Iran's forex reserves above $80 bln - state tv
TEHRAN, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Iran's foreign exchange reserves amount to more than $80 billion, Iran's state Press TV station said on Tuesday, without giving further detail.
The figure was in line with one given in April. But world oil prices have fallen by around $100 a barrel since July and Iran and other major crude producers face declining export revenue from their hydrocarbon wealth.
"Central bank: Iran's forex reserves over $80 billion," the English-language satellite station said in a scrolling headline.
Central bank officials in the past said Iran was switching reserves into currencies other than the U.S. dollar because of U.S. and U.N. sanctions. They have also said the bank held some reserves in gold. But they have not usually given a breakdown.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government has been criticised for not saving more of the windfall oil revenue gains to prepare for tougher times, such as now, when crude prices have plunged below $48 a barrel.
The International Monetary Fund said in August that if the price of Iranian crude fell to $75 a barrel, Iran would face a current account deficit in the medium term that would be tough to ride out due to Tehran's financial isolation. (Writing by Fredrik Dahl; Editing by David Stamp)
