Government and Parliament Forge United Front to Ensure Price Stability and Direct Family Support
In a significant demonstration of institutional coordination, the Iranian government and the Islamic Parliament are collaborating on a unified strategy to stabilize the prices of essential goods and sustain direct support for Iranian families through the Electronic Coupon (Kalaabargh) scheme.
Direct Support for Families Continues
The Electronic Coupon initiative, a cornerstone of the current administration’s social welfare policy, has been operational since March 2024. The program provides direct financial credit to the heads of households in the first seven income deciles. To date, credits have been distributed in four phases, allowing millions of families to purchase 11 categories of essential goods, including dairy products, protein items, and groceries. The scheme has been widely welcomed by citizens.
A Coordinated Response to Economic Challenges
Recent months have seen high-level discussions between the executive and legislative branches to refine the program’s implementation. A key proposal under serious consideration involves maintaining fixed prices for the essential goods covered by the coupons.
Ahmad Meydari, Minister of Cooperation, Labour, and Social Welfare, confirmed that a new method is being reviewed. “One suggestion is that the prices of goods remain stable,” Meydari stated, emphasizing that while a final decision is pending, an announcement will be made in due course. The proposed model would involve the government procuring goods in a two-month window prior to distribution, ensuring they reach consumers at a guaranteed, stable price.
Parliamentary Backing for Price Stability
This initiative has received strong backing from the parliament. Shahbaz Hassanpour, a member of the Parliament’s Industries and Mines Commission, detailed the consensus reached in a recent supervisory meeting with key ministers. He announced that goods distributed through the coupon system would be based on a fixed currency rate, shielding them from fluctuations in the open market.
“Based on the conclusion reached, it was decided that the goods distributed through the coupon should be based on the 28,500 Tomans currency rate and that the basis for calculating the price of these goods should not be the free market rate,” Hassanpour said. “Therefore, these goods must be provided to the people at a fixed price, in such a way that even a year later, people will receive the same goods at today’s price.”
He further highlighted the “good coordination and cohesion” between the government and the parliament to make this a reality, noting that the Islamic Parliament welcomes and will cooperate with any government proposal to stabilize the market and lower prices.
Government Reaffirms Commitment to Controlling Living Costs
Echoing this sentiment, Fatemeh Mahagerani, the Government Spokesperson, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to controlling price pressures on citizens. She acknowledged the impact of high inflation, which she attributed in part to the pressure of sanctions, and stated that the government’s entire structure is focused on price control.
“The government is seeking to, through the Market Regulation Headquarters, cooperation with guilds, and the timely provision of currency for importers, prevent pressure on the people’s livelihood,” Mahagerani stated.
While the specific mechanism for the next phase is being finalized, the spokesperson confirmed that the resources for the fifth phase of the Electronic Coupon have been secured and that the support will continue to be paid to the seven eligible income deciles. This unified approach underscores a concerted national effort to provide economic stability and direct relief to the Iranian people.