In stern cautionary statements, two Iranian members of parliament have raised concerns about the precarious state of Iran's economy.
Mojtaba Tavangar, representing Tehran in the parliament, stressed on Sunday that without a comprehensive and robust plan to address the nation's economic challenges, attempts to alleviate poverty through wealth distribution or subsidies would prove futile in the face of potential currency shocks.
"If we do not have a plan and simply want to reduce poverty by distributing wealth or distributing subsidies, then, with another foreign currency shock, all the work that we have done to reduce poverty will be undone," warned Tavangar.
As a member of the economic commission of parliament, Tavangar went on to criticize the government's apparent weaknesses in managing the economy. He pointed to alarming indicators such as continued inflation, the soaring cost of food, skyrocketing house rents, and the overall high cost of living as the key pressing issues plaguing the nation.
In agreement with Tavangar, Mohammad Vahidi, the representative of Bojnord in the parliament, also warned about the potential consequences of the current economic trajectory. Vahidi sternly cautioned that the country could be led to the brink of economic collapse if the current governance approach is not re-evaluated.
Official reports have lent weight to the parliamentarians' warnings, reflecting the severity of the economic situation in Iran. The Parliament Research Center recently published a report stating that 75% of the three lowest income deciles lack any support, confirming an increase in the number of poor individuals in the country.