Ahmadinejad discusses economic reform plan with senior experts; Tehran warns of hitting Tel Aviv; Iran test-fires long and medium-range surface-to-surface missiles
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    • Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad discussed the government’s economic reform plan with over 100 experts and urged them to stand in solidarity with the administration in the implementation of the plan. The plan, which was released in the previous month, calls for eliminating energy and bread subsidies, delivering funds directly to low-income families, and reforming the customs, tax, and insurance systems. With inflation close to 26 percent, the economists advised the administration to spend subsidies in a proper way, slow down the implementation of infrastructure projects, employ highly efficient economic advisors, tackle financial corruption, strengthen the private sector among other measures to revitalize the country’s ailing economy. Ahmadinejad on his part disputed allegations that his economic policy was unscientific and impractical1.

    In other developments, an aide to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of hitting Tel Aviv, US shipping in the Gulf and American interests around the world if Iran was attacked over its disputed nuclear activities. The aide, Shirazi, was a mid-level cleric and a representative of Ali Khamenei to the Revolutionary Guards. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mark Regev declined to comment on the warning2.

    Iran meanwhile test-fired 9 long and medium-range surface-to-surface missiles, including the upgraded version of the Shahab-3. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Air Force Commander Hossein Salami pointed out that the exercise was aimed at demonstrating the country’s might and perseverance against the enemies, who he charged of having threatened Iran with ‘harsh rhetoric.’ The missiles tested included the Zelzal and Fat’h, with ranges of 400 km and 170 km respectively. Iran has also threatened to close the Straits of Hormuz, through which about 40 percent of the global oil supplies moved, if attacked3.

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