Steep price hikes taking toll on support for regime

GVF — A senior cleric in Iran’s religious heartland Qom has warned that the worsening economic conditions might result in a dwindling of support for the Islamic Republic amongst the general public.

According to the semi-official Mehr news agency, during a meeting with a group of lawmakers, Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi called for unity amongst cleric MPs ahead of next year’s presidential elections.

“The issue of soaring prices, problems with the economy and [the people’s] livelihood is placing more pressure on the population every day. If the current trend continues, people will be under a great deal of hardship, and this must be resolved.”

Makarem Shirazi said that the threefold rise in the price of paper in a short period had left a noticeable impact on the publication of religious books.

“It’s the same situation elsewhere too. Renting costs are staggering and the issue of currency has a psychological as well as a real impact. A lot of the price rises are linked with the currency,” he continued.

In recent weeks, Iran’s currency, the Rial, hit a record low against the US dollar in street trading. Mehr reported that the Rial had dropped nearly 7% in a single day.

The senior cleric accused the Ahmadinejad administration of adopting a unilateral approach in decision-making. “These matters are of great importance and the government can’t make decisions on its own. I’ve heard that on a number of issues, the president makes decisions on his own, and it should not be that way.”

“There’s a limit to what the people can put up with,” Makarem Shirazi added. “This should be taken into account and we mustn’t assume the people’s patience is unlimited. We must take into consideration the limits to the people’s restraint.”

Following a steep rise in the price of poultry in July, Makarem Shirazi suggested that it was actually healthier to eat vegetables instead of meat.

The government’s subsidy cuts, coupled with international sanctions over the country’s nuclear programme, have been taking their toll on ordinary Iranians.

According to government figures, renting costs have increased by 60% compared to the same time last year.

Prominent clerics Safi Golpayegani and Nouri Hamedani have also voiced similar concerns about the growing discontent over high prices in the country.