The picture illustrates United States 100-dollar bills bearing the portrait of US statesman, inventor and diplomat Benjamin Franklin next to Iran's various Rial banknotes, bearing a portrait of Iran's late founder of Islamic Republic Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in Tehran on January 18, 2012. The Rial's plunge, to 18,000 to the dollar hit a record low on January 18, based on rates in black market trading that the government has tried to ban. AFP PHOTO/ATTA KENARE (Photo credit should read ATTA KENARE/AFP via

History repeats itself in Iran's currency exchange market

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The picture illustrates United States 100-dollar bills bearing the portrait of US statesman, inventor and diplomat Benjamin Franklin next to Iran's various Rial banknotes, bearing a portrait of Iran's late founder of Islamic Republic Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in Tehran on January 18, 2012. The Rial's plunge, to 18,000 to the dollar hit a record low on January 18, based on rates in black market trading that the government has tried to ban. AFP PHOTO/ATTA KENARE (Photo credit should read ATTA KENARE/AFP via

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