Title: Fifth Phase of Electronic Commodity Subsidy: New Timelines and Models Under Review
The implementation timeline for the fifth phase of Iran’s electronic commodity subsidy scheme has been clarified, with a definitive announcement on its launch expected next week. This follows a period of coordination between government bodies to finalize the details of the widely anticipated program.
A Coordinated Rollout
Recent statements from the Head of the Information and Welfare Center indicate that the fifth phase, initially projected for the previous Iranian month of Aban, is now scheduled for a more detailed announcement in the coming days. The delay is attributed to the final stages of administrative coordination and resource allocation, ensuring the program’s smooth execution. Officials have emphasized that the plan will be implemented systematically across different income deciles throughout the target month.
Funding and Final Approval
The execution of each phase of the electronic commodity voucher program requires significant financial backing. It has been reported that while a portion of the necessary credits has been secured by the Plan and Budget Organization, the final approval for the release of the full resources is pending a key coordination meeting scheduled for next week. This meeting will determine the exact commencement date for the disbursements.
Proposed Models for the Fifth Phase
The Ministry of Labor has put forward two primary models for the fifth phase, which are currently under final review. The first model involves a direct credit payment, where the first three income deciles would receive 500,000 Tomans, and the fourth to seventh deciles would receive 350,000 Tomans.
The second proposed model offers a discount-based purchasing system. This option would enable eligible families to purchase essential goods from 12,000 designated stores at official prices, benefiting from a discount of at least 20 percent. The final decision on which model will be adopted is expected following the upcoming inter-agency meeting.
Current Subsidy Status
For the benefit of all recipients, it is important to note that the credit from the fourth phase remains valid until the end of the current month. Households can continue to use their existing balance to purchase essential items such as rice, oil, chicken, dairy products, eggs, and pasta. Heads of households can check their remaining credit balance via the USSD code *5001463# or through the “Shoma” application.