Iran Breaks 80-Year Inflation Record

According to news sources, the government of Ebrahim Raisi has not only failed to control inflation despite electoral promises and the emphasis of Ali Khamenei, but has also broken an 80-year record, with inflation rates exceeding 52 percent. The newspaper 'Ham-Mihan' reported that the recorded inflation in Iran's economy has been unprecedented since 1943. The highest previous record was during the presidency of Hashemi Rafsanjani, with 49.4 percent since World War II and the occupation of Iran by the Allies. This newspaper cites Central Bank tables, noting that the base year considered in the Central Bank's table is 1395, while the base year has changed to 1400, and accordingly, government officials insist that the inflation rate is below 52 percent. The newspaper emphasizes that even with the base year of 1400, experts believe the inflation rate will be around 50 percent. 'Ham-Mihan' also described the annual naming by Ali Khamenei as serving Ebrahim Raisi, stating that 'in the past two years, controlling the inflation rate has been included in the annual slogan alongside production growth to encourage the government to pay more attention to controlling prices.' Investigations by Voice of America regarding published news on poverty and inequality show that despite all these claims, no significant changes have occurred in reducing inflation, and the lived experiences of people in Iran's economy bear no resemblance to the claims of officials. In this context, the Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly also reported on the state of poverty in the country, stating that the caloric intake of more than half of the Iranian population in 1401 was below the global standard. This report also noted that the poverty line in Tehran rose from 10 million tomans in 1401 to over 15 million tomans in 1402. The report indicates that the middle class in Iran is collapsing, as recent inflation has had the most significant impact on this class, pushing a large number of them below the poverty line. The rent for houses increased by 42 percent in Farvardin; tenants are suffering. An economist stated: 'We are heading towards a regression of poverty.' Protests by telecommunications retirees occurred in several provinces of Iran; what has happened to this profitable company? A historic record of rising rents in Iran was broken during Raisi's government. The purchasing power of workers has not improved; the dollar value of wages has fallen. An 11 million toman wage against a 30 million toman cost of living; a labor activist stated: 'The government has trampled the rights of retirees.'