Iran Donates $1.5 Million for Tsunami Relief

The Jakarta Post reports that the Iranian government gave Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono a check for $1.5 million to help victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami. Officials emphasized that it's a donation and not a loan requiring repayment.

Although all help is surely welcome, it appears that Iran barely tapped into its petty cash fund. Notably, no statement has been issued thus far by Jan Egeland, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, assessing the Iranian donation on the "stingy scale." Since the U.S. was deemed stingy upon announcement of an initial contribution of $35 million, Egeland must be outraged at the Iranians. I'll just get myself a cup of coffee and wait for his venomous press release attacking Iran for being considerably less than stingy.

Presumably, just as he instructed the U.S., Egeland will tell Iran to raise taxes for tsunami relief. Of course, I may be waiting and drinking coffee for a long time before Egeland issues his chastisement of the Iranians, but there is a bright side. Starbucks has announced it will open 1,500 new stores worldwide by September, so there'll be lots of coffee available.