700,000 Toman Meat Offered in Tehran; Ministry of Agriculture: It’s for the 'Upper City'

The Ministry of Agriculture of Ebrahim Raisi's government has confirmed that reports regarding the sale of red meat at '700,000 Toman per kilogram' in certain areas of Tehran are accurate. The newspaper 'Donya-e-Eqtesad' reported today, Tuesday, January 16, quoting Alireza Payman-Pak, Deputy Minister of Agriculture for Trade and Market Regulation, who promised citizens a 'reduction in red meat prices.' However, in response to the question of how the price of lamb meat has reached '700,000 Toman,' he stated: 'The 700,000 Toman meat is for upper city stores, and the price of red meat is between 600,000 and 620,000 Toman.' Ali-Asghar Maleki, head of the 'Sheep Meat Union,' attributed the renewed increase in meat prices to a 'shortage of meat' in the market and stated that only by 'increasing imports' of this commodity could this trend be halted. He noted that 'there are not enough livestock in Iran,' which has allowed livestock producers to engage in 'price-setting'; a point also mentioned by the government’s Statistical Center, which reported a '29% decrease' in meat production in the country. The website 'Eco Iran' previously reported that according to the 2022 FAO data, the amount of red meat consumed in Iran was '6 kilograms.' This figure has been reported as 'less than 3 kilograms' for the current year, and this reduction is estimated to be one of the reasons for the price of red meat reaching 700,000 Toman per kilogram. The current government of the Islamic Republic has claimed since taking office in summer 2021 to be working to equalize the purchasing power of the lower deciles of society through a plan known as 'economic surgery' by liberalizing subsidies for certain items and removing the 4,200 Toman preferential currency. Despite promises from Ebrahim Raisi and senior members of his government to 'control inflation,' Iranian media have reported an 'increase in the share of food items' in the monthly wages of workers, stating that a worker supporting a family of four must spend about '65% of their income' to procure a basket of 'minimum food items.' This figure was about 49% in the year 1400. The supply of meat has decreased again, the hidden consequences of inflation; the real wages of workers have 'halved.' The widening gap between government promises and economic realities; media reports: officials speak of a 'different Iran.' The food security crisis in Iran; the average meat consumption in the bottom three deciles is 2 kilograms per year. The minimum New Year's gift for workers is 10.6 million Toman; the scent of gifts, the scent of poverty. A union official; the new year begins with the rising prices of legumes.