Criticism from a Parliament Member on 'Playing with Numbers' in Raisi's Government: Real Inflation is 120 Percent

A representative from Bostanabad in the Iranian Parliament has stated that the real inflation rate in the country is 120 percent, describing the government's claim of 40 percent inflation under Ebrahim Raisi as 'playing with numbers.' Gholamreza Noori Ghazaljeh, in an interview with the news website 'Rooidad 24' on Saturday, July 8, pointed to the rising cost of living and the shrinking family budgets, calling the claim of controlling inflation a 'product of the government's and officials' minds.' A member of the Internal Affairs and Councils Commission in Parliament emphasized that the criteria for controlling prices should be reflected in the rates of food items, car prices, housing rents, and household appliances, stating, 'There is no news of truth being expressed.' While economic experts have noted that the current inflation in Iran is unprecedented in the last eighty years, the Iran Chamber of Commerce announced the point inflation rate in Khordad (June) to be between 40 to 54 percent. Siamak Javadi, a professor at the University of Texas, recently reported on the history of economic data manipulation in various governments of the Islamic Republic of Iran in an interview with Voice of America. Recently, the economic news site EkoIran reported that the country's 'misery index' was about 55 percent last year. Some experts have deemed the government incapable of solving the inflation crisis, believing that the current economic problems stem from mismanagement, ineffective laws, and sanctions. Morteza Afghah, an economics professor, recently mentioned the main roots of inflation, including 'budget deficits, excessive government spending, and production issues,' emphasizing that this crisis will continue until sanctions and FATF issues are resolved. According to this economics professor, the government has no tools to reduce inflation and will resort to increasing tax revenues to cover the budget deficit. The uncontrolled rise in living costs in recent years has led to numerous protests and strikes from various sectors, including workers, retirees, and teachers. 'The high inflation is a scourge for the people' was a slogan at a protest by retirees in Khuzestan. The publication of a ruling by the Administrative Justice Court in favor of the government, rejecting workers' complaints against wage regulations, continues to raise economic concerns amid a relative increase in Brent crude oil prices in the global market. Protests and strikes over living conditions have seen workers, nurses, retirees, and farmers gathering. Half of Iran's population is suffering from housing poverty. The economic crisis and the ineffectiveness of marriage incentives have led to a spike in divorces in the spring.