Crescent International
Following a week of protests over rising food prices as a result of run-away inflation, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced a 15-point program to ease people’s difficulties.
It announced a major expansion of its food coupon program to help ease pressure on consumers.
The aim of the comprehensive support program is to ensure food security, improve living conditions, and strengthen economic stability amid ongoing pressure.
President Masoud Pezeshkian presided over a videoconference meeting of his cabinet on January 4 to discuss the program.
Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani, representatives of relevant agencies and provincial governors also attended.
The president emphasized proper implementation of the program to ensure its benefits reach the people.
The Minister of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare, Ahmad Meidari had, a day earlier, announced expansion of the existing subsidies credit program nearly tripling it to 10 million rials per month.
The number of beneficiaries of the program will also rise from 67 million to more than 80 million people, covering nearly 92% of Iran’s population.
Speaking to state television, Meidari said both the monthly credit allocated to consumers for purchasing basic food items and the number of people eligible to receive the benefit will increase starting next week.
Since the program was originally planned to be launched in October, he said that individuals will receive a total credit of 40 million rials for their January allocation to compensate for the four-month delay.
Prices increased following the government’s decision to remove preferential hard-currency subsidies previously allocated to imports of basic goods.
They must now use their own foreign currency resources to bring in staple items.
This has increased demand for hard currency in the open market and contributed to higher prices.
The previous system whereby the government maintained different exchange rates for imports than the open market was being abused by some people inside the country as well as abroad.
It was important to close this loophole.
While in the near-future, this will result in higher food prices, the government’s increased subsidies will cushion people from its negative impact.
Its success will ultimately depend on proper implementation.
Attempts by Mossad and CIA agents to instigate rioting have been successfully thwarted.
In a New Year message on X, the former US Secretary of State and CIA Director Mike Pompeo evoked widespread contempt after applauding both Iranian protesters and “every Mossad agent walking beside them.” (@mikepompeo).
This was a clear admission that Mossad agents are involved in instigating riots in Iran.
The people have refused to fall into this trap.
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