Gold markets on strike

Reportedly, the gold dealers in several cities such as Qazvin, Arak, and Mashhad have closed their stores in gold bazaars in protest at the enforcement of the value-added tax. The move comes after a strike in the Tehran gold market on Saturday on the same grounds. The dealers say the implementation of VAT will result in rise in gold price and this in turn will lead to a fall in the number of customers.
Even tombstone is imported from China
The Deputy Head of the Majlis Budget Planning Committee Mousalreza Servati has announced that the commerce minister has received admonition over the excessive import of unnecessary goods into the country. Servati has also said while some countries have imposed economic sanctions against Iran, the Commerce Ministry gives permission for the import of unnecessary goods such as Chinese-made tombstone and this is unacceptable.
Basijis surprised at distribution of Cyrus’s testament in their gathering
Copies of the testament of the Cyrus the Great have been distributed among Basijis in a recent gathering of Basij members in Yazd. Reportedly, the Basijis were shocked and protested at the move. The British Museum has recently loaned the Cyrus Cylinder to Iran and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited the exhibit where the artifact is on display. After the visit, Ahmadinejad highly praised the Cyrus.
Two major pro-reform parties dissolved
Judiciary spokesman Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejehi said Monday that a court had dissolved the Islamic Iran Participation Front and the Islamic Revolution Mujahedin Organization at the request of the Interior Ministry. Earlier this year, the Interior Ministry suspended both parties’ activities.
Political activist receives prison sentence
Reformist political activist and journalist Isa Saharkhiz has received a three-year prison sentence. Saharkhiz was the former head of the press department at the Culture Ministry during the Khatami administration. He has also been banned from engaging in political and journalistic activities for five years. Saharkhiz was convicted of propaganda campaign against the Islamic system.