In Iran, Nowruz celebrations marred by price hikes

In Iran Nowruz celebrations marred by price hikes

Iranians celebrate the New Year of the Persian calendar despite high inflation exceeding 50% in recent months.

With our correspondent in Tehran, Siavosh Ghazi

Nowruz, the festival of spring, has a moody mood this year. With the price increaseespecially consumer products, many families are prevented from celebrating the New Year as in previous years.

New Year’s Eve is not like in the pastsays Mansoureh, an Iranian woman in her sixties who runs a store in a small provincial town. Because of inflation, you can’t buy anything. In the past, people gathered on the occasion of Nowruz, everyone was happy. It is not like it used to be. Everything changed. »

According to official figures, food sales have halved this year. The price of certain products, in particular meat, chicken or even pistachios, has increased by more than 50%, sometimes even by 100%.

►Also read: Nowruz in Afghanistan and Iran: keep your spirits up despite everything

Sign of the deterioration of the economic situation, the year was marked by numerous demonstrations by employees, including police officers, who complained about the rise in prices and demanded an increase in their salaries.

Many hope that the conclusion of thenuclear deal with the great powers, which should take place soon, and the lifting of sanctions will make it possible to improve the economic situation

►Also read: Nowruz, the Persian spring festival, an anthropological mystery

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