1. IRAN CURRENT ISSUES

2. ISSUES FACING IRAN TODAY HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE POSSIBLE ELECTION FRAUD POVERTY NUCLEAR EFFORTS STRAIT OF HORMUZ

3. Human Rights Abuse Torture Harsh prison sentences Police brutality Press freedom is very limited Cruel death penalty

4. Possible Election Fraud In 2009, Ahmadinejad won the election with more than 60 percent of the vote tally Many protested the election results and claimed that Mir- Hossein Mousavi won There are 1259 names listed for the activists who were arrested, killed, or executed http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2009/jun/29/iran-election- dead-detained

5. Poverty Population below poverty line: 18% (2007 est.) High inflation is a major problem for the poor

6. Nuclear Efforts Started in 2000 Testing began in 2008 On November 22, 2011, major Western powers announcing coordinated sanctions aimed at Iran Recently, a number of Iranian nuclear scientists have been murdered mysteriously

7. Strait of Hormuz On December 27, 2011, Iran threatened to cut off oil supply from the Strait of Hormuz In response to nations such as the United States and China reducing oil purchases On January 9, 2012, Iran denied they ever tried to close the Strait of Hormuz