Economic Spokesman of Raisi: Inflation Has Dropped Below 30 Percent; Economists: Government Policies Are 'Inflationary'

The economic spokesman of the Islamic Republic government has claimed that the inflation rate has reached 'below 30 percent,' while economists have warned about the impact of increasing government interventions in the economy and their inflationary effects. According to domestic news agencies, Ehsan Khandozi, the Minister of Economy and Finance of the Islamic Republic, stated in a press conference today, Tuesday, August 1, that 'after 14 months, inflation has dropped below 30 percent.' This senior official of Ebrahim Raisi's government further added that the monthly inflation rate for July, recorded at '1.95,' is the lowest figure in the past 16 months, and the point-to-point inflation has reached '39.4 percent,' with a '3.2 percentage point decrease' compared to June. The rising prices and inflation of essential goods have become serious challenges for Iranian society in recent years, especially in recent months, to the extent that even participants in protest gatherings refer to it. The 'high prices' of food and essential goods in Iran have become a normal and daily occurrence, and reports published by domestic media indicate that 'inflation has run amok.' In this context, the website '90 Economic' reported on August 1 that the price of canned tuna has increased by '87 percent' in the last two months, and the Tehran-based newspaper 'Etemad' wrote that each kilogram of 'chicken neck' is sold for 75,000 tomans. Ehsan Khandozi, the spokesman for the thirteenth cabinet of the Islamic Republic, stated that 'the government's financial discipline' has been the factor behind what he calls 'inflation reduction,' adding that the main reason for the decrease in inflation has been the 'gradual reduction of the money supply growth rate' since the beginning of the government. Meanwhile, Ali Cheshmi, an economist, wrote in today's issue of the Tehran-based newspaper 'Donya-e-Eqtesad' that the 'poor quality' of decisions within the Islamic Republic government has manifested itself as 'recession, inflation, and instability' in recent years. This professor at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad further called for the decisions related to the private sector to be made by its own members to prevent inefficiency due to the 'completely clear' negative results of the government's economic decisions on society. In this context, Razavi, an economic affairs expert, previously stated in an interview with VOA about the unending roots of inflation and price increases in Iran despite government promises: 'Government mechanisms for controlling the economy exacerbate the existing inflation in Iran every day.' The head of the Restaurant Owners Union stated that restaurant owners are on the verge of bankruptcy. Despite the warnings, the continued migration of doctors and media criticism of the lack of change in officials' 'decisions' persist. The suicide of '13 residents' in a year; a union official stated: 'Our hope for the future has diminished!' Media reports on endless inflation; workers' share of life is merely watching prices and nothing else. The head of the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic stated that the non-publication of certain statistics has security considerations. An admission from a member of the Combatant Clergy Society: public satisfaction is low.