Iran’s economy, though still crippled by sanctions, has begun to improve as a new president and a nuclear accord with the West stabilize its currency and raise confidence, say economists and merchants here and abroad. Residents of this ancient trade hub say they are encouraged by the new administration’s economic policies and the prospect of a lifting of international sanctions in the coming years. Such sentiments have helped stabilize the volatile Iranian rial, which in turn has eased rising prices and spurred an uptick in informal trade, economists say. Shiraz, the heartland of Iran’s Persian identity, has been particularly hard-hit by sanctions. Its once-plentiful international tourists, who came to visit the nearby archaeological ruins of Persepolis and tombs of Iran’s most famous poets Hafez and Saadi, have dwindled to a trickle. Many Iranians are optimistic things will gradually improve. At his animal-feed factory here on the outskirts of […]