Iranian leaders’ main concern may be that Trump could empower Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to attack Iran’s nuclear sites, while further tightening US sanctions on its crucial oil industry.
The Iranian rial on Saturday hit a new all-time low against the US dollar amid uncertainty about Trump’s arrival in the White House on Jan 20.
The rial plunged to 820,500 to the dollar on the unofficial market, compared to 808,500 rials on Friday, according to Bonbast.com, which reports exchange rates. The bazar360.com website also said the dollar was being sold for about 820,500 rials.
Also facing an inflation rate officially put at about 35 per cent, Iranians seeking to shelter their savings have been buying dollars, other hard currencies, gold or cryptocurrencies, and the rial has dropped about 18 per cent in all since Trump was elected in November.
