Jump to content

Central Bank of Iran

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran
بانک مرکزی جمهوری اسلامی ايران
Seal of Central Bank of Iran
Seal of Central Bank of Iran
Ownership100% state ownership[1]
GovernorMohammad-Reza Farzin
Central bank ofIran
CurrencyIranian rial
IRR (ISO 4217)
Reserves$130 billion (2017)[2]
Reserve requirements10% to 13%[3]
Bank rate15%[4]
Interest paid on excess reserves?Yes[5]
Standard tableau of Central Bank of Iran
Organization overview
Formed9 August 1960; 64 years ago (1960-08-09)
Preceding organization
JurisdictionIslamic Republic of Iran
HeadquartersCBI Tower, Tehran
35°45′29″N 51°26′07″E / 35.758110°N 51.435209°E / 35.758110; 51.435209
Parent organizationNone
Child agencies
Key document
Websitewww.cbi.ir
1 According to article 10(e) of the Monetary and Banking Act of (1972), CBI's capital "is fully paid up and wholly owned by the Government".
2 Bank Melli Iran had supervisory functions and regulated the activities of all banks in Iran, while being the largest profit-making commercial bank in the country.[6]

The Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran (CBI; Persian: بانک مرکزی جمهوری اسلامی ايران, romanized: Bank Markazi-ye Jomhuri-ye Eslāmi-ye Irān; SWIFT Code: BMJIIRTH), also known as Bank Markazi, was established under the Iranian Banking and Monetary Act in 1960, it serves as the banker to the Iranian government and has the exclusive right of issuing banknote and coinage. CBI is tasked with maintaining the value of Iranian rial and supervision of banks and credit institutions. It acts as custodian of the National Jewels, as well as foreign exchange and gold reserves of Iran.[7] It is also a founding member of the Asian Clearing Union, controls gold and capital flows overseas, represents Iran in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and internationally concludes payment agreements between Iran and other countries.[7]

In November 2023 after 50 years central bank was revamped fully and changed to include Islamic Republic Development Bank.[8] The Central Bank was cyberattacked by IRLeaks in August 2024. The Iranian government was forced to pay ransom to the hackers in order to secure the data of Iranian customers.[9][10]

History

[edit]
See also: Economic history of Iran

The first attempt at introducing paper currency in Iran occurred during the Mongol Ilkhanate of the 13th century CE. The innovation, developed in Song dynasty China, did not take hold in Iran, and paper currency did not return to Iran in any significant manner for several centuries.[11]

Modern era

[edit]
Further information: Banking in Iran § History
Imperial Bank of Persia, Tehran, 1902

In 1889, the British-owned Imperial Bank of Persia (Bānk-e Šāhī) was founded and it was given the exclusive right to issue bank notes in Iran. In 1890 it introduced the first bank notes in Iran, ranging from 1 to 1,000 tomans.[6] The bank did not do much to strengthen the Iranian capital formation or support then-currency of Iran, qiran.[6]

To compete with the British bank, Imperial Russia also opened the Russian Loan and Development Bank.[12] Polyakov's Bank Esteqrazi was bought in 1898 by the Tzarist government of Russia, and later passed into the hands of the Iranian government by a contract in 1920.[13][unreliable source]

The first state-owned Iranian bank, Bank Melli Iran was established in 1927 by the government of Iran.[14] On 30 May 1930, it took the responsibility to function as Iran's central bank, and took the rights of the Imperial Bank for £200,000, while it acted as a commercial bank at the same time.[7] The bank's primary objective was to facilitate government's financial transactions and to print and distribute the Iranian currency (rial and toman). For more than three decades, Bank Melli Iran acted as the central bank of Iran and was charged with the responsibility to maintain the value of Iranian rial. In 1955, the bank was given the responsibility to supervise the national banking system.[7]

In August 1960, the Iranian government established the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) and separated all central banking responsibilities from Bank Melli Iran and assigned it to the newly-formed central bank.[7] Scope and responsibilities of the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran (CBI) have been defined in the Monetary and Banking Law of Iran (1960).[7]

The Central Bank of Iran was renamed to "the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran", and Iran's banking system adhered to the new Islamic rules that prohibit earning or paying interest in 1983.[7]

The Central Bank was cyberattacked by IRLeaks in August 2024. The central bank was one of 20 banks out of 29 Iranian banks, attacked by the group. The cyber attack on the Iranian banking sector was described by Politico as the "worst attack" in Iranian history. The Iranian government was forced to pay ransom to the hackers in order to secure the data of Iranian customers.[9][10]

Supreme Economic Council

[edit]

In December 2023 Central Bank and Minister of Economy ordered merger of private Nour Credit Institution with 400,000 billion rial debt into government Bank Melli.[15]

Organization

[edit]
Bank Markazi Tower, the headquarters of the Central Bank of Iran

Money and Credit Council

[edit]

The Money and Credit Council (MCC) is the highest banking policy-making body of Bank Markazi. Its permanent members include the CBI Governor, the Finance and Economy Minister, two Ministers chosen by the Cabinet, The Head of the Chamber of Commerce, the General Prosecutor and two lawmakers (MPs).[16]

Each year, after approval of the government's annual budget, the CBI presents a detailed monetary and credit policy to the MCC for approval. Thereafter, major elements of these policies are incorporated in the five-year economic development plan.[17] MCC meets every three months.[18]

In practice, the ability of the banking system to create money is not much constrained by the amount of scriptural money through fractional reserve banking. Indeed, most banks first extend credit and look for reserves later.[citation needed] The Iranian Central Bank needs more independence from the government in order to combat inflation, according to the country's Parliament Research Center.[19] As of 2010, Iran's Central Bank, is not able to conduct a "proactive" monetary policy (e.g. it needs Majlis' approval before issuing participation bonds) and has no control over the government's fiscal policy.[20]

General Assembly

[edit]

The current combination of the Central Bank's board of directors are the President, Economy and Commerce Ministers, Deputy-President for strategic planning, and a Minister selected by the Cabinet.[21]

"Reform" proposal

[edit]

Seven economists with at least 15 years of work experience were to become members of the general assembly according to a new law proposed by the Majlis in 2010, thus moving this body from being state-dominated to one where the private sector has greater say in the decision-making process. The tenure of each member would be for 10 years and only for one term.[22][23] Then President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad criticized this proposal and said that it is important for the Central Bank of Iran not to fall under private control "because it would not benefit the Iranian people" over the long run.[citation needed]

Governors

[edit]
Main article: Governor of the Central Bank of Iran

The President of Iran proposes a person as the governor of CBI, who must be verified by the general assembly and appointed by a presidential decree.[22]

Objectives and functions

[edit]
See also: Economy of Iran, Iranian rial, and Foreign direct investment in Iran

The objectives of the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran as per its charter and according to section 10 of the Monetary and Banking Law of Iran (MBAI)[24] are as follows:

To achieve the objectives as stated in the MBAI, CBI is endowed with the responsibility of fulfilling the following functions:[25]

  • Issuance of notes and coins
  • Supervision of banks and credit institutions
  • Formulation and regulation of foreign exchange policies and transactions
  • Regulation on gold transactions
  • Formulation and regulation on transactions and inflow/outflow of Domestic currency

Islamic banking

[edit]
See also: Banking and insurance in Iran § Islamic banking, and Islamic Development Bank

After the Islamic Revolution, the Central Bank was mandated to establish an Islamic banking law. In 1983 the Islamic Banking law of Iran was passed by Majlis.[26] This law describes and authorizes an Iranian Shiite version of Islamic commercial laws (as differentiated from a less 'liberal' Sunni version).[27] According to this law, Iranian banks can only engage in interest-free Islamic transactions (as interest is considered usury or "riba" and is forbidden by Islam and the holy book of Qur’an).

In practice, Iran uses what are officially termed "provisional" interest rates, as rates paid to depositors or received from borrowers should reflect the profits or losses of a business.[28] Under these rules, deposit rates, known as "dividends", are in theory related to a bank's profitability. In reality, however, these dividends have become fixed rates of return—depositors have never lost their savings because of losses made by the banks and almost never received returns larger than the provisional ex-ante profit rates. Interest charged on loans is presented as "fees" or a share of corporate profits.[29] All such transactions are performed through (12) Islamic contracts, such as Mozarebe, Foroush Aghsati, Joalah, Salaf, and Gharzolhasaneh. Details of these contracts and related practices are outlined in the Iranian Interest-Free banking law and its guidelines. Examples are:

  1. Gharzolhasaneh: An interest-free, non-profit, loan extended by a bank to a real or legal person for a definite period of time.
  2. Joalah: The undertaking by one party (the jael, Bank or employer) to pay a specified money (the joal) to another party in return for rendering a specified service in accordance with the terms of the contract. The party rendering the service shall be called "Amel" (the Agent or Contractor).
  3. Mosaqat: A contract between the owner of an orchard or garden with another party (the Amel or Agent) for the purpose of gathering the harvest of the orchard or garden and dividing it, in a specified ratio, between the two parties . The harvest can be fruit, leaves, flowers, etc. of the plants in the orchard or garden .
  4. Mozaraah: A contract where the bank (the Mozare) turns over a specified plot of land for a specified period of time to another party (the Amel or Agent) for the purpose of farming the land and dividing the harvest between the two parties at a specified ratio.
  5. Mozarebe: A contract wherein the bank undertakes to provide the cash capital and other party (the Amel or Avent) undertakes to use the capital for commercial purposes and divide the profit at a specified ratio between the two parties at the end of the term of the contract.

Sharia-compliant assets has reached about $400 billion throughout the world, according to Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, and the potential market is $4 trillion.[30][31] Iran, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia are at the top with the biggest sharia-compliant assets.[32]

According to the IMF, Islamic banking forbids pure monetary speculation and stresses that deals should be based on real economic activity and therefore poses less risk than conventional banking to the stability of financial systems.[33]

Criticism

[edit]
See also: Islamic banking and Fractional-reserve banking § Criticisms of fractional-reserve banking

Critics believe that the Iranian Interest-Free banking law has simply created the context for legitimizing usury or riba. In reality all banks are charging their borrowers a fixed pre-set amount at a rate of interest that is approved by the Central Bank at least once a year. No goods or services are exchanged as part of these contracts and banks rarely assume any commercial risk. High value collateral items such as real estate, commercial paper, bank guarantees and machinery eliminate any risk of loss. In case of defaults or bankruptcies, the principal amount, the expected interest and the late fees are collected through possession and or sale of secured collaterals.[29]

Payment systems

[edit]
See also: Electronic commerce in Iran, Shetab Banking System, Iranian Economic Reform Plan, and Asian Clearing Union

In 2005, the government obliged the Central Bank of Iran and the Iranian banks, mostly state owned, to set up all the necessary infrastructures (regulatory, hardware, software) for fully launching e-money in Iran by March 2005. While this plan has not yet fully materialized, local debit cards are now commonplace and have removed the main obstacle to the growth of e-commerce (in the national scale) as well as the full roll out of e-government initiatives.[34] However, Iran remains largely a cash-based economy.

The Central Bank has developed the Real Time Gross Settlement System (SATNA) as the main center for settlement of Iranian banks' transactions in rial.

In 2011, two new payment systems were launched: Scripless Securities Settlement System (TABA) as the electronic infrastructure for placement and settlement of various securities, including governmental and CBI participation papers. The launching of the automated clearing house system (PAYA) for processing individual and multiple payment orders, connection of Iran's Interbank Information Transfer Network (Shetab) to other ATM and POS switch systems for the acceptance of international bank cards, designing of the electronic card payment system (SHAPARAK) for the centralization and reorganization of POSs.[35]

Following international sanctions during the Russian invasion of Ukraine which blocked Russia from using SWIFT, Mohsen Karimi, who is the international deputy governor at the Central Bank of Iran, and his Russian counterpart Vladislav Gridchin, who is a representative of the Central Bank of Russia, announced that both nations developed ways to bypass SWIFT.[36][37]

Digital currency

[edit]
See also: INSTEX and Petrocurrency

According to the Ministry of ICT in 2018, Post Bank of Iran will issue Iran's first digital currency over the blockchain technology (with the advantage, in relation to the sanctions against Iran that blockchain transactions do not need any clearing bank).[38]

Furthermore, given Iran's large reserves of oil and gas, the Iranian rial could become a reserve currency if parity is established with oil and gas,[39] as was between USD and gold in the past (e.g. parity of 1,000,000 tomans for a barrel of oil), such as with Venezuela's newly minted "Petro" crypto-currency.[40]

Fintech

[edit]
Main article: National Informatics Corporation
See also: Communications in Iran § Technology start-ups

Finnotech.ir is Iran's premier banking API provider and Informatics Services Corporation (ISC) is a leading operator of information systems for the banking industry (including Shetab).[41] As of 2016, Iran had 50 companies active in fintech.[42] The CBI limits fintechs' role in Iran's financial sector by allowing them to operate as long as they are not involved in money creation, currency exchange, offering payment tools (like cards) and attracting deposits.[43]

Cheques

[edit]
See also: Cheques in Iran and Audit trail

As of January 21, 2010, account holders will no longer be allowed to withdraw more than $15,000 from Iranian banks but they can still write checks for larger amounts.[citation needed]

In 2009, 10.7% of cheques bounced.[44]

Debit/credit cards

[edit]
See also: Shetab Banking System

In 2007, Tetra-Tech IT Company announced that Visa and MasterCard could be used for online sales and in Iranian e-card terminals at shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies for Iranians and foreign tourists.[45] Iran's electronic commerce will reach 10 trillion rials ($1 billion) by March 2009.[46] Some wealthier people have debit cards, but MasterCard or Visa are no longer available in Iran, and few foreign banks are active there because of international sanctions.[47] Around 94% of Iranians had a debit card, compared with less than 20% in Egypt (2015).[48]

In 2016, Iran introduced its own domestic credit card system based on Sukuk principles and reported talks with MasterCard (and other international payment operators) for a re-entry.[49]

Hawala

[edit]
Main article: Hawala

Many Iranian businesses and individuals also rely on hawala, an informal trust-based money transfer system that exists in the Middle East and other Muslim countries. Since the imposition of recent U.S. and UN financial sanctions on Iran, the use of hawala by Iranians has reportedly increased.[50]

Anti-money laundering law

[edit]
See also: Crime in Iran

The Central Bank of Iran is enforcing the Anti-Money Laundering law[51] to curb possible crime. The minister of intelligence, the governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) and several other ministers are among the members of the special committee in charge of the campaign against money laundering. In 2008, the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Watchdog praised the Islamic Republic's crackdown on money laundering. The 34-member financial watchdog congratulated Tehran on its commitment to seal money laundering loopholes.[citation needed] However, in 2010, FATF, named Ecuador and Iran on a list of states that it says are failing to comply with international regulations against money laundering and financing terrorism.[citation needed] Despite president Hassan Rouhani showing interest in FATF, there has been a massive disagreements by hardliners related to supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Among them Ahmad Jannati, the chairman of the Assembly of Experts and the secretary of the Guardian Council and Ali Akbar Velayati, Iran's former foreign secretary and Supreme leader top foreign relationship advisor are two notable people who are against the FATF.[52] These disagreements and lack of FATF being approved by the Iranian parliament has brought FATF enforcement to halt.[52]

It has been estimated by the government of Iran in 2015 that dirty money from drug trafficking in Iran amounts to 10 trillion tomans a year (1 toman equals 10 rials), some of which has been finding its way into "elections and the securing of votes" to influence the country's politics.[53]

Reserves

[edit]

Foreign reserves

[edit]

Gold reserves

[edit]
See also: Iran's below ground gold reserves and Iranian Crown Jewels

In October 2010, Iran's gold reserves hit "record high" as the Central Bank took "preventive measures" to avoid a possible asset freeze by Western countries.[57] Iran has changed 15% of its foreign exchange reserves into gold (see also: U.S. sanctions against Iran.)[citation needed]

In January 2012, the head of Tehran's Chamber of Commerce reported that Iran had 907 tons of gold, purchased at an average of $600 per ounce and worth $54 billion at the current price.[58][59] The CBI governor however reports only 500 tons (i.e. above ground gold reserves).[60] The discrepancy is unexplained but the 907 tons could (mistakenly) include below-ground gold reserves (320 metric tons as of 2012) and possibly the gold in Iranian private hands (~100 tons in coins or bullion).[61] In 2014, reports from the Central Bank put its gold stores at 90 tons only, the rest possibly used in barter trade following sanctions.[61][62]

Inflation and monetary policy

[edit]
See also: Islamic banking and insurance in Iran, Public finance and fiscal policy in Iran, Iranian rial, and Seigniorage
Ferdowsi building of Iran's Central Bank

Double digit inflation rates have been a fact of life in Iran for the past 20 years. Between 2002 and 2006, the rate of inflation in Iran has been fluctuating between 12 and 16%.[63]

Monetary policy in Iran has not been successful in meeting the inflation and monetary targets set in the Iranian Five-Year Development Plans, owing mainly to the monetary impact of government spending out of oil revenue. Although the attainment of the inflation targets has improved somewhat recently, the objective of a gradual disinflation to single-digit levels has not been achieved. Moreover, the implicit intermediate target of monetary policy, money growth, has been systematically missed.[64]

The Central Bank is an extension of the Iranian government and as such it does not operate independently. Interest rate is usually set based on political priorities and not monetary targets. There is little alignment between fiscal and monetary policy.

The Central Bank assesses the inflation rate with the use of the prices of 395 goods and services in Iran's urban areas.[65]

High levels of inflation have also been associated with a growth in Iran's money supply. The Central Bank's data suggest that the money supply growth has been about 40% annually. The rapid growth of money supply came from high demands for borrowing capital at the rate of 12% the banks offer, imposed by the Government to make credit accessible to average Iranians and small entrepreneurs. However, this rate is lower than the rate of inflation. This makes the cost of borrowing less than free market cost as determined by supply and demand, based on the inflation rate and investment risk.[66]

Direct instruments

[edit]
  • Banking profit rates – As of 2010, the interest rate charged between banks (i.e. interbank rate) is set by the government of Iran.[67]
  • Credit ceiling – the CBI can intervene in and supervise monetary and banking affairs through limiting banks, specifying the mechanisms for use of funds and determining the ceiling of loans and credits in each sector.

Indirect instruments

[edit]
  • Reserve requirement ratio – According to Article 14 of the Monetary and Banking Law of Iran,[68] the CBI is authorized to determine reserve requirement ratio within 10 to 30 percent depending on banks’ liabilities’ composition and field of activity.
  • CBI Participation Papers – The Central Bank must obtain approval from the Majlis in order to issue participation papers.[50]
  • Open deposit account (ODA): control liquidity through absorption of banks’ excess resources. The CBI pays "profit" to these deposits with the CBI on the basis of specific rules.[69]

Money supply

[edit]
See also: Iranian rial, Taxation in Iran, and Fractional-reserve banking

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reports that in 2001, currency and demand deposits—an aggregate commonly known as M1—were equal to $71.7 billion. In that same year, M2—an aggregate equal to M1 plus savings deposits, small time deposits, and money market mutual funds—was $153.6 billion. According to the CBI, the country's liquidity amounted to some $174 billion by April 2008,[70] $197 billion by October 2009.[citation needed] and over $300 billion in 2011.[71]

Money in circulation reached $700 billion in March 2020 (based on the 2017 pre-devalation exchange rate).[72] (Iran's monetary base reached 3,721.46 trillion rials (nearly $12 billion) in September 2020 while M2 reached $95 billion (i.e. 26% and 36.2% increase in one year respectively), while the money multiplier effect (which shows how much the monetary base could create new money in the economy) had reached an all-time high), thus explaining the rise in inflation (40%) and of the fall of the Iranian rial in recent years. The Iranian rial has fallen almost five-fold since the beginning of 2018. In turn, Iran's forex reserves have fallen, as Iran is trying to maintain the value of its currency by injecting forex into the market to meet the demand for US dollars by the general public and companies and pay for imports.[72]

In turn, the cause of this is due to inefficient taxation in Iran and tax collection (and tax evasion in particular). Inflation (or loss of purchasing power) being a uniform hidden taxation on the population (unless compensated by an increase in salaries and productivity) which adversely affects the lower strata of the Iranian population the most.[73]

Balance sheet

[edit]
Source: International Monetary Fund[74] (In billions of rials; unless otherwise indicated) Prel. 2008/09 Proj. 2009/10
Net foreign assets (NFA) 703,329 789,498
In millions of U.S. dollars 72,381 77,050
-Foreign assets 773,352 863,336
In millions of U.S. dollars 79,587 84,257
-Foreign liabilities 1/ 70,023 73,839
In millions of U.S. dollars 7,206 7,206
Net domestic assets (NDA) -139,843 -225,654
Net domestic credit -5,141 21,083
-Central government, net -283,735 -228,046
Claims 74,779 74,779
Deposits 358,514 302,824
-Claims on banks 239,758 206,409
-Claims on non financial public enterprises (NFPEs) 38,836 42,719
-Other items net, excluding central bank participation papers (CPPs) -134,701 -246,737
Base money 556,925 556,925
Currency 206,352 200,745
-Currency in circulation 157,764 153,478
-Cash in vaults 48,588 47,268
Reserves 334,495 338,445
-Required reserves 225,228 307,757
-Excess reserves 109,267 30,688
Deposits of NFPE and municipalities 16,078 17,734
Other liabilities 6,561 6,919
-CPPs 0 0
-Foreign currency deposits of NFPEs and municipalities 6,561 6,919
Memorandum items:
End-period change (in percent of base money)
-Base money 45.4 0.0
-NFA 13.4 15.5
-NDA (net of other liabilities) 32.0 -15.5
Note: 1/ Includes some liabilities in foreign currency to residents.

Government and private sector debt

[edit]
See also: Politics of Iran § Public debt

As of December 2019, the government debt to banks reached 3,880,000 billion rials (approx. $30 billion, which is a 3.5% rise since 2013 when President Rouhani took office). This means that the government prints money, which is made available to banks the state controls in Iran and then it borrows from these banks at interest. The private sector's debt to banks in the twelve-month period ending on December 20, 2019, reached 14,400,000 billion rials or more than $110 billion.[73]

Foreign relations

[edit]
See also: Foreign relations of Iran and Foreign banks in Iran

Iran is member of the Islamic Development Bank. As of August 2006, the World Bank has financed 48 development projects in the country for a total original commitment of US$3,413 million.[75] World Bank loans to Iran come only from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). Iran is a member of the World Bank's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency.[76] Iran joined the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on December 29, 1945.[77] CBI governors attend IMF's board discussions on Iran on behalf of the government. These meetings are usually held once a year in Washington, D.C.[78]

Foreign exposure and transactions

[edit]
See also: Outward FDI in Iran and Iranian frozen assets
  • Iran's foreign debt: $22.07 billion in 2010 ($10.6 billion of short-term debts and $11.4 billion of mid-term and long-term debts).[79]
  • Iran's deposits in foreign banks: stand at $35 billion while its obligations amount to $25 billion (2007).[citation needed] In 2007, Iran had $62 billion worth of assets held abroad.[80] According to the Bank for International Settlements, Iran's deposits with 39 world banks reached $15.44 billion at the end of March 2012 while its obligations stood at $10.088 billion.[81] In addition it was reported that Iran had between 10 and 20 billion dollars held in foreign banks in 2011, allegedly because of payment problems by foreign companies to Iran.[82][83] According to E.U. sources, despite the European sanctions, Iran has still "several billion euros" deposited in accounts in Germany, Italy, Malta, Spain, Greece and Switzerland (2012).[84] As at 2013, only $30 billion to $50 billion of its foreign exchange reserves (i.e. roughly 50% of total) is accessible because of the international sanctions.[85] Iranian media has questioned why assets and foreign reserves[86] weren't repatriated (or converted into gold) while new sanctions were being discussed abroad.
  • Transactions: Foreign transactions with Iran amounted to $150 billion between 2000 and 2007 worth of major contracts and both private and government lines of credit.[87] According to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the balance of Iran's foreign exchange interactions in foreign banks and financial institutes during Q3 2008 stood above $24.3 billion.[88]

US sanctions

[edit]
Main article: Sanctions against Iran
See also: Bank Markazi v. Peterson

The US Treasury Department has also stepped up its attempt to restrict financing of foreign investment and trade with Iran. In January 2006, Swiss banks UBS and Credit Suisse announced separately that they were halting operations in Iran. In September 2006 the Treasury Department banned all dealings by Bank Saderat Iran with the US financial system, and in January 2007 it also blacklisted Bank Sepah and its British subsidiary, Bank Sepah International. In October 2007 the US Treasury blacklisted Bank Melli and Bank Mellat.

Under pressure from the US, 12 Chinese banks have reduced ties with Iranian banks since early September 2007, but five of them resumed commercial ties in mid-January 2008. In mid-February 2008, the US Treasury alleged that Iran's Central Bank helped the blacklisted banks evade US sanctions, by conducting transactions for them.[89]

Barter trade

[edit]
See also: Smuggling in Iran and Central Bank of Iran § Digital currency

The Central Bank possesses limited foreign cash reserves due to the international sanctions and problems in the transfer of funds in and out of country. In 2012, The U.S. unilaterally expanded sanctions, which cut off from the US financial system foreign firms that do business with the central bank.[90] Iran is reportedly making increasing use of barter trade, cash smuggling, gold and local currencies of its trading partners to circumvent the international sanctions.[91][92] The CBI has been blacklisted by the U.S. government due to the bank's involvement in the Iranian nuclear program and it has been blocked from using SWIFT since March 2012 as a consequence.[93]

Publications

[edit]
See also: Media of Iran

The Central Bank of Iran publishes a variety of periodicals for general and specialist audiences including Economic Trends, Bulletin, Annual Review, Economic Report and Balance Sheet. Other publications include booklets, monographs and brochures. Many of those documents are also available in English.[94]

See also

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ Weidner, Jan (2017). "The Organisation and Structure of Central Banks" (PDF). Katalog der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek.
  2. ^ Kasolowsky, Raissa (10 April 2018). King, Larry (ed.). "UPDATE 3-Iran clamps ceiling on dollar holdings in effort to support rial". Reuters. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Effective Reserve Requirement at 2.1%". Financial Tribune. 24 July 2017. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  4. ^ Hafezi, Parisa (15 February 2018). King, Larry (ed.). "Iran raising deposit rates to control rial's depreciation, TV reports". Reuters. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  5. ^ Zahedi, Razieh; Azadi, Pooya (June 2018). Central Banking in Iran (PDF) (Report). Stanford Iran 2040 Project (Working paper ed.). Stanford University. Table 1, page 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  6. ^ a b c Basseer, Clawson & Floor 1988
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Yeganeh 1988
  8. ^ "ضمانت استقلال و اقتدار بانک مرکزی با قانون جدید". dolat.ir (in Persian). Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Iran's Central Bank Hit by Major Cyberattack". OilPrice.com. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Iran pays millions in ransom to end massive cyberattack on banks, officials say". POLITICO. 4 September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  11. ^ Clawson & Rubin 2005, p. 168
  12. ^ Clawson & Rubin 2005, p. 41.
  13. ^ "History of Banking in Iran". Parstimes.com. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  14. ^ Clawson & Rubin 2005, p. 55
  15. ^ "جزئیات انتقال موسسه سابق نور به بانک ملی". dolat.ir (in Persian). Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Iran Today-Iran's Banking System-12-14-2010-(Part1)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  17. ^ "About this Collection - Country Studies - Digital Collections - Library of Congress". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  18. ^ "فیروزه" (PDF). firouzeh.com. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  19. ^ "Iran's Central Bank Lacks Independence, Parliament Study Says". Businessweek. Retrieved 8 January 2012.[dead link‍]
  20. ^ "Iran's Central Bank Lacks Independence, Parliament Study Says". Bloomberg. 2 July 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  21. ^ "Iran's Central Banker Threatens To Quit In Protest". Payvand.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  22. ^ a b "No. 3854 | Domestic Economy | Page 4". Irandaily. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  23. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. ^ Monetary and Banking Law of Iran
  25. ^ "General Information". Cbi.ir. 19 September 2011. Archived from the original on 6 January 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  26. ^ "Iran's interest-free banking law". Central Bank of Iran. Archived from the original on 3 February 2007. Retrieved 11 March 2007.
  27. ^ "Guide to Iranian Market". www.irtp.com. Archived from the original on 30 May 2009. Retrieved 11 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  28. ^ "Iran Daily – Domestic Economy – 04/19/09". Archived from the original on 21 April 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  29. ^ a b Iran Financial Services Forecast, Economist Intelligence Unit, August 18, 2008
  30. ^ "Iran Daily – Economic Focus – 06/06/07". Archived from the original on 10 July 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
  31. ^ "Iran, biggest Shariah-compliant market: The Banker". Payvand.com. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  32. ^ "Iran 2nd in Islamic Banking Assets". Zawya. 11 December 2009. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  33. ^ "CBI's Fiqh Council Reopening With New Mandate". Financial Tribune. 6 July 2015. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  34. ^ Commission, Australian Trade. "Information and communications technology (ICT) to Iran". www.austrade.gov.au. Archived from the original on 19 April 2008.
  35. ^ "Annual Review for 1389(2010/11)". www.cbi.ir. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012.
  36. ^ "اتصال سامانه‌های بانکی ایران و روسیه برای دور زدن سوئیفت: بانک مرکزی ایران از اتصال سامانه‌های پیام‌رسان بانک‌های ایران و روسیه خبر داد. حدود ۷۰۰ بانک روسی می‌توانند با بانک‌های ایران تراکنش مالی داشته باشند. این اقدام در راستای دور زدن سامانه بین‌المللی سوئیفت صورت گرفته است" [Connecting Iranian and Russian banking systems to bypass SWIFT: The Central Bank of Iran announced the connection of the messaging systems of Iranian and Russian banks. Around 700 Russian banks can conduct financial transactions with Iranian banks. The move is aimed at bypassing the international SWIFT system.]. dw.com (in Persian). Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  37. ^ "اتصال سیستم بانکی ایران و روسیه در بحبوحه تحریم‌های غرب: معاون بین‌الملل بانک مرکزی گفت که بانک‌های ایرانی دیگر نیازی به استفاده از "سوئیفت" ندارند" [Iran and Russia connect banking system amid Western sanctions: Iranian banks no longer need to use 'SWIFT']. independentpersian.com (in Persian). Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  38. ^ Jafari, Hamed (25 February 2018). "Post Bank of Iran Plans to Launch the Country's First Digital Currency". techrasa.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  39. ^ "Sanctions Buster? Iran Eyes Cryptocurrency To Blunt U.S. Deterrents". www.payvand.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  40. ^ Todd White (26 July 2018). "Central Bank of Iran Working on Cryptocurrency, Press TV Reports". www.bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  41. ^ "Iran's 1st Open Banking API Launched". Financial Tribune. 6 January 2017. Archived from the original on 8 January 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  42. ^ "Banking Reform Blueprint Unveiled". Financial Tribune. 2 January 2017. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  43. ^ "Centeral [sic] Bank of Iran to Establish Fintech Regulatory Body". Financial Tribune. 19 December 2016. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  44. ^ "Iranians Lose Faith in Cheques: More and more cheques bounce as economy struggles". Payvand.com. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  45. ^ "VISA and MasterCard usage possible in Iran". Payvand.com. Archived from the original on 14 March 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  46. ^ IRNA: Iran's e-commerce to reach rls10,000b Archived August 15, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved December 3, 2008
  47. ^ Fitch, Asa; Parasie, Nicolas (6 April 2015). "Western Companies See Potential in Reaching Iran's Consumers After Nuclear Deal". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  48. ^ Moshinsky, Ben. "This ex-Deutsche Bank tech expert quit his job to risk everything on Iran's coming economic boom". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  49. ^ "CBI Talking to Int'l Payments Technology Companies". Financial Tribune. 18 November 2016. Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  50. ^ a b "Iran's Economy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 June 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  51. ^ newly-passed Anti-Money Laundering law
  52. ^ a b Sadeghi, Saheb (28 September 2016). "Financial watchdog worries Iranian hard-liners". Al-Monitor. Archived from the original on 18 May 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  53. ^ "Iran's Interior Minister warns of illegal drug profits financing election campaigns". www.payvand.com. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  54. ^ a b c "Middle East :: Iran — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 6 April 2009.
  55. ^ a b Minister: Iran Facing No Problem in Currency Reserves, Revenues. Fars News Agency, April 18, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  56. ^ "Iran Daily – Domestic Economy – 12/04/08". Archived from the original on 7 December 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  57. ^ "Iran's forex reserve at $100b: central bank". tehran times. 22 October 2010. Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  58. ^ "Iran reserves: $120b in foreign notes, 907 tons of gold". Archived from the original on 2 February 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  59. ^ "Iran's economy to grow despite sanctions: Ahmadinejad". www.dailystar.com.lb. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  60. ^ "NameBright - Coming Soon". www.iranwpd.com. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  61. ^ a b "Private homes in Iran hold more gold than Central Bank". www.payvand.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  62. ^ Wiggin, Addison. "How Gold Helped Iran Withstand U.S. Financial Fury". Forbes. Great Speculations. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  63. ^ "Iran Inflation Rate". index Mondi. Archived from the original on 11 October 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2007.
  64. ^ "Money and Inflation in the Islamic Republic of Iran" (PDF). IMF. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 February 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2007.
  65. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  66. ^ Amir Naghshineh-Pour. "A Review and Analysis of Iran's Current Economic Status". www.payvand.com. Archived from the original on 3 November 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2008.
  67. ^ "Iranian Banks Under Sanctions: Government Looking Towards Foreign Banks". Payvand.com. Archived from the original on 29 December 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  68. ^ "Central Bank of Iran". Archived from the original on 30 October 2010. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  69. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 November 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  70. ^ "Iran's inflation rate 21%, liquidity $174b, Central Bank says". Payvand.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  71. ^ Video on YouTube[dead link‍]
  72. ^ a b "Iran's Money Supply Skyrockets Parallel to Inflation". 15 June 2020.
  73. ^ a b "Government Debt, Deficit, Money Supply Soar, Iran Central Bank Reveals". 14 February 2020.
  74. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 December 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  75. ^ "World bank report on Iran". Web.worldbank.org. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  76. ^ "Iran's Third Development Plan: an Appraisal – Science News". redOrbit. 3 October 2005. Archived from the original on 29 November 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  77. ^ "Iran's Financial Position at IMF". IMF.
  78. ^ "Iran and IMF|International Monetary Fund". Archived from the original on 10 October 2007. Retrieved 10 October 2007.
  79. ^ "Iran's foreign debt reach $22m". tehran times. 27 April 2011. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  80. ^ "Iran's foreign assets surpass $62b". Mehrnews.ir. Archived from the original on 12 December 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  81. ^ "Fars News Agency :: Iran's Assets at Foreign Banks Exceed $15bln". Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  82. ^ "Seoul, Ankara seeking U.S. waiver on Iran oil". Tehran Times. Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  83. ^ "Fars News Agency :: India Studying Oil Payments to Iran via Russia". English.farsnews.ir. 15 December 2011. Archived from the original on 3 March 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  84. ^ "Despite sanctions, Iran has billions stashed away in European banks: EU advisor". Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  85. ^ Marjorie Olster (23 August 2013). "Sanctions Biting but Iran Not Budging". AP. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  86. ^ "U.S. froze $2 billion held for Iran in Citibank: report". Reuters. 12 December 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2022 – via www.reuters.com.
  87. ^ "Global Investment in Iran". AEI. 9 May 2007. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  88. ^ "Iran Daily – Domestic Economy – 04/06/09". Archived from the original on 8 April 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2009.
  89. ^ "Iran". Investment regulations. Economist Intelligence Unit. 19 March 2008.
  90. ^ "Iran President Ahmadinejad condemns US banking sanctions". BBC News. 1 January 2012. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  91. ^ [1] [permanent dead link‍]
  92. ^ "What's Iran doing with Turkish gold?". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  93. ^ "Iran's banks to be blocked from global banking system". BBC News. 15 March 2012. Archived from the original on 29 April 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  94. ^ "Publications". www.cbi.ir. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.

General and cited sources

[edit]
[edit]

Media related to Central Bank of Iran at Wikimedia Commons

Bank of issue of Iran
Preceded by Central Bank of Iran
1960–present 		Incumbent
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Central_Bank_of_Iran&oldid=1256719949"