Khamenei's Directive Causes Trouble for People; Revolutionary Guard Newspaper: If Home Appliance Imports Were Allowed, Prices Wouldn't Be This High

A government-supporting newspaper affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard reported that the high prices and low quality of domestic home appliances are the result of the government's ban on imports, without mentioning that this restriction was a direct order from Ali Khamenei. The ban on home appliance imports was implemented after Khamenei criticized imports in a public speech and called for a ban to support domestic production. However, the newspaper "Javan" argues that producers, who have a grip on the market, deliver their cash sales to buyers with a delay of one to two months. The report's author emphasized that products for which factories set astronomical prices reach consumers and customers 35 to 50 percent more expensive in the distribution and sales sector. "Javan" noted that prices of home appliances, especially refrigerators, washing machines, and audio-visual equipment, have skyrocketed, and factories are competing to raise their prices. From the author's perspective, support for domestic home appliance production has led to monopolies and a repetition of the automotive industry's experience. In October 2021, Ali Khamenei issued a directive banning home appliance imports to continue individual decisions that have disastrous collective consequences for the people's economy. The Fars news agency, affiliated with security institutions, reported on October 1, 2021, that "according to the leader's order and its communication to the ministries of economy and industry, mining, and trade, the import of home appliances from South Korea was banned." In justifying this directive, Fars reviewed the restrictions and supports for domestic industries in European and American countries. This comparison was made without considering political, economic, social conditions, individual and economic freedoms, and important developmental indicators to provide a scientific and rational basis for Khamenei's directive. The rising prices of home appliances have led to a recession in the market for these goods and a trend toward repair rather than replacement among the public. Factors contributing to the market recession include the low quality of domestic products and people's preference for repairing and maintaining their foreign home appliances. The flood of rising prices continues; butter has become expensive again. A trade official stated that the prices of home appliances will be "liberalized." An economist warned that 70 percent inflation is on the way; the Statistical Center reported a decrease in inflation. A member of parliament criticized the "playing with numbers" in the Raisi government, stating that the real inflation is 120 percent. The disorder in the Iranian market is increasing; the head of the home appliance sellers' union stated that people do not have purchasing power.