Iran to import 50,000 tons of potatoes to combat price hikes
To stabilize soaring potato prices, Iran is importing 50,000 tons of the staple vegetable, according to Iran’s deputy agricultural minister.
To stabilize soaring potato prices, Iran is importing 50,000 tons of the staple vegetable, according to Iran’s deputy agricultural minister.
The imported potatoes will be sold at a target price of about 30 US cents per kilogram, less than half of the current market prices, Akbar Fat’hi said on Wednesday.
The average income of an Iranian wage earner is about $150.
He anticipates the influx of imported and domestically stored potatoes will lead to price reductions in the coming days.
Fathi attributed the current high prices to increased exports and the off-season for domestic potato production. He also noted that further potato imports may be necessary if the market does not stabilize as expected.
The move follows recent reports of significant price increases on essential food items, with some activists saying the real inflation rate for basic necessities is far higher than official figures suggest.
Labor activist Faramarz Tofighi, speaking to ILNA, highlighted the rising cost of vegetables, including potatoes, making it difficult for workers to afford basic necessities.
He argued that the real inflation rate for essential goods is likely above 50-60%, significantly higher than official figures announced to be about 40%.
He added that many families will soon be unable to afford even red meat monthly. He also cited rising prices for bread, meat, dairy, and an 80% increase in egg prices over the past two months.
The new drone which was unveiled in early January has a range of 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) and an operating time of 20 minutes.
"Rezvan is similar to the Russian-made Lancet and Israeli-made Hero drones," a Telegram channel affiliated with the IRGC reported Tuesday.
The drone has been designed for rapid deployment and targeted attacks, particularly in complex terrain, according to the IRGC.
The suicide drone is fired from a cylindrical launcher and transmits live video to the operator, allowing for precise target selection and engagement, IRGC media Tasnim reported.
Iran has been conducting multiple military exercises in the past few weeks, including air defense drills near nuclear sites like Natanz and a 110,000-strong Basij mobilization in Tehran, to showcase its capabilities and project a message of strength in the region, following consecutive defeats for its allies since September.
IRGC commander-in-chief Hossein Salami said earlier this month that the ongoing military exercises aim to make the enemies refine their assessments of Iran’s defense capabilities and demonstrate that the country’s deterrence is unaffected by external events, a tacit reference to the fall of Tehran’s longtime ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
