Iran

Country risk rating

HIGH RISK for entreprise

Economic risk
Business environment risk
Political risk
Commercial risk
Financing risk

Economic risk
Business environment risk
Political risk
Commercial risk
Financing risk

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GDP	USD191.72bn (World ranking 50, World Bank 2020)
Population	83.99mn (World ranking 18, World Bank 2020)
Form of state	Theocratic Republic
Head of government	Ebrahim RAÏSSI (President)
Next elections	2025

World’s second largest known natural gas reserves and fourth largest oil reserves, which will last over 100 years at current rates of extraction (according to the government)
Large domestic market
Large FX reserves, currently providing 9 months import cover.
Very low external debt obligations

Occasional conflict between the twin pillars of power – the government and the theocracy.
Imposition of sharp sanctions and secondary sanctions by the U.S. after Iran withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known commonly as the Iran nuclear deal. This has raised the already high level of geopolitical risk for the region (e.g. a more radical stance of Iran on Israel and Saudi Arabia)
Regional dynamics are negative. Neighbors include Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Syrian conflict and IS activities provide further uncertainties. Moreover, Israel is perceived as a security threat
Risk of domestic social unrest and a harsh response by the authorities
Very high exchange rate vulnerability. Black market rate is about 3-4 times above official rate
High double-digit inflation

Trade structure by destination/origin

(% of total, 2020)

Exports	Rank	Imports
China 26.3%	1	26.1% China
Iraq 12.9%	2	13.6% United Arab Emirates
Taiwan 12.0%	3	9.7% India
Turkey 6.4%	4	7.3% Turkey
India 6.4%	5	5.4% Germany

Trade structure by product

(% of total, 2020)

Exports	Rank	Imports
Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials 37.0%	1	9.8% Cereals and cereal preparations
Plastics in primary forms 9.0%	2	8.0% Road vehicles
Vegetables and fruits 8.3%	3	8.0% Other industrial machinery and parts
Organic chemicals 6.1%	4	5.9% Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, n.e.s.
Iron and steel 5.9%	5	4.5% Iron and steel