Iran, Twitter, and Business: 16 People to Follow
Twitter is popular amongst pundits, analysts, journalists, and politicians as a means to share information and discuss the politics of Iran. But a smaller group of individuals, encompassing business reporters, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and trade officials, also use Twitter to discuss Iran from a commercial perspective. Following members of this group can help augment more traditional business intelligence practices, and ensure a critical awareness of key issues as they develop. By following the right people, one's Twitter feed can become a source of expertly-curated business news and insight that is always up-to-date.
Here are 16 key people to follow if you are interested in Iran’s commercial future.
The Nuclear Negotiations
These accounts offer their followers a great means to track the progress of the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1.
@AliVaez -Ali Vaez, International Crisis Group
ICG is the only organization to have significantly investigated sanctions rollback scenarios. Their August 2014 report on the nuclear agreements is testament to Vaez’s expertise and overall handle on the negotiations and its many issues.
@lrozen -Laura Rozen, Al Monitor
A tour-de-force on Twitter, Rozen has a knack for distilling the general mood of the nuclear negotiations. Her insights can help followers to stay one step ahead of key developments as the talks progress.
@FaghihiRohollah -Rohollah Faghihi, Entekhab News
On the Iranian side, Faghihi helpfully updates his followers with insightful translations of the key statements made by Iranian officials to the Iranian press. These statements indicate how the nuclear negotiations are being communicated to the domestic audience in Iran.
Sanctions Law and US Policy
Sanctions law is often misunderstood. These accounts can help business leaders trace legal and political risk.
@youbsanctioned -Sam Cutler, Ferrari and Associates
Cullis know the intricacies of US sanctions regulations and use Twitter to comment on news and developments related to Iran sanctions. He commonly identifies misinterpretations of sanctions law by business leaders, journalists, and even policymakers.
@TylerCullis -Tyler Cullis, NIAC
As a legal fellow for the National Iranian American Council, a group that has led advocacy in Washington around sensible application of Iran sanctions, Tyler’s research outlines the relationship between US legislation and the way sanctions are applied in the real world.
Iran Financial Markets
Iran’s financial markets are not widely covered in the usual business and financial press. These accounts demonstrate how Twitter can serve as an alternate source of business intelligence.
@aclIran -ACL
New to Twitter, ACL is one of just a handful of Iran-focused financial services companies with an international profile. Their access to high-quality market research ensures that followers will enjoy access to accurate, granular economic and commercial data.
@FirouzehAsia -Firouzeh Asia
A brokerage on the Tehran Stock Exchnage (TSE), Firouzeh is part of the Turquoise Capital Group, among the first organizations to begin introducing Iran’s securities markets to international investors several years ago. Also follow Turquoise partner Ramin Rabii (@RabiiRamin).
@bazaartehran -Bazaar Business
A news digest, Bazaar Business gathers together the day’s most important news from leading Iranian and international economic publications in one place, saving readers a heap of trouble.
@MortezaRFT -Morteza Ramezanpour, Financial Tribune
The stock market correspondent for Iran's only English-language economic daily, the Financial Tribune, Ramezanpor keeps a close eye on on the TSE.
International Business Reporters
These journalists cover Iran commercial matters for leading international publications. Their reporting drives the general interest in Iran as an emerging market and marks the “must know” developments in the commercial landscape.
@benoitfaucon -Benoit Faucon, The Wall Street Journal
Faucon’s reporting is energetic, and his widely shared account of Apple’s potential entry into the Iranian market demonstrates his knack for finding exciting stories.
@LadaneNasseri -Ladane Nasseri, Bloomberg News
With reporting across Bloomberg’s many quality news products, Nasseri’s contributions have been key to Bloomberg’s expanding coverage of Iran over the last year.
@Najmeh_Tehran -Najmeh Bozorgmehr, The Financial Times
As Tehran correspondent for the vaunted Financial Times, Bozorgmehr has a wide range, including political and human-interest stories. But her business reporting is most unique, with the excellent insight and sourcing one would expect from FT.
@a_merat -Arron Reza Merat, Economist Intelligence Unit
Formerly with The Economist magazine, Merat’s role at EIU reflects the preparations being made my leading market research firms to study Iran more closely and with individuals on the ground in Iran.
@amirpaivar -Amir Paivar, BBC Business News
BBC, with its Persian language service, is one of the few international news agencies with a significant viewership/readership in Iran. Paivar’s bilingual tweets reflect this unique reach.
Iran Startups
Perhaps nothing is more emblematic of the excitement around Iran’s commercial reopening than the media attention on the country’s nascent start-up scene. Unsurprisingly, some of the key start-up players are active of Twitter.
@avatech_ir –Avatech
Avatech is a Tehran-based start-up incubator backed by Iranian VC Sarava. Also follow founder Mohsen Malayeri (@malayeri)
@Startupir -Iran Startups
A startup community in Iran that hosts events around the country. Also follow co-founder Mobin Ranjbar (@MobinRanjbar).
Photo Credit: Bourse & Bazaar
