Iran has announced a major increase in government subsidies as it moves to ease the impact of rising prices and the weakening rial on households. The government says monthly subsidies will rise from three million rials to ten million rials per household, more than tripling the current amount. The support will not be given in cash. Instead, the money will be credited to household cards that can be used to buy essential goods. Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said, “the credit will be deposited monthly and can be used to purchase basic items.” She added that all Iranian households will be covered under the new scheme. The programme will begin in the second week of January under a decree issued by President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The government has also said that a separate payment of one million rials will be increased in line with inflation. Official figures show inflation has climbed above forty percent following a sharp fall in the value of the rial. Authorities say the expanded subsidies are aimed at protecting people’s purchasing power and ensuring access to basic necessities during continued economic pressure.
