Tehran Chamber of Commerce Official: Iran’s Inflation Rate is Several Times Higher Than Iraq, Pakistan, and Turkey

Reports published in Iranian media indicate a nearly 20 percent increase in tuition fees at Islamic Azad University, Iran’s high inflation rate compared to some neighboring countries, and the discovery of at least half a ton of horse and donkey meat in Tehran.

• Increase in Tuition Fees at Azad Universities in Iran

Ahmad Heidari, spokesman for Islamic Azad University, announced a nearly 20 percent increase in tuition fees at Islamic Azad University for the new academic year.

On Wednesday, September 22, Ahmad Heidari announced that the average increase in tuition fees at Azad University for the 2021-2022 academic year is close to 20 percent and stated that minimum and maximum tuition fees will be determined by the provincial board of trustees.

He further identified two main factors in determining tuition as “supply and demand and the geographical location of the university branch” and “the economic-social conditions of the region,” adding that the tuition increase procedure is similar to the normal and reasonable practice of previous years.

• Iran’s Inflation Rate Higher Than Iraq, Turkey, and Pakistan

The deputy for economic research at the Tehran Chamber of Commerce reported at the twenty-sixth meeting of the board of representatives of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture about the high inflation rate in Iran compared to some of its neighbors.

Maryam Khazaei, deputy for economic research at the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, announced the inflation rate of 43.6 percent in Iran at this meeting and said that Iran’s inflation rate is approximately 5.9 times Iraq’s inflation, 5.2 times Pakistan’s inflation, and 2.3 times Turkey’s inflation.

Abbas Argoon, vice chairman of the Money and Capital Market Commission of the Tehran Chamber, also emphasizing the government’s focus on controlling inflation, said that in Iran due to high inflation, what is observed as the difference between buying and selling prices reflects inflation.

Masoud Khansari, head of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, said that Iran’s revenues and expenses are not in harmony with each other. He added that perhaps less than 50 percent of the country’s revenues were realized in the past five months and the government is forced to use the central bank’s financial facilities to cover its expenses. According to him, this very issue has led to an increase in the monetary base and fueled inflation.

The head of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce further expressed concern about price increases if this situation continues in the coming months.

• Discovery of Half a Ton of Horse and Donkey Meat in Tehran

According to Iranian media reports, the head of the Tehran Veterinary Department announced the destruction of “half a ton of horse and donkey meat” at an unauthorized livestock farm before its distribution in the market.

Sadegh Golzari, head of the Tehran Veterinary Department, told the Tasnim news agency that experts from the Tehran Veterinary Department during an inspection of a livestock unit where more than 10 horses and donkeys were kept, discovered the slaughter and preparation of meat from these animals for sale in the market.

Source: Voice of America