Food Insecurity Is Rapidly Spreading in IranIn its inflation report (Consumer Price Index), published on January 23, the center reported a point-to-point inflation rate of approximately 32% for January. The inflation rate for food items in January 2025 compared to January 2024 was reported to be around 27%.
Sharp Increase in Essential Goods Prices in Iran
The price of some essential food and household items in Iran has increased by 2 to 2.5 times between October 2024 and January 2025. However, official reports do not reflect these price hikes. For example, while the Statistical Center of Iran reported only a 2% increase in the official price of cooking oil, market data indicates a 15% rise.
The Iranian regime’s Statistical Center published a report titled “Average Prices of Selected Food Items in Urban Areas – January 2024” on January 29.
According to this report, the prices of 53 food items increased by an average of about 37% in December 2024 and early January 2025 compared to the same period the previous year.
Iran-Linked Hackers Using American AI
The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, January 29, that Chinese and Iranian hackers have been using American artificial intelligence (AI) products to carry out cyberattacks.
This report comes amid the release of the new version of China’s AI system, “DeepSeek,” which has shifted global perceptions regarding China’s capabilities in this field.
According to U.S. officials cited by The Wall Street Journal, hackers linked to the governments of China, Iran, and several other countries are significantly leveraging AI capabilities to enhance their cyberattacks against the United States.
Google’s AI chatbot, “Gemini,” is one of the AI technologies being used by these hackers.
While Gemini has numerous benefits and positive applications, it has also been used to write malicious code, identify system vulnerabilities, and research organizations and targets for cyberattacks.
Iran’s Regime Continues Efforts to Hack and Leak Documents from Donald Trump’s Election CampaignAccording to Google, over the past year, hackers in 20 countries have used the Gemini chatbot for their cyberattacks. While Western officials and cybersecurity experts have warned for years about the potential misuse of AI, Google’s recent findings mark the first detailed report on the use of AI by hackers linked to foreign powers. According to the report, hacker groups linked to the governments of China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea have used the Gemini chatbot in their cyberattacks. Google states that these hackers have used Gemini’s capabilities to enhance various operational stages, particularly in research, support, and identifying vulnerabilities in their U.S. targets. According to The Wall Street Journal, there are still many unknowns regarding AI capabilities, and hackers’ use of this technology may be far greater than currently estimated. Google states that as AI advances, hackers are also gaining more skills and capabilities to use it for malicious attacks, posing a significant security challenge for the U.S. and Western countries. The connection of these hackers to governments such as China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea has raised serious concerns among U.S. officials. Hackers also use other AI technologies, including “ChatGPT” developed by OpenAI, in their attacks on U.S. targets. Research by OpenAI indicates that hackers have not used ChatGPT for direct or large-scale cyberattacks but rather to enhance and support their malicious operations. Google states that after identifying hackers using Gemini, it has removed the associated accounts. According to Google, Chinese and Iranian hackers used the Gemini chatbot more than other hacker groups. Iranian hackers had the highest usage of Gemini and leveraged this technology to identify targets in military and defense organizations, establish infiltration pathways, and generate content in English, Hebrew, and Persian for use in phishing campaigns.
The Iranian Regime Has Placed The “Noose of Execution” Around the People’s Necks
Saeed Masouri, one of Iran’s longest-serving political prisoners, has written a letter calling on member states of the United Nations to cut ties with the Iranian regime or condition their diplomatic relations on the cessation of executions.
In this letter, which Masouri states was written on the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, and addressed to Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, he highlights how Iranians have attempted to halt the regime’s execution machine through street protests, strikes, petitions, placards, and filing complaints with all possible institutions. He writes: “The government has placed the execution noose around the necks of all Iranians because it sees its survival in executing each and every citizen.”
Iranian Political Prisoner Saeed Masouri: We Are Not Afraid of the Sea of BloodThis political prisoner stresses that if the Iranian regime does not fear “international accountability,” it will “kick the stool out from under the people” to maintain its grip on power. The letter specifically refers to the death sentences of two political prisoners, Mehdi Hassani and Behrouz Ehsani. Behrouz Ehsani Eslamloo, 69, and Mehdi Hassani, 48, were sentenced to death in mid-September 2024 by Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court, presided over by Iman Afshari, on charges of “rebellion (baghi), waging war against God (moharebeh), and spreading corruption on earth (efsad fil-arz).” They were also accused of “collecting classified information, assembly and collusion against national security, and membership” in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), the largest opposition group to the regime. At the same time, Mehdi Hassani’s daughter wrote on X that her father and Behrouz Ehsani had been transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison and were at imminent risk of execution. In his letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Saeed Masouri questions how two political prisoners can simultaneously be charged with both “rebellion” (baghi) and “waging war against God” (moharebeh), while also being labeled as “corruptors on earth” (mofsed fil-arz). He writes: “How is it possible that in a case where no murder has occurred, no victim exists, no plaintiff has filed a complaint, no blood has been spilled, and no avenger of blood is present, these two prisoners are still deemed deserving of execution?” This political prisoner states that the Iranian regime’s goal in issuing death sentences is to “spread fear and terror” and to “carry out purges and continue killing people in the streets.” Saeed Masouri is one of Iran’s longest-serving political prisoners and a member of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign. In 2002, he was sentenced to death by the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges of “waging war against God” (moharebeh), but his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to whom Masouri addressed his letter, described the rise in executions in Iran as “deeply concerning” on January 7 and criticized the sharp increase in the use of this punishment over the past year. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights recently stated, based on reports, that the Iranian regime executed at least 901 people in 2024. In 2023, the reported number of executions in Iran was at least 853. However, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an opposition coalition, has claimed that the number of executions in 2024 exceeds 1,000.
Iranian workers’ wages have dropped by more than 400% in ten years
As news circulates regarding potential percentage increases in the minimum wage for workers covered by Iran’s labor law, the state-run ILNA news agency reported on Tuesday, January 28: “A more than 400% drop in workers’ wages in just ten years is an unprecedented phenomenon in Iran’s economic history.”
The news agency described this phenomenon as “unprecedented and extremely distressing,” stating that it has “pushed workers to the depths of absolute poverty, leaving them without any means to survive.”
Wages of Iranian workers cover only 30% of household expensesAccording to the report, “To restore the purchasing power that workers’ wages had in 2014, today, a minimum-wage worker with two children should earn close to 490 million rials (approximately $584).” Currently, the minimum wage for workers covered by labor law, who are married with children and including benefits, is 110 million rials (approximately $131). ILNA, referring to the “heavy shadow of over 30% inflation weighing on the deteriorating livelihoods” of Iranians, added: “The rapid pace of rising prices in the recent, relentless waves of inflation is almost unprecedented in modern Iranian history—except for exceptional periods such as the Allied occupation of Iran after World War II and the subsequent famine.” The news agency further highlighted the daily rise in food prices. The report specifically mentioned the price of 100 grams of pasteurized butter, which increased by more than 57% between September and December 2024.
Many Workers in Iran Have to Wait Six Months to Receive Their WagesILNA also noted: “After November, a new but severe wave of price hikes arrived once again. With government approval to eliminate subsidies for pharmaceutical production, medication prices surged by up to 400%, and other goods, including cooking oil, were granted price increase approvals.” Citing official data from Iran’s Statistical Center, the news agency wrote: “In January, the greatest inflationary pressure was exerted on households by food products, with monthly inflation for these items rising above 3% in some income brackets.” According to this report, in January 2025, households paid 31.8% more for the same basket of goods and services compared to January of the previous year. These price increases have been approved by the Iranian government despite the fact that workers’ and other wage earners’ salaries have not increased at all this year. Nevertheless, the Supreme Labor Council, affiliated with the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare, has taken no action—just as in previous years—to even slightly improve workers’ purchasing power. Meanwhile, ILNA quoted labor activist Alireza Khorrami as saying: “If a worker earns less than 300 million rials, they cannot manage their basic living expenses at all. To pay for rent, food, and essential items such as medicine, at least 300 million rials is needed.” These meager wages are not only unjust but a clear embodiment of modern slavery. Meanwhile, Ahmad Meydari, Iran’s Minister of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare, mentioned a “new and effective method for determining wages” on a televised program on Monday, January 27, but provided no details about this “new method.” Meydari also admitted in his remarks that “according to available statistics, in the past five years, some government employees have had salary increases in line with inflation, but workers’ wages have increased at a rate lower than inflation.” Low wages in Iran have been one of the reasons for the spread of protests among workers and other wage earners across various regions of the country. Economic protests in November 2019 led to a large-scale uprising, during which the Iranian regime killed at least 1,500 protesters in the streets. Demonstrators quickly escalated their demands to calling for the overthrow of the ruling regime in Iran.
The start of the second year of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign: The gallows must be dismantled
Political and non-political prisoners in 34 prisons of the Iranian regime expressed hope on Tuesday, January 28, during the 53rd “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, that in the second year of this campaign, their voices would “connect from behind the thick walls of prison to the voices of Iran’s women, men, and youth and contribute to defending human rights and dismantling the gallows.”
In the statement from prisoners in 34 prisons, it was noted that in the past year, more than 1,000 prisoners were executed. Between December 21 and January 19, the number of executions exceeded 110.
They wrote: “On the anniversary of this campaign, we are on strike while on Sunday, January 26, two political prisoners and campaign members, Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hasani, who have been sentenced to execution, were violently abducted from Evin Prison and transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison.”
The statement referred to the remarks of the lawyers representing these two political prisoners on Monday, January 27, saying that “a request for a retrial has been filed in their case.” It added: “However, according to information received by the campaign, these two political prisoners are currently held in the cells of the security ward 3 in Ghezel Hesar Prison, which is designated for prisoners awaiting execution, and they are under the threat of imminent execution.”
The statement discussed the first hunger strike by political prisoners in Ghezel Hesar Prison, Karaj, on Tuesday, January 29, 2024. It added: “Initially, some political prisoners from wards 4 and 8 of Evin Prison, followed by the women’s ward in Evin Prison, Karaj Central Prison, Lakan Prison in Rasht, and subsequently, in the following weeks, other prisons also joined the ‘No to Execution Tuesdays’ campaign.”
Amnesty International warns of the imminent execution risk of two political prisonersAccording to the prisoners who signed the statement, the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign began “when the wave of executions became so widespread and pervasive that it was unprecedented anywhere in the world.” The political prisoners added: “At the onset of the wave of executions, a plea letter was published by ordinary prisoners under death sentences, seeking help and support from all prisoners and the people of Iran to save their lives and the many others sentenced to death.” The statement added: “The launch of the ‘No to Execution Tuesdays’ campaign coincided with the seventh day after the execution of the late Mohammad Ghobadlou and Farhad Salimi, political and ideological prisoners in Ghezel Hesar.” The signatories of the statement noted that “the initial members of the campaign protested the executions by going on a hunger strike” and “chose Tuesdays for their strike because death row prisoners are generally transferred to solitary confinement on Mondays and executed at dawn on Wednesdays.” They emphasized: “This protest movement, which has now spread to most prisons in the country, has, thanks to the efforts of our compatriots inside and outside Iran, transcended prison walls and crossed geographical boundaries.” They wrote: “Numerous human rights organizations, activists, international bodies, and even political movements have expressed their support for it. Many media outlets and news agencies, in a responsible act towards human rights, publish and disseminate the campaign’s statements and reports every week.” The statement also mentioned the support of the campaign by Javaid Rehman, the former UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, and noted that Mai Sato, the current UN Special Rapporteur, has described the campaign as an unwavering commitment to justice and human rights that has shone brightly in the face of the regime’s oppressive actions. Another part of the statement read: “Under the rule of the religious dictatorship in Iran, executions have reached unimaginable proportions and have become a tool to intimidate the people, effectively holding the public hostage.” The signatories of the statement stressed: “In Iran, the death sentence is not a legal punishment but has become a political tool for oppression and vengeance against the people of Iran.” They wrote: “This reality doubles our responsibility to confront repression, torture, and executions, and we hope to fulfill this duty.” They concluded their statement by writing: According to Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person,” and according to Article 5, “No one shall be subjected to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.” Furthermore, execution is “an irreversible and irreparable punishment.” According to this statement, in the 53rd week of this campaign, prisoners in 34 prisons are on hunger strike.
Amnesty International warns of the imminent execution risk of two political prisoners
Amnesty International has warned of the imminent execution of two political prisoners, Mehdi Hassani, 48, and Behrouz Ehsani, 69, supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), and has called for an immediate halt to any plans by Iranian authorities to execute them.
On Monday, January 27, Amnesty International announced that the sudden transfer of these two death-row political prisoners on Sunday, January 26, from Evin Prison to Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, Alborz Province, has heightened concerns about the risk of their imminent execution.
This human rights organization described the trial of these two political prisoners as “grossly unfair” and reported allegations of “torture and forced confessions” against them.
Growing Concerns Over Possible Execution of Two Political Prisoners in EvinAmnesty International has urged Iranian authorities to halt any plans for the execution of Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, overturn their charges and convictions, and ensure their regular access to their families and necessary medical care. The international organization has also requested Iranian authorities to ensure the right of these two political prisoners to independently choose their lawyer, protect them from further torture and mistreatment, and investigate allegations of torture, prosecuting the perpetrators in fair trials without resorting to the death penalty. Behrouz Ehsani Eslamloo and Mehdi Hassani were sentenced to death in mid-September 2024 on charges of “rebellion, waging war against God, and spreading corruption on earth” in Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court presided over by Iman Afshari. The charges against them also include “gathering classified information, assembly and collusion against national security, and membership” in the PMOI. Also A coalition of 260 prominent international experts and NGOs has urgently called on Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to intervene in the case of Iranian political prisoners Behrouz Ehsani, and Mehdi Hassani. According to previous reports from human rights sources, at least 54 “political and security” prisoners currently face death sentences in Iranian regime prisons on charges such as “rebellion, waging war against God, and spreading corruption on earth.” The U.S. State Department has condemned the “increasing use of executions by the Iranian regime to suppress the people” and emphasized its continued support for the Iranian people in the face of the “unrelenting human rights violations” by the Islamic Republic.
Why Did Foreign Investors Leave Iran?
The recent departure of several foreign investors from Iran has highlighted new dimensions of “isolation” and “monopoly” in the country’s turbulent economy. With the sharp rise in the free-market exchange rate of the U.S. dollar and the prospect of Donald Trump’s return to the White House, exporting oil and attracting investments have become more challenging for the Iranian regime. As a result, the few remaining foreign investment firms are pulling out their capital from Iran.
It was previously reported that the Turkish investor of the “V One” chain stores had been removed from the list of the store’s shareholders.
Major Saudi Food Company Exits Iran After 20 YearsIn early January, it was announced that “Savola Group” of Saudi Arabia, a giant in the Middle Eastern food industry, had exited the Iranian market after two decades of significant presence in the cooking oil sector. Some experts attribute this departure to escalating “political tensions” and “declining profitability.” But the story doesn’t end here. Hyperstar and Digikala, two prominent brands in Iran’s retail and e-commerce markets, have also recently witnessed the departure of their foreign shareholders. The Emirati company “Majid Al Futtaim” has left Hyperstar’s list of shareholders, and the European investment firm “IIIC,” which owns about 33% of Digikala’s shares, is set to exit Iran in the near future.
Is Iran on the verge of losing its last opportunities to attract investment?
In a statement released on January 1, Savola Group cited its “strategy of timely withdrawal from non-core markets” as the reason for ceasing its operations in Iran. However, speculation about the underlying reasons for the Saudi investor’s exit suggests that political factors and Iran’s international conditions likely played a role in the decision. Some point out that the company had previously withdrawn from the Moroccan and Iraqi markets, arguing that the decision was solely based on marketing strategies. On the other hand, some argue that since the company supplies over 40% of Iran’s cooking oil and owns 80% of the shares of the prominent “Behshahr Industries,” its decision to leave Iran is still inconsistent with standard economic criteria.Declining Purchasing Power and a Challenging Business Environment
Iran has faced severe economic challenges in recent years. Rising inflation, extreme currency fluctuations, budget deficits, and increased government taxation have collectively reduced consumers’ purchasing power. This reduction has directly impacted the profitability of businesses, diminishing the appeal of investing in the Iranian market. Iran has consistently ranked among the lowest countries in international business environment indices. According to the latest rankings by the UK-based “Economist Intelligence Unit,” Iran ranked 81st out of 82 countries from 2014 to 2018, ahead of only Venezuela. However, in the most recent rankings, Iran did not even appear on the list, indicating a further deterioration in the country’s business environment. In the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings, Iran stands at 127th out of 190 countries. The consistent decline in the investment growth rate over the past decade underscores that not only foreign investors but also domestic capital is exiting Iran. A report by the Economic Research Division of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce shows that the average annual investment growth rate in 2010 was -4.7%. According to official reports, capital flight from Iran significantly accelerated in 2015, peaking in 2017 when the United States withdrew from the JCPOA (Iran nuclear deal). That year, Iran’s net capital account was more than $19 billion in deficit.Changing Regulations and the Phenomenon of “Shadow Governments”
The instability in regulations and economic policies, particularly rent-seeking mechanisms, has made Iran’s business environment increasingly opaque. Foreign companies that operate based on transparency and fair competition struggle to sustain themselves in Iran’s economy, where many economic opportunities are dominated by rentier and security-affiliated institutions. The involvement of unofficial entities, such as companies linked to security and religious organizations, has further complicated the economic landscape. One of the most notorious examples of shadow government interference and security entities disrupting foreign investment in Iran is the 2004 inauguration of Imam Khomeini Airport. The Turkish-Austrian company “TAV” was set to complete all phases of the airport within two years. However, on the opening day, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) blocked the airport’s runway, preventing aircraft operations and effectively terminating the contract. Decades later, subsequent phases of the airport remain incomplete.The Return of Trump and International Pressures
Some speculations in Iran attribute the foreign investors’ exodus to the return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency. Trump’s return raises the likelihood of increased international pressures and sanctions against Iran’s regime. Many multinational companies investing in Iran also have significant operations in Western markets, making continued collaboration with Iran a risk that could subject them to Trump’s stricter policies.Are Opportunities Lost Forever?
Many experts and private sector representatives are warning of an intensified wave of investor departures from Iran. The long-term consequences of foreign investors leaving Iran, amid the absence of a clear prospect for attracting new investments, have become alarming. The economic challenges facing the Iranian regime will not be resolved even with the lifting of international sanctions. In the past decade, Iranians have repeatedly taken to the streets, demanding regime change due to harsh economic and political conditions. In the not-too-distant future, Iran is likely to witness even larger uprisings, ultimately leading to change.In Iran, One-Third of Patients Refrain from Purchasing Medication
Following the recent rise in medication prices, many patients have refrained from obtaining their prescribed drugs, with some pharmacists reporting that one-third of patients forgo purchasing medication due to its high cost.
Mohammad Abdozadeh, chairman of the Iranian Syndicate of Human Pharmaceutical Industries, told the state-run IRNA news agency that the root of rising medication prices lies in the country’s macroeconomic conditions and the budget deficit of the Ministry of Health.
He added: “While the Ministry of Health avoids adjusting prices in line with inflation, the costs of drug production—including raw materials, packaging, and transportation—have sharply increased due to the exchange rate and inflation.”
Preferential Currency for Medicine Will Be Removed in IranAccording to Abdozadeh, the increase in medication prices not only stems from manufacturers’ need for domestic and foreign resources but has also exacerbated the decline in production capacity. Alireza Azani, a pharmacist, also highlighted the challenges faced by manufacturers, noting that companies are grappling with severe issues due to liquidity shortages and unpaid receivables from drug distribution companies. The pharmacist further stated that some factories are operating at only 30 to 40 percent capacity, leading to protests within these companies. He added that the average collection period for receivables has exceeded 400 days, creating significant liquidity challenges for pharmaceutical companies. Shahram Ghafari, Deputy Director of Treatment at the Social Security Organization of the Iranian regime, told IRNA that the increase in drug prices was implemented by the Food and Drug Administration but without coordination with basic insurance organizations. He added that this lack of coordination led to higher out-of-pocket payments for patients, and some medications have yet to be updated in the insurance systems. According to this official, this period of misalignment lasted about a week, resulting in increased costs for both patients and insurers. Despite these price increases, Abdozadeh emphasized that the pharmaceutical industry is not inclined to raise prices but, given the economic pressures and prevailing inflation, pharmaceutical companies need “price adjustments” to continue production. In recent weeks, Mohammadreza Zafarghandi, Iran’s Minister of Health, announced the removal of subsidized exchange rates for drugs, stating that the import of pharmaceutical items would be conducted using NIMA rates, and the preferential exchange rate for medical equipment would also be eliminated. The uncontrolled rise in drug prices continues despite his claim about a month ago that after removing subsidized exchange rates for drugs and medical equipment, “monitoring” would prevent placing pressure on patients. Resolving the challenges of insurance and healthcare has consistently been one of the primary demands raised in the economic protests of retirees and workers from various industries in Iran.
Growing Concerns Over Possible Execution of Two Political Prisoners in Evin
On Sunday, January 26, judicial authorities in Evin Prison have transferred Mehdi Hassani and Behrouz Ehsani, two political prisoners on death row for supporting the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), to Ghezel Hesar prison, according to a statement by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). The event has raised fears about their possible execution.
According to the report, Evin Prison officials removed Mehdi Hassani and Behrouz Ehsani from wards 8 and 4 of the prison on Sunday morning under the pretext of a visit to the infirmary. Hours later, the two political prisoners had yet to return to their wards.
Following several hours of no information, cellmates and relatives of these political prisoners expressed concern over the risk of their execution. A group of political prisoners held a protest gathering in front of the prison guard office.
Iran’s Regime Sentences 6 Political Prisoners to DeathMeanwhile, Mustafa Nili, a lawyer, announced on the social network X on Sunday that a request for a retrial for Behrouz Ehsani “was filed last week and referred to one of the Supreme Court branches yesterday, Saturday.” The transfer of these prisoners to an undisclosed location has also caused concern among other prisoners, and they gathered in front of the prison guard office, chanting slogans in protest against the possible execution of the two prisoners, including “This is the final message; if you execute, there will be an uprising,” “Death to the dictator,” “By the blood of our comrades, we stand to the end,” and “I will kill the one who killed my brother.” Behrouz Ehsani Eslamloo, 70, and Mehdi Hassani, 48, were sentenced to death in mid-September 2024 by Branch 26 of the Iranian regime’s Revolutionary Court, presided over by Iman Afshari, on charges of “rebellion, enmity against God, and corruption on earth.” Other charges attributed to the two prisoners include “gathering classified information, assembly and collusion against national security, and membership in the PMOI/MEK.” Amnesty International recently highlighted the “horrifying increase in executions” in Iran and called on Iranian authorities to immediately revoke the death sentences of these two political prisoners. According to previous reports from human rights sources, at least 54 political and security prisoners currently face death sentences in Iranian regime prisons on charges such as “rebellion, enmity against God, and corruption on earth.”
Rising Prices of Potatoes and Appliances in Iran Due to Supply and Exchange Issues
A month after the establishment of the commercial foreign exchange market, the exchange rate allocated for the import of non-essential goods has reached approximately 664,000 rials per dollar. These changes, due to the rising cost of imports, have caused a 5% to 20% increase in the prices of household appliances.
Meanwhile, the dollar’s price in the open market stands at approximately 840,000 rials.
According to the state-run Etemad Online newspaper, this change in the exchange rate over the past month has caused a roughly 22% increase in the cost of the dollar for importers. Producers and sellers of household appliances have also factored this increase into their product prices.
Decline in Rice Production and Rising Prices in Iran Amid Inflation Growth and Public ProtestsAccording to this report, the household appliance market had previously experienced instability when the dollar exchange rate rose to 840,000 rials, leading sellers to set varying prices. Now, with factory prices of household appliances adjusted to the new exchange rate, the market has become active again, and prices have stabilized at roughly uniform levels. However, as Etemad writes, many raw materials and components required for manufacturing household appliances were imported months ago at lower exchange rates. Therefore, price increases under the pretext of exchange rate changes are not economically justifiable. The economic report states that while price increases in the household appliance market continue, market stagnation has slightly slowed the unregulated rise in prices. In another report by the state-run ILNA news agency, the head of Iran’s “National Potato Association” attributed the increase in potato prices to 500,000–600,000 rials to heavy rainfall and frost in Kerman province. Khosrow Talebi Rahiq added that “particularly” in the southern part of this province, unfavorable weather conditions have slowed the harvesting and transportation of potatoes to the market. He claimed that these issues have significantly contributed to the shortage of this product, resulting in price hikes. Talebi Rahiq emphasized that the association had warned the Ministry of Agriculture on April 20, 2024, about the need to stockpile potatoes for the winter season. However, due to negligence in funding, this stockpiling did not take place. The head of the National Potato Association added: “If 50,000 to 60,000 tons had been stockpiled, the market would not be facing shortages and sharp price increases today.” According to Talebi Rahiq, the rise in potato prices is not due to a decline in production but rather because of issues in market supply. He further explained that while strategic stockpiling was carried out in 2023, these reserves were not utilized in the domestic market, and the Ministry of Agriculture also did not permit exports. This led to an oversupply of potatoes in the market and losses for producers. This industry representative stressed that Iran’s potato exports have decreased due to rising prices, although exports to the Gulf countries, Caspian Sea nations, Afghanistan, and Iraq are ongoing.
