Ella 
Iran’s currency, the rial, experienced a momentous plunge to a record low against the dollar on the unofficial market following Tehran’s extensive missile and drone strike on Israel on Saturday night, intensifying tensions in the Middle East.
Around 10:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, the exchange rate stood at 705,000 rials / USD on the open market, as reported by data from the foreign exchange monitoring site Bonbast. Although the Iranian currency has since recovered some ground, the sharp decline underscores the escalating economic repercussions of geopolitical unrest.
This significant drop in the rial’s value comes in the wake of Iran’s deployment of a massive drone and missile offensive against Israel in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike that resulted in the deaths of several top Iranian commanders in Damascus earlier this month.
Israel reported identifying and neutralizing approximately 99% of the 300 “threats of various types” aimed at its territory during the Saturday attack, which U.S. President Joe Biden described as “unprecedented” and “brazen.”
Notably, this marks the first direct assault on Israel from Iranian territory, heightening the risk of further trade and diplomatic restrictions being imposed on Tehran.
The rial’s decline also reflects existing pressures exacerbated by skyrocketing inflation, fueled by enduring U.S. sanctions implemented during the administration of former President Donald Trump. These sanctions have significantly curtailed Tehran’s exports of vital commodities such as crude oil and oil products.
In response to the escalating situation, Israel has called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council, while President Biden has sought to convene the G7 on Sunday, underlining the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for diplomatic intervention to de-escalate tensions in the region.
