One of the members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly criticized the economic crisis in Iran, stating, "If the gentlemen want to manage the country with this approach, they will undoubtedly lead the country and the people to the edge of the abyss." Mohammad Wahidi, in an interview with the news site Rouydad 24 published on Sunday, August 8, said that Ehsan Khandozi, the Minister of Economy, does not take responsibility for the collapse of the national currency. This parliament member questioned the Minister of Agriculture of Ebrahim Raisi's government regarding the rising prices of chicken and red meat, asking, "Mr. Minister, what actions have you taken regarding the commitments you made when you were given a vote of confidence in the parliament?" According to Mohammad Wahidi, the government is unable to meet the basic needs of the people, such as bread and meat, and "currently, there is no bread for people in many rural bakeries, and the supply of flour in villages is undergoing a wrong process." This parliament member acknowledged that less than 30% of the country's five-year development plan has been implemented. He also mentioned that regarding the 8% growth determined in the seventh development plan, the average growth over the last two previous administrations and the first two years of Raisi's government has been less than 1%, stating, "There is a limit to idealistic thinking." These statements come at a time when, according to the latest report from the Statistical Center, the inflation rate for food and drink in July was around 70%. Voice of America’s analysis of the report from the Statistical Center indicates the worsening economic conditions in rural communities in Iran, with an annual inflation rate for this sector in July close to 52%. Meanwhile, the annual inflation rate for urban residents was reported at 46.8%. According to this report, the inflation rate for food items in July was 67%. Among food items, the inflation for red meat and poultry leads with an 86% increase. Studies show that in the year leading up to July, the inflation rate for dairy products and eggs, which are among the most important daily consumables, was 71.5%. Another issue is the inflation of bread and cereals, which was accompanied by a 58.3% inflation rate, indicating a creeping increase in prices in this sector. Nevertheless, the Islamic Republic government insists that it has "controlled" inflation and that the trend of inflation rates is "decreasing."
A Parliament Member Criticizes the Raisi Government: They Are Driving the Country to the Brink
Mohammad Wahidi, a member of the Iranian Parliament, criticized the Raisi government's handling of the economy, claiming it is leading the country towards disaster. He highlighted the government's failure to meet basic needs and the alarming inflation rates affecting food prices. This situation underscores the growing economic discontent among the Iranian populace.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Mohammad Wahidi criticized the Raisi government's economic management, claiming it is leading Iran towards disaster, particularly highlighting the government's failure to address rising food prices and inflation. He pointed out the lack of basic necessities and the poor implementation of development plans.
- Inflation for food items reached 67%, with red meat and poultry seeing an 86% increase.
- Less than 30% of the country's five-year development plan has been implemented.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has been facing significant economic challenges, including high inflation and currency devaluation, exacerbated by international sanctions and mismanagement.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%