Iran’s Khamenei urges judiciary to confront those who harm the economy

 Al Jazeera: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned against those “who disrupt economic security”, threatening legal action in response to economic protests that began on Monday over the rial’s collapse.

In a statement published on his official website, Khamenei told judiciary officials that while “the atmosphere for the work, life and livelihood of the people must be secure … the judiciary must confront those who disrupt economic security.”

On Monday, thousands of traders in the Iranian capital’s Grand Bazaar held a rare strike over the rial’s collapse on the foreign exchange market.

The rial’s decreased value is expected to result in an increase in the price of imported goods and push up the inflation rate.

Iran’s currency has plunged almost 50 percent in value in the past six months, with the US dollar now trading at around 78,500 in the black market.

President Hassan Rouhani defended his economic record in a live televised address, saying the government’s income had not shrunk and pinned the blame for Iran’s currency woes on “foreign media propaganda”.

“Even in the worst case, I promise that the basic needs of Iranians will be provided. We have enough sugar, wheat and cooking oil. We have enough foreign currency to inject into the market,” Rouhani said in his speech.

Some 1,300 imported products will be taken off the shelves as the government looks to implement new plans to control rising prices and prepare the economy for a new wave of US sanctions.

“The government’s decision to ban the import of some goods to the country with the goal of protecting Iranian goods is a very big opportunity for domestic producers,” Rouhani was quoted as saying on state media.