Iran's currency is at an all-time low, after falling by more than 21% in two weeks against the US dollar.
AAP reports the rial was traded at between 39,000 - 40,000 per US dollar on the open market on Saturday, down from about 33,000 two weeks ago.
It briefly dropped in late January to 37,000 per US dollar amid rumours that central bank head Mahmoud Bahmani could be sacked because of his failure to shore up the currency.
Iran is facing a growing shortage of foreign cash because of international sanctions over its nuclear programme.
The currency was traded at 12,000 in late 2011, prior to the introduction of tough Western sanctions on Iran's oil and banking sectors.
The official US dollar rate in Iran has been fixed for several months at 12,260 rials, but this is reserved for official government business. Parallel to the open market, another rate of 24,550 rials is reserved for a few companies importing food or other goods judged essential.
AAP reports the government has promised to take measures to support the rial but so far there is no sign of the pressure on the currency easing.
