After Pasta Crisis; Head of National Chain Store Union Reports Oil Shortage

Following reports related to the multiple-fold increase in the price of flour and related trade and industrial products including pasta and fancy bread in Iran, reports indicate a shortage in oil supply at stores and the supply of pasta produced last year at newly approved prices.

According to IRNA news agency on Sunday, Ordibehesht 18, a pasta manufacturing factory has supplied its autumn 1400 products to the market at new approved prices.

The Organization for Support of Producers and Consumers, following a decrease in various types of pasta in stores, announced on Ordibehesht 12 through a notification an increase in the price of this product in different packages, according to which “the maximum consumer price of simple thread pasta varieties, including value-added tax, changed from 6,300 tomans to 17,000 tomans for 500 grams, from 8,600 tomans to 24,000 tomans for 700 grams, and from 12,500 tomans to 34,000 tomans for 1,000 grams.”

Meanwhile, the head of the National Chain Stores Union stated: “There is no problem in the production and supply of pasta and it is expected that by the end of the week all stores will be stocked with pasta, but oil is not being supplied in sufficient quantities.”

According to ISNA, Mansour Alipour, referring to the shortage of pasta in recent days, added: “After announcing the new approved price for this product, factories have started production again” but “the process of registering barcodes for new products in stores and sending goods takes time.”

Alipour, while emphasizing that he does not know the reason for the shortage of oil supply from factories to stores, said: “There are not good conditions for oil supply in stores.”

In another report, Asadollah Ahmadi Shahrivari, head of the Tehran Food Sellers Union, announcing that the price of simple baguette bread has increased from 5,000 tomans to 10,000 tomans, said that bread accounts for “at least 15 percent” of sandwich prices and this price increase has made falafel sandwiches, which “have been popular among low-income groups,” into an expensive commodity and “according to our colleagues, the purchase rate of falafel has become 2 pieces per 4 people.”

One day after Ibrahim Raisi claimed that the government’s economic decisions were “the result of seven months of intensive expert work and consultation with elites,” representatives of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Assembly Speaker harshly criticized the economic performance of Ibrahim Raisi’s government on Sunday’s open session, particularly due to the increase in flour prices, and announced that people are more concerned than before.

The thirteenth government, despite the slogan of promoting justice, has remained unable to control inflation and shortage of essential goods, while public livelihood protests are again flaring up.