September 20-2013
Former Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi (photo) says he warned 2 1/2 years ago that sanctions were about to escalate dramatically, but no one in the government would listen to him and disparaged his analysis. He said he was effectively muzzled and “could not speak my mind even inside he country.” He said critics blew off his analysis, saying, “What kind of words are these? They [foreigners] cannot sanction our oil or our Central Bank. And, if they try to sanction our oil, the price will rise to $250.” Salehi did not identify who were the main voices rejecting his warnings.
