Talking Points

Published November 8, 2012 5:00am ET



Did Iran ban foreign toilet paper?

A state-owned newspaper reports that the Iranian government is banning about 75 “luxury products,” including cars, cellphones and toilet paper, so the $4 billion spent on those items could be used to buy domestic products instead. It’s intended to bolster Iran’s economy, which is being choked by international sanctions. Iran produces many of the products anyway, but its citizens prefer the better-quality imports. Critics charge that the restrictions will lead to increased smuggling.

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