“Turkey is Iran’s biggest natural gas customer but Western sanctions prevent it from paying Tehran in dollars or euros. Iran is instead paid in Turkish lira – of limited value on international markets but ideal for buying gold in Turkey. Couriers carrying millions of dollars worth of gold bullion in their luggage have been flying from Istanbul to Dubai, where the gold is shipped to Iran, industry sources with knowledge of the business told Reuters last year. New sanctions are due to take effect in February and could include measures to try to curb the trade.”
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/04/turkey-gold-exports-idUSL5E9C466F20130104
Related posts:
Armed thieves steal planeload of Zurich-bound diamonds and gold
Foster children taken away from UK couple for political party membership
British prisoner: ‘People are dying’ in Guantanamo Bay from systemic torture
Egypt protesters tear-gassed as world concern mounts
Houston passes law requiring photographs, fingerprints of gold sellers
Startup Seeks To Replace College Debt With Tech Apprenticeships
Welfare States: Federal Grants Now a Third of State Revenue
Delay in Obamacare requirement puts onus on the honor system
Milwaukee Police Officer Richard Schoen punches woman, fired and then re-hired
Vietnam jails second dissident blogger in a week
Rumsfeld: Obama hasn’t justified Syria attack
French doctors stand trial for covering up deadly radiation overdoses
NYC not liable for processing fake deed allowing theft of woman’s home
American Automobile Glut? Unsold Cars Are Piling Up
Yahoo buys mobile newsreader app Summly from 17-year-old London kid for a seven-figure sum