A Member of Parliament: Cash Subsidy Should Be Increased to 2-3 Million Tomans

A member of parliament criticized the budget for the upcoming year, stating that cash subsidies should be set between 2 to 3 million tomans. If this bill is approved, anyone who paid 60 million tomans in taxes in the year 1402 would have to pay 100 million tomans in the following year. Mohammad Baqeri Benabi emphasized that the government has allocated 750 trillion tomans for targeted subsidies, but the sources and expenditures for these subsidies have not been transparently presented, making it unclear where the funding will come from and how it will be spent. This member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly stressed that targeted subsidies cannot be effectively managed with just 300 thousand tomans, and that a subsidy of over 2 to 3 million tomans should be considered. The budget for the year 1403 is currently under review in the parliament, facing significant criticism, particularly regarding tax increases. The website 'Tejarat News' has also examined the budget bill, noting that 'the first section of the budget bill carries strange numbers.' According to the website, the bill states that 'tax revenues will reach 1,122 trillion tomans, reflecting a 50% increase compared to the current year.' The news agency 'Mehr' has reacted to the 50% increase in tax revenues, reporting that 'next year's tax revenues will increase by nearly 50% compared to the current year, partly due to rising inflation in the country; however, the current year's inflation is reported to be around 30 to 40%, not 50%.' This increase comes at a time when experts believe that tax pressure will ultimately lead to higher prices for goods and services in Iran, exacerbating inflation and worsening living conditions. An economic expert noted that the monthly income of the middle class is decreasing. There is a proposal to set the dollar at 35,000 tomans for the 1403 budget, with Ahmad Alavi stating that this would intensify inflation and economic recession. The seventh development plan indicates that diesel will increase in price gradually starting in 1404. A trade official stated that meat prices have risen due to insufficient livestock. The reduction in supply and the rising cost of animal feed have made meat more expensive, with the price of lamb reaching half a million tomans. The gasoline crisis is expected to continue, with a forecast of importing 3 billion dollars worth of gasoline. The secretary of the Iranian Dairy Products Industry Association stated that people do not have the purchasing power for subsidized dairy products. The government's estimate indicates that the population is becoming poorer, with targeted subsidy resources expected to increase by 15%.