol went up by 75% and that of diesel by more than 2000%. Electricity and water bills are expected to soar. The price of some types of bread has quadrupled. The state's growing authoritarianism is expressed in different ways, from the hectoring tone of official speeches to the now total intolerance of the liberal opposition. Newspapers may no longer mention former presidential candidates Mousavi and Karroubi, and the country's biggest liberal political party has been banned. In November, after a long tussle, a huge network of private universities fell into the government's clutches. From films to television and book-publishing, Iran's official culture is now dominated by a small, pro-government clique.
2011-01-18 10:21:49
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