The Iranian Interior Ministry has classified the sharply rising prices in the country as alarming, with inflation causing distress for many citizens, a spokesman said on Saturday.
However, spokesman Ali Zeiniwand’s said there is currently an abundance of goods in Iran, the news website Hammihan reported.
Zeiniwand called on the population to ignore rumours of supply shortages, which he characterized as hostile propaganda.
To facilitate imports, the leadership in Tehran had instructed customs authorities to allow private merchants with their own storage facilities to import goods, he said.
Citizens complain about soaring prices
Locals told dpa of drastic price increases in daily life, with the price of bread alone doubling in a single week. Meat and other staple foods have become unaffordable for many households and medicines are in short supply, people said.
Washington is maintaining pressure on the leadership in Tehran with a naval blockade targeting vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports, oil terminals or coastal areas.
The US government aims to halt Iran’s oil exports and force Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and make concessions in the nuclear dispute.
Tighter US economic sanctions on Iran are impacting foreign banks and companies in key sectors, including the financial, oil, shipping and aviation industries, as well as gold, technology and cryptocurrencies.