Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of Iran, takes a seat with his delegation during the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly September 26, 2012 at UN headquarters in New York. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's currency has fallen 16 percent in a single day to hit a record low against the U.S. dollar and other foreign currencies in street trading.
Street traders said Monday it reached 34,500 rials to the dollar. It was 29,500 rials on Sunday.
The collapse of the currency is a sign of the impact of Western sanctions imposed over Iran's nuclear program. The West suspects Iran is aiming to build nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies.
The fall came despite the country's inauguration last week of a new hard currency trading center to undercut the black market.
The current official rate is 12,260 rials to the dollar, but that is used only for special purposes such as importing food and medicine.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)