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Short, verified market news summaries; every item names its source and publication date.
Free Market Dollar Accelerates After News of Kharg Tanker Attack, Reaches 227,000 Tomans
According to Donya-e-Eqtesad, citing EqtesadNews, the US dollar on Iran's free market kept climbing on Saturday, September 5, 2026 (14 Shahrivar 1405), reaching 227,130 tomans at 3:53pm Tehran time. Per the outlet's successive reports, the dollar stood at 223,240 tomans at 11:29am, rose to 224,490 tomans by 12:37pm, and reached 226,110 tomans by 2:14pm, meaning it added nearly 4,000 tomans, about 1.7 percent, in under five hours. The acceleration came almost simultaneously with news, published around 12:29pm, that an Iranian tanker had been struck by the US military near Kharg Island. Sahmino's own live price data showed the dollar at 225,770 tomans at 4:04pm, up 2.13 percent from the prior day, consistent with the reported upward trend. The dollar has now risen more than 6,000 tomans, about 2.8 percent, from Thursday's last recorded rate of 221,000 tomans.
Donya-e-Eqtesad, citing EqtesadNews
Philippine Peso Hits Record Low Amid Fallout From the Iran War
According to Al Jazeera, the Philippine peso hit an all time low of 62.71 to the US dollar on Friday, September 4, 2026 (13 Shahrivar 1405). Per the report, the currency has lost about 6 percent of its value against the dollar since the start of the calendar year, after earlier hitting a record low of 61.847 on July 24. Al Jazeera attributed the peso's decline to a mix of domestic and international factors: before the war, the Philippines imported nearly all its oil from the Persian Gulf, and in March, Manila declared a state of national emergency after Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted its oil supply. Rising global oil prices have forced Philippine importers to convert more pesos into dollars to buy dollar priced crude. Philip McNicholas, Asia sovereign strategist at Robeco Singapore, said the country's twin fiscal and trade deficits, combined with elevated inflation, have left the currency vulnerable to swings in global risk sentiment.
Al Jazeera
Free Market Dollar Crosses 223,000 Tomans
According to Donya-e-Eqtesad, citing EqtesadNews, the US dollar on Iran's free market rose on Saturday, September 5, 2026 (14 Shahrivar 1405), reaching 223,240 tomans, a notable increase from Thursday's last recorded rate of 221,000 tomans. Sahmino's own live price data showed the dollar at 223,820 tomans as of 11:29am Tehran time, consistent with the reported figure and up about 1.25 percent from the prior day. Market analysts have linked the dollar's latest jump mainly to escalating Iran-US military tension and a fresh New York Times assessment that Iran is unlikely to accept Washington's terms before US midterm elections.
Donya-e-Eqtesad, citing EqtesadNews
US Sanctions Turkey's Golden Global Bank Over Alleged Transfer of Iranian Oil Revenue to Quds Force
The US Treasury sanctioned Istanbul based Golden Global Bank on Friday, 13 Shahrivar 1405 (September 4, 2026), according to Khabaronline and Donya e Eqtesad, both citing the New York Post. The Treasury alleged the bank and its subsidiaries moved tens of millions of dollars tied to Iranian oil sales to China, funneling the proceeds to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force through an exchange network known as Rahbar. Per the report, Golden Global Bank, founded in 2019 and describing itself as Turkey's first interest free investment bank, is the country's 35th largest bank with about 517 million dollars in assets. John Hurley, the Treasury's acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said the institution had received repeated prior warnings. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the effort will continue until the international community stops supporting Iran. The Treasury said this marks its first direct sanction of a Turkish bank and has cut the bank's access to the international financial system.
Khabaronline, citing New York Post
Hemmati: Central Bank Will Not Stand By Amid Currency Market Swings; Coin Options Tool to Launch Next Week
Abdolnaser Hemmati, governor of Iran's Central Bank, said on Friday, 13 Shahrivar 1405 (September 4, 2026), according to Khabaronline (citing Tasnim), that despite wartime conditions and severe external restrictions, financing of import currency has fallen only 15 percent from the same period last year, partly reflecting a drop in import volumes. He said the central bank has strengthened its reserve position during this period and has sufficient resources to keep covering the country's trade needs under upcoming scenarios. Hemmati stressed the central bank will not stand by in the face of abnormal currency market swings and will intervene forcefully and in a timely manner, using its foreign currency capacity and available tools, wherever rates diverge from economic fundamentals. He announced the launch of a "coin option" instrument in the coming days as a new tool to hedge risk, saying further instruments would be activated depending on market conditions.
Khabaronline, citing Tasnim
$1 coin bearing Trump's image enters US circulation, a first in a century
The US Mint announced that $1 coins bearing the image of President Donald Trump have entered circulation, a step not taken for any living US president in the past century. According to Ecoiran, citing ISNA, the coins are not made of real gold but carry a gold-colored manganese brass coating and were struck at the Philadelphia Mint; the Mint has not disclosed the total number produced but said 250,000 of them carry a special "Fourth of July" mark. The Trump administration has cited the "Redesign of Circulating Collectible Coins Act," passed in 2020, to work around the general ban on depicting living presidents on US currency. The last time a living US president's image was struck on a US coin was a century ago, marking the country's 150th anniversary of independence, with an image of Calvin Coolidge. Members of the bipartisan Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, which advises the Treasury Department, said the coin was not submitted to them for review before production.
Ecoiran, citing ISNA
Canada's PM says unelected US officials have no standing to weigh in on Canadian policy
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Thursday, September 3, 2026, amid a tariff war between Canada and the United States, that unelected, appointed US officials have no standing to comment on Canadian policy. According to Ecoiran, citing ISNA, the remarks came in response to comments last week by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who claimed Canada withdrew from a trade deal with the US late last month "for political reasons." Canada and the US failed to reach a trade agreement after weeks of intensive negotiations over the summer, after which President Donald Trump's new 50% tariffs took effect on billions of dollars of Canadian goods covered by the Canada-US-Mexico trade agreement. Carney said Canada will impose retaliatory tariffs on nearly $28 billion of US goods starting September 8, 2026.
Ecoiran, citing ISNA
Fed's Waller: Won't Back a Rate Hike If August Inflation Keeps Cooling
Federal Reserve Board member Christopher Waller said on Thursday, September 3, 2026 (12 Shahrivar 1405), that if August inflation data shows the cooling trend continuing, he is prepared not to back a rate hike at the Fed's September meeting and to hold policy at its current level. According to Ecoiran, Waller acknowledged inflation remains above the Fed's 2 percent target but said a 25 basis point hike at a single meeting would do little to bring inflation to target while carrying real costs for the economy. Following his remarks, the odds of a rate hike priced into the FedWatch tool fell from about 60 percent to around 50 percent. Waller cautioned the outcome is not yet settled: weekly US jobless claims rose to 206,000, slightly above forecasts, and the US nonfarm payrolls report is due tomorrow, Friday, September 4 (13 Shahrivar). Markets are also awaiting remarks from Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack, which could push rate hike odds back above 50 percent. Arzdigital also covered Waller's comments, noting the final decision hinges on economic data released before the September meeting.
Ecoiran
Yen Jumps for Second Straight Day on Bank of Japan Rate Hike Bets
According to Ecoiran, the Japanese yen strengthened more than 1.5 percent against the US dollar for a second straight day on Thursday, September 3, 2026 (12 Shahrivar 1405), with the dollar yen rate falling to 156.26, the yen's highest level in about a month. Sahmino's own live data showed the dollar yen rate at 155.82 as of 15:55 Tehran time, down 1.84 percent from the start of today's trading, consistent with the yen's strengthening trend. Ecoiran, citing Bloomberg, reported that the Bank of Japan is leaning toward a 25 basis point rate hike at its two day meeting ending September 18, in response to rising price risks. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda had earlier said the bank would debate a possible rate increase at its September meeting.
Ecoiran, citing Bloomberg
Free Market Dollar Crosses 221,000 Tomans
According to Ecoiran, the free market dollar rate in Iran rose on Thursday, September 3, 2026 (12 Shahrivar 1405), crossing 221,000 tomans. The euro traded at 257,720 tomans and the UAE dirham at about 60,388 tomans in the same market. Sahmino's own live data showed the dollar at 220,500 tomans as of 15:59 Tehran time, up about 0.27 percent from the start of today's trading. The dollar's rise came alongside global gold climbing above 4,448 dollars an ounce and gains in domestic gold and coin prices, a move traders linked to escalating Iran-US military tension and inflation expectations.
Ecoiran
Official Dollar Rate at Iran's Exchange Center Rises 209 Tomans Today, Euro Retreats in Agreed Rate Trading
Trading on the board of Iran's Currency and Gold Exchange Center saw a mixed picture on Wednesday, September 2, 2026 (11 Shahrivar 1405), according to Boursenews: gains for trade and regional currencies against a relative pullback in the basket of major international currencies. The sell rate for US dollar remittances rose 209 tomans to 159,355 tomans, with the buy rate recorded at 157,920 tomans. Alongside the dollar, the UAE dirham's sell rate rose 57 tomans to 43,391 tomans, with its buy rate set at 43,000 tomans. The Chinese yuan rose 35 tomans to 23,710 tomans, and the Indian rupee rose 7 tomans to 1,679 tomans. In contrast, the euro's sell rate fell 155 tomans to 184,723 tomans, with its buy rate at 183,061 tomans; the Japanese yen (per 100 units) fell 57 tomans to 99,571 tomans and the South Korean won (per 1,000 units) fell 190 tomans to 116,117 tomans. The exchange center's rates, also known as the agreed rate (dollar tavafoqi), are calculated separately from the free market dollar rate, which crossed 220,000 tomans today.
Boursenews
New Zealand Raises Rates as Signs Point to New Global Monetary Tightening Wave
New Zealand's central bank raised its interest rate by 25 basis points to 2.75 percent on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 (10 Shahrivar 1405). Per Ecoiran, European Central Bank governing council member and Bundesbank president Joachim Nagel said the same day the ECB will raise rates next week, with eurozone inflation running at 3.3 percent. In the US, the 10-year Treasury yield rose 16 basis points to 4.812 percent, while in Japan, Bank of Japan board member Hajime Takata said an interest-rate increase larger than 25 basis points is possible at the bank's next meeting.
Ecoiran
220,000 Tomans: Dollar's New High in Today's Free Market
Iran's free-market dollar rate extended its climb on Wednesday, September 2, 2026 (11 Shahrivar 1405), touching the 220,000-toman mark. Donya-e-Eqtesad reported the rate at 220,230 tomans at 14:26 Tehran time. Sahmino's own live data showed it at 220,200 tomans (up 2.9 percent on the day) as of 15:59, while tgju.org recorded the dollar above 218,000 tomans around the same window. The jump coincided with intensifying Iran-US military tension and a decline in Tehran's stock index in today's session.
Donya-e-Eqtesad
Free-Market Dollar Rate Breaks Past 217,000 Tomans
Iran's free-market dollar rate extended its climb on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. Donya-e-Eqtesad reported (11:27 Tehran time) the dollar rose from the previous day to 216,390 tomans. Sahmino's own live data and tgju.org showed the move accelerating through the session, with the dollar up 1.54 percent (33,000 rials) to 2,173,000 rials (217,300 tomans) as of 11:29 Tehran time. The jump coincided with intensifying Iran-US military tension and a decline in Tehran's stock index.
Donya-e-Eqtesad
US Treasury Secretary: New Bank Sanctions Against Iran to Be Announced This Week
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday, September 1, 2026, on the sidelines of the G20 finance ministers' meeting in North Carolina, that Washington is likely to announce a new bank sanction against Iran this week, with another to follow the week after. He described the goal as economically "asphyxiating" Iran's leadership, saying the Treasury is now using five new authorities across digital assets, aviation and maritime sectors, including the shutdown of a Dubai branch of an Egyptian bank he said had funneled more than 1.8 billion dollars to Iran. Citing the rial's fall from roughly 800,000 to the dollar in spring 2025 to more than 2 million now, Bessent said the campaign is coordinated with the EU, the European Central Bank, the UK, the UAE and Bahrain.
Reuters, citing کیتکو
Dollar Sets Fresh Record in Tehran's Free Market, Tops 214,000 Tomans
The US dollar set an unprecedented record in Tehran's free market on Tuesday, 10 Shahrivar 1405 (September 1, 2026). According to Donya-e-Eqtesad, the dollar reached 213,770 tomans at 1:08pm local time, the latest point in a steady climb that began at 211,210 tomans at 11:28am and reached 212,220 tomans by 12:20pm. At the same time, the pricing site Tgju.org put the live dollar rate at 213,400 tomans, up 4,100 tomans from yesterday's previous record of 209,300 tomans, with today's session high at 213,620 tomans; Alanchand.com reported the dollar reaching 214,700 tomans at 4:05pm, up 3,600 tomans (1.71 percent) from yesterday's rate of 211,100 tomans. Sahmino's own price data showed the dollar trading at 213,690 tomans at 3:59pm, up 2.1 percent on the day, consistent with the figures reported by all three sources. Today's jump coincided with escalating political tension between Iran and the United States. According to Ecoiran, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan, said Iran would respond immediately if the United States returned to its commitments under the Islamabad memorandum of understanding, while Axios, citing three US officials, reported that Donald Trump and senior advisers are weighing limited strikes in the Strait of Hormuz. The dollar's rise today was also one of the factors behind the sell pressure on the Tehran Stock Exchange.
Donya-e-Eqtesad
Hemmati: We Have Enough Foreign Currency; Central Bank Has Supplied 18 Billion Dollars for the Country's Needs Since the Start of the Year
Abdolnaser Hemmati, governor of Iran's Central Bank, speaking at the 36th Islamic Banking Conference on Tuesday, 10 Shahrivar 1405 (September 1, 2026), as reported by Khabaronline, responded to earlier comments from US President Donald Trump claiming Iran lacks sufficient foreign currency, saying the Central Bank has supplied about 18 billion dollars for the country's needs since the start of the current Iranian year, with 500 million dollars planned for market supply in the past week alone, a figure he said could rise to as much as 2 billion dollars if needed. He attributed periodic spikes in the exchange rate partly to market psychology and political pressure, saying the situation would not persist. Hemmati also said that despite earlier concerns about Iran's economy sliding into hyperinflation, the Central Bank's monetary and precautionary measures have curbed the pace of inflation, and he assessed the probability of hyperinflation as very weak. He said banking sector facilities disbursed from the start of the year through 6 Shahrivar (August 28) reached about 4,050 trillion tomans, up 69 percent from the same period a year earlier, of which nearly 2,600 trillion tomans went to working capital for businesses, an 80 percent increase.
Khabaronline
Dollar Holds Near Two Week High as Yen Slips Past 160; G20 Finance Meeting Eyes Iran Sanctions Coordination
According to Reuters, in a report carried by Shafaq News early Monday, 9 Shahrivar 1405 (August 31, 2026), the US dollar index, which measures the currency against six major peers, held near a two week high at 99.6, after Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's hawkish remarks at the Jackson Hole symposium pushed traders to raise their bets on a September rate hike. Markets priced the probability of a September Fed rate hike at 57 percent, the report said, while the two year US Treasury yield rose to a more than one month high of 4.33 percent. At the same time, the Japanese yen slipped past the psychologically important 160 per dollar level, trading at 160.01, a threshold the report said has again put the risk of official intervention by Tokyo and Washington in the spotlight. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday that recent yen moves had been "pretty well contained." Dollar demand was also supported by Brent crude's nearly 2 percent rise after the US strike on Iran's Larak Island on Sunday, the report said. Market attention is now turning to the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in the United States on Monday and Tuesday, 9 and 10 Shahrivar, where the report said observers will watch for signs of coordinated efforts to sever economic ties with Iran. Swings in the dollar index and US Treasury yields feed directly into global gold prices and, through them, into Iran's domestic coin and currency markets.
Shafaq News, citing Reuters
Iraq's Domestic Debt Reaches $81 Billion at End of June, Up 17.2 Percent Since Year Start
Iraq's domestic public debt reached 106.072 trillion dinars (about $81 billion) at the end of June 2026, up 2.8 percent (2.893 trillion dinars, about $2.21 billion) from May, according to Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) data reported by Shafaq News on Monday, 9 Shahrivar 1405 (August 31, 2026). The debt has risen 17.2 percent (15.557 trillion dinars, about $11.9 billion) since the end of 2025, when it stood at 90.515 trillion dinars (about $69.1 billion). The largest share is the Finance Ministry's liabilities to the central bank, which rose to 67.499 trillion dinars ($51.5 billion) in June from 63.199 trillion dinars ($48.2 billion) in May. Treasury bills accounted for 8.742 trillion dinars ($6.67 billion), loans for 18.964 trillion dinars ($14.5 billion) and bonds for 10.867 trillion dinars ($8.30 billion). Shafaq News reported that the increase comes as Iraqi government spending continues to outpace revenue: through May, public expenditure reached 46.697 trillion dinars ($35.6 billion) against revenue of 33.747 trillion dinars ($25.8 billion), a gap of about 12.95 trillion dinars ($9.9 billion). The government's growing reliance on borrowing from the central bank indirectly bears on the bank's capacity to supply dollars through its daily currency auction, one of the main sources of hard currency for Iranian traders active in Iraq's trade corridor.
شفقنیوز (Shafaq News, citing بانک مرکزی عراق)
Dollar Holds Near 154,000 Dinars for a Second Day in Baghdad and Erbil
The US dollar held steady against the Iraqi dinar for a second consecutive day on Monday, 9 Shahrivar 1405 (August 31, 2026), trading around 154,000 dinars per 100 dollars in Baghdad and Erbil. According to a Shafaq News market survey, the dollar traded at 154,000 dinars per 100 dollars at Baghdad's Al Kifah and Al Harithiya central exchanges, unchanged from Sunday. At Baghdad exchange shops, the selling rate stood at 154,500 dinars and the buying rate at 153,500 dinars per 100 dollars. In Erbil, the dollar sold at 153,950 dinars and was bought at 153,850 dinars per 100 dollars. The stability of Iraq's parallel exchange rate matters for Iran's economy, since Iraq is one of Iran's most important channels for trade, exports and informal currency transfers, and Baghdad's dollar rate indirectly affects the cost of imports and money transfers for Iranian traders active in that corridor.
Shafaq News
Dollar Nears 209,000 Tomans in Tehran's Free Market Monday Afternoon, Approaching 210,000 Threshold
The US dollar's rate in Tehran's free market extended its recent uptrend on Monday, 9 Shahrivar 1405 (August 31, 2026), reaching about 209,000 tomans by mid afternoon and approaching the psychological 210,000 toman threshold, according to Ecoiran. The same report said tether also crossed 208,000 tomans. Earlier the same day, at 11:13am, Donya e Eqtesad had put the dollar rate at 207,140 tomans, meaning the currency extended its gains further into the afternoon session. Live data from tgju.org over the same hours showed the dollar trading at 209,300 tomans, up 3,290 tomans from the previous day and about 4.4 percent higher than the same day last week (Tuesday, 3 Shahrivar, at 200,500 tomans). Per Sahmino's own price data at 3:59pm, the dollar was up 1.7 percent at 209,510 tomans. Ecoiran noted the dollar had first crossed the 200,000 toman mark on the first day of Shahrivar (August 23), and its distance from that earlier milestone has now widened further.
Ecoiran
Hemmati: Central Bank Has Stockpiled Foreign Currency Against Threatened US 100 Percent Sanctions
Abdolnaser Hemmati, governor of Iran's Central Bank, said on the evening of Sunday, 8 Shahrivar 1405 (August 30, 2026), at a meeting with members of Iran's Entrepreneurs Assembly, that the country's monetary policymaker has not sat idle in the face of new US threats and what has been called a 100 percent sanctions push against Iran, Ecoiran reported. He said the central bank anticipated a possible escalation of sanctions conditions starting last Bahman (January or February 2026) and has been stockpiling foreign currency to plan for the country's foreign exchange needs. The remarks come as the free market dollar rate has been rising in Tehran in recent days, and follow Hemmati's earlier position, when, responding to US Treasury sanctions on several crypto exchanges, he had said the volume of the country's foreign currency supply had increased from a year earlier.
Ecoiran
Dollar Nears 207,000 Tomans in Tehran's Free Market Monday
The US dollar's rate in Tehran's free market rose on Monday, 9 Shahrivar 1405 (August 31, 2026), reaching 207,140 tomans as of 11:13am Tehran time, according to Donya e Eqtesad. Separately, the pricing site tgju.org put the live dollar rate at 206,000 to 206,220 tomans, up about 2.7 percent from the same day last week (Tuesday, 3 Shahrivar, at 200,500 tomans). Per Sahmino's own price data at the same hour, the dollar traded up 0.39 percent at 206,820 tomans. The rate for dollar transfers through the Currency and Gold Exchange Center also rose from the previous day, Donya e Eqtesad reported. The rise in the free market dollar rate coincides with new US threats of what Washington has called a 100 percent sanctions push against Iran.
Donya-e-Eqtesad
Gap Between Free Market and National Card Dollar Narrows to 8,000 Tomans
According to Khabaronline, published at 15:35 on Sunday, 8 Shahrivar 1405 (August 30, 2026), as the free market dollar climbed to 206,000 tomans, the rationed dollar rate available via national ID card at select bank exchange branches rose 3,000 tomans to 198,000 tomans. Per the report, which cited Khabar Foori, the gap between the national card rate and the free market rate has now narrowed to about 8,000 tomans. Sahmino's own price data also recorded the free market dollar at 206,010 tomans as of 19:59 on Saturday, 7 Shahrivar, consistent with the reported figure. The rationed national-card dollar rate, intended for limited currency purchases at select bank branches, has narrowed its gap with the free market rate in recent days.
Khabaronline
US Treasury Proposes Cutting Banque Misr's UAE Branches From Dollar System Over Iran Ties
The US Treasury Department proposed a rule on Friday, August 28, 2026, that would cut the United Arab Emirates branches of Banque Misr, Egypt's second largest bank, off from the US dollar financial system. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement the move is a first step in holding the bank accountable for what he called its continued support for Iran's government. The proposed rule, subject to a thirty day public comment period, applies only to the UAE branches' dollar transfers and does not extend to Banque Misr's operations inside Egypt or its other overseas branches, the Central Bank of Egypt confirmed the same day. Also on Friday, the Treasury Department added the Dubai branch manager of Iran's Bank Melli, Reza Mohammad Taeedi, and a Hong Kong based firm called Kameng Trading Limited to its sanctions list, accusing them of helping launder funds for Iran. The actions are part of a new campaign Bessent announced this week to press countries that still do business with Iran to sever those financial ties.
Associated Press (AP)
Central Bank's National ID Card FX Policy Narrows the Official to Free Market Gap to 8,000 Tomans
Iran's central bank has narrowed the gap between the official banking network rate and the free market rate by rolling out a new policy that allocates up to 1,000 dollars in banknotes per applicant, at the market premium rate, through the national ID card system. According to Ecoiran, citing Tabnak, the official rate stood at 198,000 tomans per dollar in Saturday, 7 Shahrivar 1405 (August 29, 2026) trading, about 8,000 tomans below the free market rate of near 206,000 tomans the same day. Official data show that of a 500 million dollar allocation the central bank made available between Tuesday, 3 Shahrivar and Thursday, 5 Shahrivar, applicants absorbed only 20 million dollars, which the report says indicates the earlier queues were largely speculative. The central bank governor has said the bank will keep supplying currency at the market's negotiated rate to meet genuine demand. Separately, the buy rate for dollar transfers on Iran's Currency Exchange Center rose 437 tomans to 157,053 tomans.
EcoIran, citing Tabnak
Dollar Reaches the 205,000 Toman Channel While the Car Market Stays Muted
The free market dollar in Iran rose in Saturday, 7 Shahrivar 1405 (August 29, 2026) trading, following Friday evening remarks by the president on the economy, reaching the 205,000 toman channel. According to Ecoiran, despite the rise the car market showed no uniform reaction, with prices staying choppy and subdued. Data from tgju.org at 19:36 put the dollar at 206,165 tomans, up about 2.8 percent from Thursday, 5 Shahrivar's close of 200,600 tomans and 3.13 percent from a week earlier. Sahmino's own price feed recorded the dollar near 205,800 tomans at the same hour, up 2.59 percent on the day.
Ecoiran
Free Market Dollar Climbs Into the 2,030,000 Rial Channel in Saturday Trading
According to Boursenews, the free market dollar rate in Iran's domestic market rose about 1,000 tomans on Saturday, 7 Shahrivar 1405 (August 29, 2026), compared to Thursday, 5 Shahrivar, moving into the 203,000 toman channel. Per the report, published at 11:48am, the euro, the UAE dirham and other official currencies also posted gains that day. According to Sahmino's own price system, the upward move continued through the day, with the free market dollar reaching about 204,900 tomans by 3:39pm, up roughly 2.15 percent from the previous day's closing level.
Boursenews
Fed September Rate Hike Odds Jump to 58 Percent as Two Year Treasury Yield Hits 4.34 Percent
According to Khabaronline, published Saturday, 7 Shahrivar 1405 (August 29, 2026), data from CME FedWatch reported by Reuters showed the probability of a September Federal Reserve rate hike jumped from about 36 percent to 58 percent after Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's hawkish remarks at the Jackson Hole symposium, while the odds of a December hike rose to about 89 percent. Warsh said in the speech that the Fed still faces a monetary policy challenge until inflation moves convincingly toward its 2 percent target. At the same time, the US two year Treasury yield rose to 4.34 percent, a figure separately confirmed the same day by Tgju.org, which also reported the 10 year yield at 4.73 percent. The Wall Street Journal said the combination drove gold's biggest weekly drop since the week ending 15 Khordad (early June), since rising yields and a stronger dollar typically reduce the metal's appeal to investors.
Khabaronline, citing the Wall Street Journal and Reuters
BIS Data Show Iran's Deposits at Foreign Banks Are 14 Times Its Liabilities
The latest report from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, shows Iran's deposits at foreign banks stood at 11.155 billion dollars at the end of the first quarter of 2026, down about 5 percent from 11.781 billion dollars at the end of 2025. Iran's liabilities to foreign banks rose 3 percent to 802 million dollars over the same period. As a result, Iran's deposits at foreign banks were about 14 times its liabilities. Iran's total financial dealings with foreign banks came to 11.957 billion dollars in the first quarter of 2026, down about 5 percent from 12.559 billion dollars in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Bourse News
Dollar Climbs to 201,960 Tomans in Iran's Free Market as Euro and UAE Dirham Also Rise
The US dollar rose in Tehran's free market on Thursday, 5 Shahrivar 1405 (August 27, 2026), reaching 201,960 tomans, up from the previous day. According to Donya-e-Eqtesad, the remittance dollar rate also climbed, from 157,716 to 158,038 tomans. The remittance euro rate reached 184,129 tomans, while the free market euro traded at 233,850 tomans. The UAE dirham remittance rate rose to 43,033 tomans, though the free market dirham eased slightly to 54,320 tomans. The British pound reached 272,660 tomans, and the Turkish lira was quoted at 4,200 tomans. Sahmino's own price feed showed the dollar at 200,700 tomans (2,007,000 rials) around the same hours, consistent with the increase reported by Donya-e-Eqtesad and Arzdigital.
Donya-e-Eqtesad
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Denounces Trump's Mortgage Fraud Claims; Lawyers Say There Is No Legal Cause to Remove Her
Lawyers for Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook issued a letter on Wednesday, 4 Shahrivar 1405 (August 26, 2026), offering a detailed rebuttal to the Trump administration's allegations, writing "for the second time in a year, we have explained why there is no legal basis for President Trump to remove Governor Cook for cause" and that "an inadvertent error is not fraud." According to Al Jazeera, the letter responded to an August 5 White House warning that had given Cook three weeks to respond to unproven mortgage-fraud allegations. Trump first raised the allegations in August 2025 (Mordad 1404). Under the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, Fed governors can only be removed "for cause," not for political reasons, and serve 14-year terms; in June 2026 (Khordad 1405), the US Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling, blocked Trump's earlier attempt to fire Fed governors at will. The standoff continues alongside Trump's sustained push for rapid Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts, a path experts warn could weaken the dollar's value if pursued too quickly.
Al Jazeera
US Fed-Preferred PCE Inflation Holds at 3.7% in July as Income and Spending Both Rise
The US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released its Personal Income and Outlays report for July on Wednesday, 4 Shahrivar 1405 (August 26, 2026). Personal income rose $115.1 billion (0.4 percent from the prior month) and personal consumption expenditures (PCE) rose $36.3 billion (0.2 percent). The PCE price index, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, rose 0.2 percent month over month and 3.7 percent year over year in July, unchanged from June's annual reading; the core index, excluding food and energy, rose 0.2 percent monthly and 3.3 percent year over year. The personal saving rate stood at 3.0 percent in July. The PCE index is the Fed's primary reference for interest rate decisions, and its path feeds into the dollar index (DXY), global gold prices, and through them Iran's coin and currency markets.
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
No Timetable for Iran Talks, Trump Tells Al Jazeera, as the Rial Trades Near 2.02 Million Per Dollar
US President Donald Trump told Al Jazeera, in an interview published Wednesday, 4 Shahrivar 1405 (August 26, 2026), that he has no timetable for Iran's return to negotiations and is in no hurry. He said the United States is winning very big while Iran faces heavy inflation and a sharply weaker currency. The remarks come six months after the US war on Iran began on February 28, and after a 60 day US Iran memorandum covering the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief and nuclear talks expired earlier this month. According to Alanchand.com, the free market dollar rate in Tehran reached 201,600 tomans (2.016 million rials) on Wednesday evening, up 100 tomans from the previous day, a level consistent with Sahmino's own price feed, which showed 2.005 million rials at 18:14 the same day. Iran's Foreign Ministry has called the latest US sanctions a violation of international law and the UN Charter.
Al Jazeera
IRGC Announces Controlled Ordnance Disposal Near Pakdasht Today
The public relations office of the Seyyed al Shohada IRGC corps for Tehran province said in a notice on Wednesday, Shahrivar 4, 1405 (August 26, 2026), that a controlled neutralization and disposal operation for unexploded ordnance would be carried out from 10:00 to 16:00 today around Pakdasht county, by specialist disposal teams. The notice said explosion sounds may be heard in nearby areas during the operation, and it asked residents to remain calm, disregard rumors and follow news only from official sources. Advance notices of this kind have become more frequent in recent weeks, aimed at preventing the sound of planned technical operations from being mistaken for attack reports, a mix up that has repeatedly driven short term swings in Tehran's currency and gold markets.
EcoIran, citing Mehr News Agency
Pakistan's Finance Minister Says Islamabad Sought a $10 Billion Swap Line From the US
Pakistan's Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said in a Financial Times interview published Monday, 2 Shahrivar 1405 (August 24, 2026), and carried by Donya-e-Eqtesad on Tuesday, 3 Shahrivar, that Islamabad requested a 10 billion dollar currency swap line from Washington last month to signal confidence to private investors. He described the move as part of a shift in Pakistan's economic policy away from reliance on Chinese loans toward US backed financing. Aurangzeb said the US Export-Import Bank and the US International Development Finance Corporation have shown willingness to take on risk in Pakistan, including financing Boeing aircraft purchases by the newly privatized Pakistan International Airlines and helping modernize the country's oil refineries. According to World Bank data, China holds 23 percent of Pakistan's 129.7 billion dollar external debt, its largest creditor, while Pakistan's trade deficit for the year ending in June reached 39.5 billion dollars, the highest in four years.
Donya-e-Eqtesad, citing Financial Times
Gold and Currency Market Corrects a Day After Record High
Iran's gold and currency market entered a corrective phase on Tuesday, 3 Shahrivar 1405 (August 25, 2026), a day after setting fresh records. The Central Bank began supplying 500 million dollars in banknotes to the banking network today and said it could raise the volume if demand increases. That move, together with positive reports on Iran Pakistan talks, helped calm the market. According to Ecoiran, the free market dollar fell about 1,900 tomans (0.94 percent) from Monday to 201,100 tomans, a level corroborated by the Alanchand tracker, which showed a similar decline (near 1,800 tomans) to about the same range. Tether also fell 3,090 tomans (1.53 percent) to 198,300 tomans. At the same time, global gold fell 27 dollars (0.58 percent) to 4,638 dollars an ounce, and the domestic coin and gold market retreated as well. The Emami coin dropped 6 million tomans (2.71 percent) to 215.5 million tomans, and the quarter coin fell 2 million tomans (3.28 percent) to 59 million tomans.
Ecoiran
Free Market Dollar Sets Fresh Record Above 205,000 Tomans
The free market dollar set a fresh record in Tehran on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. According to Alanchand, the US dollar rose 2,500 tomans (1.23 percent) from the previous day to 205,700 tomans by 11:35am Tehran time, after climbing 2,700 tomans to 203,200 tomans on Monday, August 24 (2 Shahrivar). The report put the dollar's 24 hour range at a low of 200,400 tomans and a high of 205,700 tomans, up about 9.3 percent from a week earlier. Donya e Eqtesad had put the dollar at 204,560 tomans at 11:14am, pointing to a steady climb through the morning. The free market euro reached 238,190 tomans and the UAE dirham 55,590 tomans, Donya e Eqtesad reported.
Alanchand
Central Bank Authorizes Individuals to Buy Up to 1,000 Dollars in Banknotes
Iran's Central Bank announced new measures on Tuesday, August 25, 2026 (3 Shahrivar 1405) to expand access to foreign banknotes through the official banking network. According to EcoIran, citing Tasnim, legal entities may now buy up to 5,000 dollars in banknotes at the negotiated rate at branches of Bank Mellat, Tejarat and Saderat, while individuals are permitted to buy up to 1,000 dollars in banknotes at the same branches. The Central Bank said the move is meant to strengthen the supply of foreign currency, respond more directly to the needs of economic actors and deepen official banknote transactions, adding that the decision followed the build up of its foreign currency reserves since late last year. The bank said further foreign exchange market management measures would be announced later.
EcoIran, citing Tasnim
Free-Market Dollar Climbs Past 203,000 Tomans to a Fresh Record
Iran's free-market dollar rate rose on Monday, August 24, 2026 (2 Shahrivar 1405). According to Donya-e-Eqtesad, the rate stood at 201,640 tomans as of 11:30 local time, with the upward move continuing through the day. Live data from Alanchand.com showed the dollar trading as high as 203,700 tomans by the late afternoon, up about 3,200 tomans, or 1.6 percent, from yesterday's rate of 200,500 tomans, a fresh record for the free market. Gold and coin prices tracked the dollar's rise on the same day.
Donya-e-Eqtesad
Hemmati: FX for Essential Goods and Medicine Is Secured; $20 Billion to Go to Industry by Year End
Abdolnaser Hemmati, governor of the Central Bank of Iran, told Mehr News Agency on Monday, Shahrivar 2, 1405 (August 24, 2026), at a meeting with members of Iran's Entrepreneurs Assembly, that the central bank began stockpiling foreign currency last Bahman in anticipation of difficult conditions ahead, and can now confidently guarantee FX supply for essential goods and medicine. He said the FX needed by industry would also be secured by year end, with $20 billion allocated to that sector. Hemmati said the bank has supplied an average of $175 million a day in FX since the start of the current year, compared with about $205 million a day in the same period last year. He described the recent widening of the market exchange rate gap as "temporary" and said currency policy should not change because of short term fluctuations. He also said monthly inflation in Mordad was about 4 percent and liquidity growth has slowed.
Mehr News Agency
The Turkish Lira Sets a Fresh Record Low, Crossing 48 to the Dollar
The US dollar to Turkish lira pair reached an all time high on Monday, 24 August 2026 (2 Shahrivar 1405). XE.com put the mid market rate at 48.0764 at 04:10 GMT, and Trading Economics recorded 48.0762 in a live reading the same day, a difference between the two sources of less than one ten thousandth of a lira. XE's own data shows the pair had reached at most 48.0334 over the previous seven days, on 23 August, making today's print a fresh step up. The lira has lost 17.3 percent of its value against the dollar over the past year, while the Turkish central bank's policy rate stands at 37 percent. The move is a continuation of an existing trend rather than the result of any new policy decision by the central bank. For Iranian readers, the lira's path feeds directly into the cost of cross border trade, travel and property purchases in Turkey: a cheaper lira means Turkish goods and assets cost a rial holder less.
XE.com
Mohsen Rezaei: Not a Single Drop of Oil Will Be Exported if Economic War Continues
Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, wrote on social media early Monday, Shahrivar 2, 1405 (August 24, 2026), that if the US economic war against Iran continues, not a single drop of oil will be exported, neither through the Strait of Hormuz nor from any other point in the Persian Gulf. He added that Iran will treat any country's participation in or support for this economic war as an act of war. The warning came after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, according to Mehr News Agency, claimed Washington was launching the "biggest economic attack" in its history against Iran on Monday morning, aimed at cutting Iran's vital economic arteries. Bessent warned that countries continuing to trade with Tehran would also face a decisive response from the US government. Bessent had earlier, on Thursday, Mordad 29 (August 20), told CNBC that Washington would impose the "toughest sanctions in history" on Iran.
Donya-e-Eqtesad, citing Mehr News Agency
Rial Settlement Rate Set for Exporters' 1397 to 1400 Foreign Currency Debt
Mohammad Lahouti, chairman of the Export Commission at the Iran Chamber of Commerce, said on Sunday, Shahrivar 1, 1405 (August 23, 2026), that a new resolution on rial settlement of exporters' foreign currency debts from 1397 to 1400 (2018 to 2021) has been approved by the currency repatriation working group. According to Eghtesadonline, the settlement rate is set at 5 percent of the exchange center's daily transfer rate for production units and 10 percent for non production companies and individuals holding a commercial card; unlike the previous round, the settlement will now count as full discharge of the currency obligation. Lahouti said fewer than 10 percent of eligible debtors had used the option in the earlier round, but demand to reopen the settlement system rose after new restrictions were imposed on commercial cards and export ceilings.
Eghtesadonline
Hemmati: We Are Supplying Currency Morning to Night; Pay No Attention to Rumors
Abdolnasser Hemmati, governor of Iran's Central Bank, said on Sunday, Shahrivar 1, 1405 (August 23, 2026), on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting, in remarks carried by Fars News Agency, that the central bank is supplying foreign currency "morning to night" and applying monetary policy, and urged people to pay no attention to what he called "rumor mongering." The remarks came the same day the free market dollar in Tehran, up nearly 7,200 tomans (3.74 percent) from the previous day as of 19:59 Tehran time, crossed the 200,000 toman mark, while gold and coin prices also set fresh records. Hemmati has repeatedly said in recent days that the central bank has supplied more foreign currency this year than in the same period last year.
Eghtesadonline, citing Fars News Agency
Global Markets Await Fed Chair Warsh's First Jackson Hole Address and the US PCE Inflation Data
According to Ecoiran, this week's Jackson Hole symposium will host Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh for the first time since he took the role. His remarks come as long term US Treasury yields have climbed to elevated levels, prompting the Treasury Department under Secretary Scott Bessent to intervene. Investors are also awaiting the release of the US PCE inflation index, one of two key events for global markets this week. The outcome of both could influence the path of interest rates, the dollar index and global gold prices.
Ecoiran
Judiciary: Uncovered FX Violation Debt Reaches 1.7 Billion Euros
Iran's judiciary announced on Sunday, Shahrivar 1, 1405 (August 23, 2026), that the total foreign currency debt uncovered in violation cases has reached 1.7 billion euros, publishing abbreviated names of the companies and individuals involved. According to Ecoiran, the announcement followed repeated calls by the judiciary's chief to combat currency related corruption, and the report said judicial action has so far led to the return of billions of dollars in foreign currency to the country. Further details on the number of cases or arrest timelines were not disclosed.
Ecoiran
Dollar Hits 200,000 Tomans in Today's Trading, Up 7 Percent in a Week
The US dollar in Tehran's free market crossed the 200,000 toman threshold for the first time on Sunday, Shahrivar 1, 1405 (August 23, 2026). According to Ecoiran, the jump was recorded mid session, around 15:50 local time. Data from the TGJU price index showed the dollar at 199,700 tomans as of 19:30 Tehran time, with an intraday high of 200,720 tomans, up 7,000 tomans (3.7 percent) from the previous day. Alanchand.com quoted a 200,300 toman sell rate at the same time. TGJU data put the weekly gain at 7.07 percent and the year on year increase at 108.45 percent. As of Sunday morning, the dollar had been trading around 188,000 tomans.
Ecoiran
Central Bank Announces $7.5 Billion in Oil Revenue Deposited Into Its Account
The Central Bank of Iran announced on Saturday, August 22, 2026, that the Ministry of Petroleum deposited 7.5 billion dollars in oil-sale revenue into its account. According to Ecoiran, the sum, together with revenue from the period before the latest escalation in sanctions, could help cover part of the foreign-currency needs for importing essential goods. The announcement came the same day Hemmati had said Iran's oil revenue had stopped and a large share of the country's foreign reserves were inaccessible.
EcoIran
Hemmati: Iran's Oil Revenue Has Stopped and a Large Share of Its Foreign Reserves Are Inaccessible
According to Ruznameh Sazandegi, cited by EcoIran and published Saturday, August 22, 2026 (31 Mordad 1405), Central Bank of Iran Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati said in a television appearance that Iran's revenue from oil sales has nearly stopped. He said Iraq and Qatar are also facing a halt in part of their oil revenue because of regional conditions, but unlike Iran they retain access to their own central bank reserves, while a significant portion of Iran's foreign reserves held abroad remain frozen. Hemmati described the current situation as more difficult than the 2018 to 2020 sanctions period, when he also headed the central bank. He also pointed to a simultaneous decline in government tax revenue and social security premium collections. According to Sazandegi, economists say a simultaneous halt in oil, tax and insurance revenue raises the risk that the budget deficit will be financed through borrowing from the banking system, fueling monetary base growth and inflation.
EcoIran, citing Ruznameh Sazandegi
Tehran's Free Market Dollar Reaches 192,400 Tomans, Up 3 Percent in a Week
According to the TGJU gold and currency information network, updated Saturday afternoon, August 22, 2026 (31 Mordad 1405), the US dollar on Tehran's free market reached 1,924,050 rials (192,405 tomans), up about 30,050 rials (1.6 percent) from yesterday's 1,894,000 rials. Today's session high was 1,924,200 rials and its low was 1,898,800 rials. The dollar is up about 3.1 percent from a week earlier (Sunday, August 16, at 1,866,800 rials) and about 8.4 percent from three months ago (May 23, at 1,774,200 rials). It remains about 1 percent below its all time high of 1,945,000 rials, set on July 18, 2026. According to EcoIran, the same rate stood at 191,270 tomans at 12:13pm Tehran time today, reflecting a steady rise through the session.
EcoIran
China's Offshore Yuan Hits Its Strongest Level Since January 2023 as the Dollar Stays Weak
China's offshore yuan strengthened to around 6.72 per dollar on Friday, August 21, 2026 (30 Mordad 1405), marking a third straight session of gains and its strongest level since January 2023. According to Trading Economics, the USD/CNY rate fell to 6.7195 on August 21, down 0.09 percent from the previous session; the yuan has strengthened 0.82 percent over the past month and 6.31 percent over the past twelve months. According to the report, persistent US dollar weakness, driven by fading expectations of further Federal Reserve rate hikes and rising demand for longer dated US Treasuries after an expanded bond buyback program, has supported the yuan. China's central bank also kept its one year loan prime rate unchanged at 3 percent and its five year rate at 3.5 percent, for a fifteenth consecutive month.
Trading Economics
EBRD Extends $75 Million Trade Finance Facility to Iraq's Al Mansour Bank
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced it is providing up to $75 million (equivalent to €65 million) in trade finance to Iraq's Al Mansour Bank for Investment. Delivered under the EBRD's Trade Facilitation Programme, the facility comprises guarantees and cash advances aimed at reducing commercial and political payment risks in international transactions. Al Mansour Bank, established in 2006 and majority owned by Qatar National Bank Group, plans to use the funds to expand trade financing for small and medium-sized enterprises in agriculture, construction, manufacturing and consumer goods. The deal comes less than a year after the EBRD began official operations in Iraq in September 2025. For Iran's markets, the story matters because it shows European development finance keeps expanding formal banking channels with Iraq, Iran's western neighbor and a major non-oil export market, precisely the kind of correspondent-banking access Iran's own banks remain locked out of under sanctions, a gap that could weigh on Iranian exporters' competitiveness in the Iraqi market over time.
IraqiNews.com
Turkish Lira Hovers Near Record Low, Dollar Nears 48 Lira
According to Trading Economics data, the dollar lira exchange rate reached 47.9552 lira on Thursday, August 20, 2026 (29 Mordad 1405), up 0.06 percent from the previous session. The level sits close to the pair's all time high of 47.97, which Trading Economics recorded for August 2026. The lira has weakened 1.64 percent against the dollar over the past month and 17.21 percent over the past 12 months. Turkey's central bank has held its policy rate at 37 percent at recent meetings and has cited higher energy prices tied to the regional war as a factor slowing the country's disinflation trend. Turkey is a major trading partner and travel destination for Iranians, so the lira's continued slide affects the cost of imports and travel along that route.
Trading Economics
Tehran's Free Market Dollar Breaks Above 190,000 Tomans to a Multi Week High
In Tehran trading on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 (28 Mordad 1405), the free market dollar opened with a 920 toman positive gap at 189,100 tomans and climbed as high as 191,310 tomans, a 3,130 toman rise from Tuesday's close and the rate's first move into the 190,000 toman channel in recent weeks. According to Donya e Eqtesad, the jump came after the Iran US ceasefire understanding ended on Monday, August 17 (26 Mordad), with no fresh diplomatic signal since. At the same time, 18 karat gold rose 295,000 tomans on Wednesday to 19,527,000 tomans per gram, and the Emami gold coin jumped 3,600,000 tomans to 194,500,000 tomans. Global gold, trading around 4,375 dollars an ounce at 4 pm Wednesday, continued climbing to 4,508 dollars by 4:20 am Thursday. Per the Tehran Gold and Jewelry Union's rates at that same predawn hour on Thursday, 18 karat gold was priced at 19,760,000 tomans per gram and the Emami coin at 197,000,000 tomans.
Donya-e-Eqtesad
Hemmati: No Portion of Iran's Blocked Funds Has Been Released Under the Memorandum So Far
Central Bank of Iran Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati said early on Thursday, 29 Mordad 1405 (August 20, 2026), in remarks carried by Ecoiran, that no portion of Iran's blocked foreign currency reserves has been released so far under the relevant memorandum. He gave no further detail on which countries or institutions are party to the memorandum, or on a possible release timeline. The remarks came on the same day US President Donald Trump said he would announce the "most crushing" new economic action against Iran, a juxtaposition that highlights the gap between diplomatic promises and the reality on the ground for Iran's blocked funds.
Ecoiran
Trump Claims He Will Unveil the Harshest Economic Action Ever Taken Against a Country, Aimed at Iran
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday local time (Thursday, 29 Mordad 1405, August 20, 2026) in a post on Truth Social that he would announce today the most crushing economic action ever taken against any country, targeting Iran, describing it as an economic war and isolation on an unprecedented scale. According to IRNA, carried by Ecoiran, and separately Al Jazeera, carried by Donya e Eqtesad, Trump warned that any country that lets its financial institutions, companies or airports provide any lifeline to Iran would face severe economic consequences, and called for an immediate halt to oil smuggling, barter deals, cash transfers, exchange house activity, ship registrations and shell companies linked to Iran. Specific details of the new action, such as named institutions or an exact timeline, had not been announced as of this report.
Ecoiran, citing IRNA
China's Key Lending Rate Holds at Record Low for a 14th Straight Month
China's central bank, the People's Bank of China, kept its one-year loan prime rate (LPR), the benchmark for most corporate and household borrowing, at a record low of 3.0 percent on Monday, August 17, 2026 (26 Mordad 1405) for a 14th consecutive month, while the five-year LPR, the reference rate for mortgages, was also held at 3.5 percent, a decision fully in line with market expectations. According to Trading Economics, citing the People's Bank of China, the move reflects Chinese policymakers' caution over the fallout from the war in West Asia on the domestic economy, as China's GDP growth in the second quarter slowed to its lowest level since the fourth quarter of 2022. The report said price pressure on Chinese consumers and producers persists amid higher energy costs and supply chain disruption linked to the West Asia crisis, yuan lending in June rose from May but grew more slowly than a year earlier, and housing prices continued their decline in China's property sector in June.
Trading Economics, citing People's Bank of China
$7.5 Billion in Oil Revenue Reached Iran's Central Bank in First Four Months of the Year, 1.5 Times Last Year's Pace
According to Donya-e-Eqtesad, published Thursday, August 20, 2026 (29 Mordad 1405), Iran's central bank received about $7.5 billion in oil sale revenue in the first four months of the Iranian year 1405, roughly 1.5 times the amount for the same period last year. The central bank had earlier built up about $4.5 billion in additional foreign currency reserves during the recent war. Iranian economic officials say these resources, together with other foreign currency income, can cover the country's essential import needs through the first ten months of the year. Under three scenarios in the report, based on an assumed oil price of $80 a barrel, daily exports of 500,000 barrels would generate about $14.6 billion in annual gross revenue, 1 million barrels about $29.2 billion, and 1.5 million barrels about $43.8 billion, figures the report says depend on this year's political conditions and trade restrictions.
Donya-e-Eqtesad
Preferential Currency for Medicine Not Removed, Food and Drug Organization Denies Broad Price Hikes
Mohammad Hashemi, spokesperson for Iran's Food and Drug Organization, said on Thursday, August 20, 2026 (29 Mordad 1405) that the preferential currency allocated for medicine has not been removed, and that a change in the rate for some pharmaceutical intermediate materials does not mean broad price increases for medicines. According to Donya-e-Eqtesad, he stressed that the Health Ministry's policy remains focused on preventing the financial pressure of currency fluctuations from being passed on to patients. The comments come after months of rising free-market dollar rates that had fueled concern among patients and industry figures about the fate of the preferential currency for medicine and the possibility of rising drug prices.
Donya-e-Eqtesad
Fed: Rate Hike on the Table if Inflation Fails to Cool
According to the minutes of the US Federal Reserve's July meeting, released on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 (28 Mordad 1405), most Fed officials supported raising interest rates if inflation fails to cool. According to Arzdigital, three members of the Federal Open Market Committee, Beth Hammack, Neel Kashkari and Lorie Logan, dissented against holding rates steady at that meeting and called for an immediate quarter point hike. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh said the September rate decision will depend on developments in the Middle East and two more inflation reports. Markets now expect one to two rate hikes by the end of 2026, the report said, reversing earlier expectations of rate cuts. The main driver of the shift is described as the energy price shock stemming from tensions with Iran, which has changed the market's outlook from rate cuts to hikes.
Arzdigital
Tehran's free-market dollar enters the 189,000-toman channel, up nearly 1 percent in a day
Tehran's free-market US dollar rate crossed into the 189,000-toman channel on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 (28 Mordad 1405). According to price tracker AlanChand, the dollar reached 189,900 tomans in the 15:45 Tehran time update, up 1,700 tomans, or 0.90 percent, from yesterday's 188,200 tomans. The currency's 24-hour range was between 186,500 and 189,900 tomans, and it is up about 1.44 percent from a week earlier. The rise came alongside heightened regional tensions, including the United Arab Emirates' suspension of trade and financial ties with Iran early Wednesday. The Gold and Currency Information Network (TGJU.org) also recorded the dollar in a similar range, around 189,200 tomans, during the same hours.
AlanChand
Free Market Dollar Tops 188,000 Tomans in Tehran as Trump's Threats Intensify
According to Ecoiran, Tehran's currency and gold market climbed on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 (27 Mordad 1405), with the free market dollar crossing 188,000 tomans, a rise the outlet linked to intensifying threats from Donald Trump and Iran's own position. Live rates tracked by tgju.org put the dollar at 1,870,100 rials (187,010 tomans) at 19:59 Tehran time that day, up 5,100 rials (0.27 percent) from the previous day. The Emami gold coin's premium stayed near zero, which Ecoiran said shows the rally has not yet turned speculative.
EcoIran
UAE Suspends Trade and Financial Relations With Iran Until Further Notice
The United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement in the early hours of Wednesday, August 19, 2026 (28 Mordad 1405) that all trade activity, economic relations and financial transactions with Iran are suspended until further notice. According to Khabar Online, citing ISNA, the decision came hours after the UAE's Ministry of Defense claimed it had detected two Iranian ballistic missiles, which the ministry said had targeted maritime traffic and were not deliberately fired at the UAE. Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, rejected and denied the claim. The Al Alam news network also reported that the allegation of an Iranian missile attack on the UAE was untrue, noting that during the current war, Iran has publicly claimed responsibility whenever it has taken action. The developments follow an earlier UAE Defense Ministry warning that it had intercepted a missile threat over Dubai's skies on the evening of Tuesday, August 18 (27 Mordad).
Khabar Online, citing ISNA
Japan's Spring Growth Falls Short of Forecasts as the Yen Sits Near a 40 Year Low
Official data from Japan's Cabinet Office showed the economy grew 0.3 percent quarter on quarter in the April to June 2026 period, down from 0.5 percent growth in the prior quarter and below the 0.5 percent growth analysts had forecast, Al Jazeera reported. It was the third consecutive quarter of expansion, but annualized growth came in at 1.1 percent, well below the 1.67 percent annualized growth a survey of 37 economists by the Japan Center for Economic Research (JCER) had projected. Private consumption was flat while capital expenditure fell 1.2 percent quarter on quarter (4.6 percent annualized), even as net exports contributed 0.5 percentage points to growth and domestic demand subtracted 0.2 percentage points. Norihiro Yamaguchi, lead Japan economist at Oxford Economics, said he expects growth to stay sluggish in the second half of 2026, partly because of rising energy costs stemming from the fallout of the United States-Israel war on Iran, given Japan imports nearly all of its crude oil. Al Jazeera also reported that the Japanese yen hit a 40 year low against the dollar last month, and the Bank of Japan, which raised its policy rate to 1 percent in June, its highest in more than three decades, will hold its next policy meeting on September 17 and 18.
Al Jazeera
Central Bank Accepts Only 12.4 Percent of Banks' Requests in 20th Open Market Operation
In its 20th open market operation, held on 26 Mordad 1405 (August 17, 2026), Iran's central bank saw banks request a combined 483.12 trillion tomans in funding, but approved only 60 trillion tomans of that, an acceptance rate of about 12.4 percent, according to Donya-e-Eqtesad. In the previous week's operation, the central bank had also approved 60 trillion tomans, but bank demand had been lower, meaning this week's acceptance ratio fell. Part of banks' unmet funding needs shifted to the overnight market, where the yield to maturity stands at 24 percent, compared with the 23 percent open market rate. Banks drew between 98 and 117 trillion tomans from the overnight market during this period. By comparison, in the year's first open market operation on 17 Farvardin 1405, held under wartime conditions, the central bank had approved all of banks' requests. Donya-e-Eqtesad said the trend signals the central bank moving toward a tighter monetary policy stance to control liquidity growth and curb inflation.
Donya-e-Eqtesad
CBI Governor Calls for Linking BRICS Payment Networks and Wider Use of National Currencies at Jaipur Meeting
Abdolnaser Hemmati, governor of the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran (CBI), told a meeting of BRICS finance ministers and central bank governors in Jaipur, India, reported by Boursenews on Monday, 17 August 2026 (26 Mordad 1405), that the bloc needs a dedicated BRICS financial corridor and linked national payment networks among member states. He said connecting payment networks and expanding the use of national currencies could reduce reliance on financial channels outside BRICS and lower the cost and risk of transactions. Hemmati added that Iran's central bank has taken part in BRICS working groups on cross border payments, financial technology and sustainable finance since joining the bloc, and is ready to help draft a roadmap for linking members' payment systems and to pursue membership in the New Development Bank.
Boursenews
In Tehran Trading Today, the Dollar, Euro and UAE Dirham All Rise
According to Donya-e-Eqtesad, in Tehran's currency market today, Monday, 26 Mordad 1405 (August 17, 2026), the free market dollar rose from the previous day to 187,130 tomans, while the hawala dollar rate rose from 155,428 to 155,737 tomans. The free market euro rose to 216,980 tomans and the UAE dirham's free market rate rose to 50,650 tomans, even as the hawala euro rate edged down slightly, from 179,793 to 179,777 tomans. The British pound rose to 253,780 tomans, and the Turkish lira traded higher at around 3,910 tomans.
Donya-e-Eqtesad
Hemmati Calls for Faster Release of Iran's Frozen Currency Reserves at Iraq's Central Bank
According to Ecoiran, citing Tasnim, Abdolnasser Hemmati, governor of the Central Bank of Iran, stressed the need to speed up the removal of banking obstacles and implement mechanisms for accessing Iran's currency reserves held in Iraq's banking system, at a meeting on Monday, 26 Mordad 1405 (August 17, 2026), with his Iraqi counterpart, Nazar Naser Hussein. Hemmati also called for resolving Iran's outstanding claims against the Iraqi government and easing banking procedures for Iranian economic operators. Iraq's central bank governor welcomed the expansion of economic ties between the two countries at the meeting and emphasized using shared capacities to boost financial cooperation. Hemmati concluded the meeting by inviting his Iraqi counterpart on an official visit to Tehran; the two sides also discussed issues facing Iranian traders and exporters active in Iraq.
Ecoiran, citing Tasnim
Free Market Dollar in Tehran Falls 1,300 Tomans to 186,000 Tomans
Tehran's currency and gold markets fell on Sunday, August 16, 2026 (25 Mordad 1405). According to Ecoiran, the free market US dollar dropped 1,300 tomans, about 0.7 percent, from 187,300 tomans the previous day to 186,000 tomans, while Tether fell 1,000 tomans to 185,700 tomans. By contrast, the official Currency Exchange Center's remittance dollar rose 265 tomans to 155,428 tomans, widening the gap with the free market rate to about 30,572 tomans. The euro fell 950 tomans to 215,700 tomans and the UAE dirham dropped 500 tomans, about 1 percent, to 50,400 tomans. In the coin market, the Emami gold coin fell 800,000 tomans to 189.2 million tomans, with its premium over intrinsic value narrowing to negative 1.4 percent. Melted gold fell 160,000 tomans to 82.55 million tomans. The global spot gold price was little changed near 4,377 dollars an ounce. Ecoiran cited developments around the Strait of Hormuz, the government's expected decision within 10 to 15 days on gasoline distribution and pricing, and the central bank governor's trip to Iraq to expand banking cooperation as factors influencing today's trading.
EcoIran
Free Market Dollar Rate Falls in Tehran Today
According to Donya-e-Eqtesad, the free market dollar rate in Tehran fell from the previous day on Sunday, 25 Mordad 1405 (August 16, 2026), reaching 186,640 tomans. The free market euro also eased, to 215,930 tomans, while the UAE dirham stood at 50,800 tomans and the British pound at 252,550 tomans in the free market. By contrast, the official transfer rate at Iran's Currency and Gold Exchange Center rose from 155,163 to 155,428 tomans. Per Sahmino's own market data, the free market dollar was also trading around 1,863,000 rials (186,300 tomans) in mid session today, likewise down from the previous day.
Donya-e-Eqtesad
US and Canada Near Tariff Deal Ahead of Wednesday Deadline
According to Iran's official news agency IRNA, carried by Donya-e-Eqtesad on Saturday, August 15, 2026 (24 Mordad 1405), the United States and Canada are trying to reach a deal before the Wednesday morning deadline that would avert 50 percent tariffs from Donald Trump's administration on some Canadian goods, including hockey sticks and cement. According to the Washington Post, cited in the same report, details have not been finalized, but the two sides have moved close to a general framework that could include Canadian tariff concessions along with commitments on energy, defense cooperation and critical minerals supply. The report said that in exchange, the US would halt new tariffs known as "Section 338" and reduce existing tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum; the Section 338 tariffs were set to apply to about 5 percent of Canada's 382 billion dollars in exports to the US. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had previously said that if the new tariffs took effect, all retaliatory options would be on the table.
Donya-e-Eqtesad, citing IRNA and The Washington Post
Fitch Forecasts US Government Debt to Exceed 120% of GDP by 2028
According to Bourse News, credit rating agency Fitch said in a report that the US government's debt burden continues to rise and will reach 123 percent of GDP by the end of 2028, up from about 117 percent at the end of 2025. Fitch said this level is more than double the average for countries rated "AA" and that the US government has not taken meaningful action to address its large fiscal deficits. The report said the US general government deficit is projected to reach 7.4 percent of GDP in 2026 and remain there in 2027, the highest among "AA"-rated sovereigns. Fitch estimated the US will hit its statutory debt ceiling of $41.1 trillion by mid-2027, but affirmed the country's long-term foreign-currency issuer rating at "AA+" with a stable outlook.
Bourse News, citing Fitch Ratings
Tehran's Free Market Dollar Rises to 187,120 Tomans Today; Gold Also Turns Higher
According to Donya-e-Eqtesad, Tehran's free market dollar rate rose from the previous day on Saturday, August 15, 2026 (24 Mordad 1405), reaching 187,120 tomans. The outlet separately reported that the exchange center's dollar rate also rose from the day before and that gold prices turned higher, a reversal from the morning's decline in gold and coin prices previously reported by the Tehran Gold and Jewelry Union via Ecoiran. Live data from Alanchand, updated at 11:35 a.m. Tehran time today, showed the free market dollar trading at a buy rate of 185,350 tomans and a sell rate of 187,200 tomans, consistent with the figure reported by Donya-e-Eqtesad.
Donya-e-Eqtesad
US Budget Deficit Jumped 48 Percent in July to a Five Year High
The US Treasury Department said on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 (21 Mordad 1405), according to Bourse News, that the federal budget deficit reached 432.3 billion dollars in July, about 48 percent higher than a year earlier and the largest monthly shortfall since March 2021. The report said a sharp rise in Medicare program costs and continued pressure from federal debt interest payments were the main drivers; Medicare spending reached 174 billion dollars in July, up from 103 billion dollars in June. The cumulative deficit for the first ten months of the current fiscal year reached nearly 1.8 trillion dollars, exceeding the total for the same period in 2025. Net interest costs on US debt over the same period reached 931 billion dollars, compared with 1.01 trillion dollars a year earlier. Refunds of tariffs the US Supreme Court had ruled unlawful added another 33 billion dollars to July's budget pressure.
Bourse News
Turkey's Central Bank Governor Raises This Year's Inflation Forecast
Fatih Karahan, governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkiye (TCMB), raised the country's forecast for year end inflation in the current calendar year from the bank's previous estimate, speaking at the release of its third quarter 2026 Inflation Report in Istanbul on Thursday, August 13, 2026 (22 Mordad 1405), according to Bourse News. He said the upward revision reflects a higher assumed pass through of import prices to the Turkish lira, driven by moves in diesel, natural gas and other commodity prices. Karahan said inflation's pace of increase has slowed in recent months under the bank's tight monetary policy stance, but the bank expects the rate to accelerate again in coming months. He kept the bank's forecasts for year end 2027 inflation at 15 percent and 2028 at 9 percent unchanged. Official data show Turkey's monthly consumer inflation reached 1.78 percent in August (Mordad), while annual inflation eased slightly to 31.75 percent. The TCMB held its policy rate unchanged at 37 percent last month for a fourth consecutive meeting.
Bourse News
Yen Pulls Back From 40 Year Low After Joint US Japan Intervention
According to Al Jazeera, in a report published Friday, August 14, 2026 (23 Mordad 1405), the United States and Japan staged a coordinated intervention last week to halt the yen's slide after the currency fell to a 40 year low against the dollar. The intervention began on July 31 (9 Mordad), when the US Treasury started selling euros to buy yen while Japanese authorities bought yen simultaneously. The yen, which had fallen to 163 against the dollar for the first time since 1986, recovered to 157 to the dollar by Wednesday, August 12 (21 Mordad). Al Jazeera noted the US last staged a joint currency intervention with Japan in 2011, following the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. ING global head of markets Chris Turner told Al Jazeera that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's mix of growth focused, fiscally loose and monetarily loose policies has weakened the yen and created an inflation problem. The report said the yen's weakness, rooted in Japan's decades long economic stagnation and compounded by new pressure from the US Israel war on Iran, has raised import costs for Japanese households.
Al Jazeera
Goldman Sachs Vice Chairman Backs Fed's Decision to Hold Rates Steady in July
Robert Kaplan, Goldman Sachs vice chairman and former president of the Dallas Federal Reserve, said in a Bloomberg Television interview broadcast Wednesday, August 12, 2026 (21 Mordad 1405), that he backed the Federal Reserve's decision to hold interest rates at 3.50 to 3.75 percent in July, a decision made on a 9 to 3 vote of the Federal Open Market Committee. He said policymakers should review fresh inflation and labor market data without a predetermined stance ahead of the September 15 and 16 meeting. According to Arzdigital, Kaplan pointed to softer US inflation data, with the July consumer price index up 0.1 percent month on month, bringing annual inflation down to 3.4 percent from 3.5 percent. He added that tariffs, labor market constraints, elevated oil prices and AI related investment could keep inflationary pressure elevated in the near term. Prediction market data showed traders pricing in about a 67 percent chance the Fed holds rates steady at the September meeting.
Arzdigital
Central Bank of Iraq Disbursed Nearly $3.2 Billion Under Its Four Trillion Dinar Lending Initiative in 2025
The Central Bank of Iraq said on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 (21 Mordad 1405), according to Shafaq News, that loans issued under its four trillion dinar lending initiative reached about 4.195 trillion dinars ($3.2 billion) in 2025, covering investment projects and personal financing. Large projects worth more than one billion dinars ($763,000) received the largest share, at about 2.211 trillion dinars ($1.69 billion), while small project loans totaled about 249.6 billion dinars ($190.5 million). The report said financing for large projects went mainly to the commercial and industrial sectors, while small business loans were spread across services, industry, agriculture and trade. The initiative also disbursed 5.6 billion dinars ($4.27 million) in concessional personal loans. Earlier this month, the central bank said Iraq's private sector held nearly 65 percent of total outstanding bank credit as of the end of May 2026.
Shafaq News
Richmond Fed President Barkin: Whether a Rate Hike Is Needed for the Inflation Target Remains an Open Question
Tom Barkin, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, said on Thursday, August 13, 2026 (22 Mordad 1405), in remarks in Greenville, South Carolina, reported by Reuters, that it remains unclear whether the US Federal Reserve will need to raise interest rates to bring inflation back to its 2 percent target. He cited several reasons to think price pressures could ease on their own. The comments came a day after US producer price index data showed annual producer inflation eased to 4.7 percent in July, down from 5.5 percent in June. The Fed's policy rate is a key variable driving the dollar and global gold, both of which anchor domestic dollar and gold pricing in Iran's market.
Reuters, citing Reuters, via Kitco News
Central Bank of Iraq's Reserves Fall Nearly $22 Billion Since Start of 2026 to $77.8 Billion
Manar Al Obaidi, head of the Future Iraq Foundation for Economic Studies and Consultancy, said on Thursday, August 13, 2026 (22 Mordad 1405), based on operational and banking data, that the Central Bank of Iraq's official reserves have fallen to 102 trillion dinars (about $77.8 billion), down from 130 trillion dinars (about $99.2 billion) at the start of 2026. According to Shafaq News, the central bank lost about 10.3 trillion dinars (roughly $7.9 billion) in foreign currency and banking reserves in July alone. By contrast, the central bank's net claims on the government jumped sharply to 66.6 trillion dinars (about $50.8 billion), up from 35 trillion dinars (about $26.7 billion) at the start of 2025. The trend comes as Iraq's oil exports, the government's main revenue source, have been hit by the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
Shafaq News
US and Japan Carry Out Coordinated Currency Intervention to Halt the Yen's Slide
The United States and Japan carried out a coordinated currency intervention last week to halt the yen's slide, after the currency fell to a 40 year low against the US dollar. According to Al Jazeera, reporting Thursday, August 13, 2026 (22 Mordad 1405), the intervention began on July 31 (9 Mordad) when the US Treasury sold euros to buy yen while Japanese authorities simultaneously bought yen. The yen, which had fallen as far as 163 to the dollar, recovered to 157 to the dollar by Wednesday, August 12 (21 Mordad). Market experts told Al Jazeera that Washington's main concern is the risk of Japan selling large quantities of US Treasury securities to raise funds needed to defend the yen, a move that could push up US interest rates. Japan's holdings of US Treasuries stood at 1.114 trillion dollars as of May. The last time the US intervened to support the yen was in 2011, following the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
Al Jazeera
Hemmati Discusses Monetary Cooperation With South Africa's Central Bank Governor on Sidelines of BRICS Meeting in India
Abdolnasser Hemmati, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, who traveled to India to attend the BRICS finance ministers and central bank governors' meeting, met and held talks with South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago on the sidelines of the gathering on Thursday, August 13, 2026 (22 Mordad 1405). According to the Central Bank of Iran's website, as carried by Donya-e-Eqtesad, the two discussed the potential for expanding monetary and banking cooperation between the two countries and ways to facilitate trade transactions and strengthen ties between their banking institutions. Hemmati had earlier met, on Wednesday, August 12 (21 Mordad), with his Indian counterpart Sanjay Malhotra and with Dilma Rousseff, president of the New Development Bank (NDB).
Donya-e-Eqtesad, citing the Central Bank of Iran
Dollar Rebounds From One Month Low in Tehran's Free Market, Tops 187,000 Tomans
According to Khabaronline, the dollar in Tehran's free market reached 187,800 tomans (1,878,000 rials) on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 (21 Mordad 1405). Tgju.org reported this level was up 1.19 percent from the prior day (Tuesday, 20 Mordad) and up 3.76 percent over the past month, a marked rebound from this week's one month low of about 183,000 tomans recorded on Monday, August 10 (19 Mordad). The rebound coincided with a rise in the global gold price and a jump in the Emami gold coin's premium, and came after the dollar's five day slide, the longest losing streak of the year, had earlier been attributed to speculation over easing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Tgju.org's report noted that over the same one month period, the gold coin outperformed the dollar, rising 7.04 percent.
Khabar Online
Central Bank Governor: Iran to Join BRICS New Development Bank Soon
Abdolnasser Hemmati, governor of the Central Bank of Iran, said in the early hours of Wednesday, August 12, 2026 (21 Mordad 1405), that Iran will soon join the BRICS New Development Bank, calling it the bloc's most important achievement. He said monetary, banking and digital economy cooperation between Iran and India has already begun, and that BRICS summits offer an important opportunity to meet officials from member states with which Iran conducts the bulk of its monetary and banking exchanges. Hemmati added that Iran and other BRICS members are seeking to expand bilateral and trilateral monetary cooperation based on national currencies. The remarks came as Iran, under US sanctions, seeks to develop alternative financial and banking channels with its trading partners.
Donya-e-Eqtesad
Global Gold Outpaces Free-Market Dollar by 5 Percent Over the Week; Tehran's Emami Coin Reaches 189 Million Tomans
According to Ecoiran, Tehran's gold and currency market rose on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 (20 Mordad 1405), driven by both political headlines around the Strait of Hormuz and a rally in the global gold price. The free-market dollar rose 1,700 tomans (0.92 percent) from the previous day to 187,500 tomans, and the euro gained 1.31 percent to 216,300 tomans. Globally, spot gold rose 1.5 percent to $4,396 an ounce, and that move, combined with the higher domestic dollar rate, pushed Tehran's 18 karat gold up 1.54 percent to 19,017,000 tomans and the Emami gold coin up 1.39 percent to 189,100,000 tomans, even as the Emami coin's premium over intrinsic value stood at negative 2.5 percent. In Ecoiran's review of the week's performance through the same day, global spot gold's 4.87 percent gain was the best return among gold and currency markets, while the free-market dollar fell 0.37 percent and USDT-based rates fell 0.69 percent over the same period, indicating the global ounce price, not the exchange rate, was the main driver behind this week's rise in domestic gold.
Ecoiran
Goldman Sachs: Fed to Hold Rates Steady This Year, Against Markets' Over 80 Percent Pricing for a Hike
According to Ecoiran, Goldman Sachs chief US economist David Mericle said in an analysis published by Tuesday, August 11, 2026 (20 Mordad 1405) that the bank continues to believe the US Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady for the rest of this calendar year, even as the FedWatch tool shows markets now pricing an over 80 percent probability of at least one rate hike by year end. Mericle said June inflation data showed a marked easing in price pressures, and if core inflation continues its downward trend, another rate increase will not be needed. He added that Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's tone after the central bank's latest meeting was milder than expected. The analysis comes as the recent jump in oil prices has left part of the market concerned about a revival of inflationary pressure and the need for a rate increase.
Ecoiran
Tehran Dollar Jumps 1.1 Percent, Ending Five Day Slide as Gold and Coin Follow Higher
According to Bourse News, the free market dollar rate table for Tehran was updated on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 (20 Mordad 1405). Concurrent data from TGJU showed the rate up 2,105 tomans from the previous day to 187,705 tomans, a gain of more than 1.1 percent that took the day's high to 187,820 tomans. Data from Alanchand recorded the dollar's sell rate at about 187,450 tomans over the same window. The jump halted the dollar's five day decline, which began the previous Wednesday and had pushed the rate to a one month low. At the same time, Tehran's 18 karat gold rose 1.41 percent to 19,074,000 tomans and the Emami coin gained 1.33 percent to 188,990,000 tomans, even as global spot gold eased 0.63 percent to $4,361 an ounce over the same period.
Bourse News
Tehran's Free Market Dollar Hits Monthly Low Monday, Fifth Straight Day of Declines
Tehran's free market US dollar rate posted its fifth straight daily decline on Monday, 19 Mordad 1405 (10 August 2026), reaching a one-month low; according to Donya-e-Eqtesad, this is the longest losing streak of the year, since the previous longest run of declines had been four consecutive days. In Monday's trading, quoted selling rates for a US dollar banknote ranged from 181,500 to 184,500 tomans, with 183,000 tomans both the market midpoint and the most frequently quoted rate. Donya-e-Eqtesad reported that the decline began alongside growing speculation about a possible joint Iran Oman statement on a mechanism for commercial ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz; market participants also cited continued dollar supply from a market maker in the spot market as a factor capping the rate. Alongside the dollar's fall, Tehran's domestic gold market eased slightly: the new design Bahar Azadi coin traded at midday Monday at 186,150,000 tomans, down 150,000 tomans from Sunday. Globally, gold held above $4,300 an ounce; weaker than expected US jobs data cut the priced in odds of a 25 basis point Federal Reserve rate hike at the September meeting to about 44 percent, down from about 67 percent a week earlier. Brent crude rose above $84 a barrel on Monday, its fourth consecutive rising session, with continued uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz remaining a key support for oil prices.
Donya-e-Eqtesad
Dollar Strengthens in Baghdad and Erbil Monday, Reaching 153,000 Dinars per 100 Dollars
According to Shafaq News, the US dollar strengthened in Iraq by the end of Monday's trading session, August 10, 2026 (19 Mordad 1405), reaching about 152,950 dinars per 100 dollars at Baghdad's Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya exchanges, up from the morning session's rate of 152,500 dinars. In Baghdad exchange shops, the dollar sold for 153,500 dinars and was bought for 152,500 dinars. In Erbil, the selling price stood at 152,800 dinars and the buying price at 152,750 dinars per 100 dollars. The rise continues the dollar's strengthening trend in the Iraqi market in recent days.
Shafaq News
Turkey's Annual Inflation Eases to 31.75 Percent in July
Turkey's annual inflation rate eased to 31.75 percent in July 2026, down from 32.11 percent in June, according to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) as published by Trading Economics. Monthly inflation in July was 1.78 percent, up from 0.99 percent the previous month. Core inflation, which excludes volatile items, ticked up to 29.91 percent. Food prices remained the fastest-rising category, up 37.53 percent year on year. Turkey's central bank (TCMB) has held its policy rate steady at 37 percent over recent consecutive meetings and has warned that the recent surge in energy prices, driven by the regional war, is adding to underlying inflationary pressure. The Turkish lira, which has repeatedly hit fresh record lows against the dollar in recent weeks, traded around 47.7 per dollar on Monday.
Trading Economics, citing TUIK
South Korea's Current Account Surplus Hits Record $49.73 Billion in June on Chip Exports
According to Bank of Korea data published by Trading Economics on Monday, 19 Mordad 1405 (August 10, 2026), South Korea's current account surplus hit a record 49.73 billion dollars in June 2026, sharply up from 38.61 billion dollars in May. The goods account surplus rose to 47.89 billion dollars, as exports surged 84.5 percent year on year to 112.37 billion dollars, outpacing a 38.6 percent rise in imports to 64.48 billion dollars. The main driver was robust global demand for semiconductors, particularly for AI applications. South Korea's current account surplus for the first half of 2026 totaled 191.01 billion dollars, compared with 47.87 billion dollars in the same period of 2025.
Trading Economics (بر پایه دادههای بانک مرکزی کره جنوبی)
Free Market Dollar in Tehran Falls to 185,600 Tomans on Monday, 19 Mordad
According to Khabaronline, the free market dollar in Tehran reached 185,600 tomans on Monday, 19 Mordad 1405 (August 10, 2026), while the euro was priced at 214,530 tomans. The figure extends the previous day's decline: the free market dollar had already fallen to 185,910 tomans on Sunday, 18 Mordad, according to Donya e Eqtesad, losing the 186,000 toman level that same day. Sahmino's own price data confirms a roughly 3,000 toman (0.16 percent) drop in the negotiated dollar rate through the close of Sunday, 18 Mordad trading (19:59 Tehran time). Meanwhile, the official exchange center dollar rate rose 0.31 percent on Monday to 1,549,310 rials.
Khabaronline
Dollar Strengthens Against the Iraqi Dinar in Baghdad and Erbil on Sunday, Reaching 152,250 Dinars per 100 Dollars
According to Shafaq News, the US dollar strengthened in Iraq by the end of Sunday's trading session on August 9, 2026 (18 Mordad 1405). Per the outlet's market survey, the dollar traded at 152,250 dinars per 100 dollars at Baghdad's Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya exchanges, up from the morning session's rate of 152,100 dinars. In Baghdad exchange shops, the dollar sold for 152,750 dinars and was bought for 151,750 dinars. In Erbil, the selling price stood at 152,350 dinars and the buying price at 152,300 dinars per 100 dollars.
Shafaq News
US and Japan Launch Coordinated Currency Intervention to Halt Yen's Slide
According to Al Jazeera on August 8, 2026 (17 Mordad 1405), the United States and Japan staged a coordinated currency intervention last week to halt the yen's slide, after the Japanese currency fell to 163 against the dollar, its lowest level in 40 years and the first time since 1986. The intervention began on July 31, with the US Treasury selling euros to buy yen while Japanese authorities also bought yen, lifting the currency to 157 to the dollar by Wednesday. Al Jazeera cited analysts who said the yen's weakness stems from decades of Japanese economic stagnation and the Bank of Japan's ultra low interest rate policy, compounded by new pressure from the US Israel war on Iran. The last joint US Japan intervention to defend the yen was in 2011, after the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Analysts said Washington's main concern is the risk that Japan could sell large amounts of US Treasury securities, of which it held 1.114 trillion dollars as of May 2026, to raise funds to keep defending the yen.
Al Jazeera
Tehran Dollar Slips to 185,900 Tomans as Gold and Coin Move the Other Way
Data tracked by Sahmino show the US dollar in Tehran's market fell 1.14 percent (2,120 tomans) to 185,900 tomans on the evening of Saturday, August 8, 2026 (17 Mordad 1405). According to Ecoiran, news that Iran, Oman and the United States were nearing a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was seen as significant for Tehran's currency market, pushing the dollar, tether and the UAE dirham lower. Gold and coin prices did not follow the same path: the Emami gold coin rose 0.81 percent to 186,525,000 tomans, and its premium over intrinsic value jumped about 32 percent to 3,553,000 tomans. Ecoiran attributed the divergence to a rise in the global gold price, which pushed the coin and gold market's intrinsic value above its trading price.
EcoIran
Central Bank Governor: At Most 40 Percent of Foreign Trade Could Move Overland Under a Naval Blockade
Abdolnaser Hemmati, governor of the Central Bank of Iran, said in an interview with IBENA published on Saturday, August 8, 2026 (17 Mordad 1405), marking National Journalists' Day, that in the event of a naval blockade closing the Strait of Hormuz, at best only 30 percent, and with maximum effort up to 40 percent, of Iran's foreign trade could be handled through overland and northern routes. He added that a naval blockade could generate inflationary expectations independent of its direct effect on imports and exports. Hemmati said the central bank's measures to manage the consequences of the war began on February 27, 2026 (9 Esfand 1404), and that alongside supplying foreign currency for essential goods and medicine, the bank has also had to set the country's monetary and credit policy. He attributed a significant part of wartime price increases to supply pressure and damage to some factories and petrochemical plants, and said the renewed acceleration of inflation that began again in Farvardin this year was halted in Khordad and Tir.
IBENA
Judiciary Spokesperson: Arrest Warrants Issued for 148 Defendants Among 700 Currency Violation Cases
Asghar Jahangir, spokesperson for Iran's judiciary, said on Saturday, August 8, 2026 (17 Mordad 1405), discussing the handling of currency violation cases, that so called "trusteeship" cases, failure to meet foreign currency obligations, and failure to repatriate export earnings are three separate categories that should not be conflated. He said 583 reports from the General Inspection Organization and 117 cases from other provinces have been referred to Tehran's Economic Crimes Prosecutor's Office, and that these 700 cases combined are now being handled across five branches. Jahangir said charges have so far been filed in 30 of the cases, with 28 people arrested, including 16 chief executives and 12 beneficiaries of business trade cards. He added that in 9 cases, misuse of trade cards for imports or exports has been established, and that in total the judiciary has issued arrest warrants for 148 defendants in currency violation cases. The remarks came amid a wider judicial push against currency market violations that has run alongside other regulatory action in Iran's foreign exchange market in recent months.
Donya-e-Eqtesad, citing Mehr News
Industry Ministry Expands Personal FX Import Quota to 3,414 Tariff Lines
According to Boursenews, in a report published Saturday, August 8, 2026 (17 Mordad 1405), Iran's Ministry of Industry, Mining and Trade made the personal foreign exchange quota known as self and others deposit available for 3,414 tariff codes. The report said the list mainly covers raw materials and intermediate goods needed by manufacturers, including inputs for the food and agriculture industry, chemicals and petrochemicals, pharmaceutical and hygiene raw materials, textiles and fibers, base metals and steel, aluminum and copper products, and industrial and electrical parts, equipment and machinery. The stated goal of the move is to ease the supply of inputs needed by domestic production and industrial units through this channel.
Bourse News
Tax Affairs Organization Issues New Directive on Currency Conversion Rate for Imports Without Currency Transfer
According to Boursenews, in a report published Saturday, August 8, 2026 (17 Mordad 1405), the head of Iran's Tax Affairs Organization issued a directive to tax offices nationwide setting out how to determine the currency conversion rate in tax reviews of imports made without a currency transfer. Under the directive, the primary basis for calculating an imported good's cost is the rate recorded in the taxpayer's supporting documents, such as contracts and remittance orders, and only when valid documents are missing does the National Iranian Exchange's selling rate on the relevant date apply. The directive also states that if the required currency is later supplied by the central bank or another authorized body after the goods arrive, the tax effects of that supply must be calculated at the time of the review.
Bourse News