Iran Announces Enhanced November 2025 Subsidy Plan with Focus on Essential Goods
In a move to strengthen social welfare, the Iranian government has detailed the fifth phase of its Electronic Coupon (Kala Bargh) scheme, set to begin in November 2025. Officials state that this new phase introduces significant operational changes designed to better insulate household budgets from market price fluctuations and ensure access to essential items.
A More Targeted Approach
Announcing the revised plan, Seyed Hamid Pourmohammadi, Head of the Plan and Budget Organization, emphasized reforms to the payment process. The new phase will see government support delivered in a more targeted manner, focusing on a specific list of essential goods offered at stable prices.
“The main focus of the new plan is on essential and protein-rich items needed by lower-income groups,” Pourmohammadi stated, indicating that support may be provided as direct assistance for purchasing these specific commodities.
Details of the Fifth Phase
According to the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare, the fifth phase will maintain the same credit amounts as previous rounds. The first three income deciles will receive 500,000 Tomans in credit, while the fourth to seventh deciles will receive 350,000 Tomans.
However, the basket of subsidized goods has been revised and expanded. In addition to previous staples such as rice, oil, pasta, dairy products, eggs, and chicken, the list now includes turkey meat, quail, fish, and shrimp.
Implementation Timeline
While the Ministry has yet to announce the exact recharge date for the new credits, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has confirmed that the fifth phase will definitely be implemented in the Iranian month of Aban (October 23 – November 21, 2025).
Households that have credits remaining from the fourth phase have until the end of Aban to use them, after which any remaining balance will be deactivated.
Concurrent Cash Subsidy Payments
The November 2025 cash subsidy will be distributed in two installments, as per the usual schedule. The first to third income deciles will receive their 400,000 Toman payment on November 15, and the fourth to ninth deciles will receive their 300,000 Toman payment on November 20.
Combining both the cash subsidy and the electronic coupon, lower-income households will receive up to 900,000 Tomans in total support, while middle-income deciles will receive up to 650,000 Tomans. This integrated approach underscores the government’s continued focus on providing comprehensive social safety nets.