May proved to be a critical month for Iran on many fronts. The keenly-awaited decision by the US on 17 May to extend sanctions relief on Tehran, followed by the re-election of pro-reform President Hassan Rohani on 19 May, and then Opec’s announcement that it was extending its output cuts until March 2018, will all play a seminal role in determining the country’s future economic progress.

Shunned by the international community for many years, Iran’s relationship with the outside world has long been fractious. (CONTINUED - 2290 WORDS)