As Iran prepares for a fresh round of nuclear talks Monday, the country is facing an unprecedented tide of bad economic news, led by sharply falling petroleum exports that are expected to plummet further when new international sanctions kick in two weeks from now, diplomats and financial analysts say.
The economic woes, which already have stripped Iran’s currency of half its value in 10 months, are piling up at a fortuitous time as the Obama administration and its allies pressure Tehran to give up a sizable chunk of its enriched uranium stockpile.
