Soaring bread prices spark protests and shop fires in Iran – IRNA

div classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodivpReuters – Soaring bread prices have triggered protests in Iran in which some shops were set on fire, prompting police to arrest scores of “provocateurs”, the official IRNA news agency said on Friday.p

pThe protests were triggered by a cut in government subsidies for imported wheat that caused price hikes as high as 300 percent for a variety of flourbased staples.pdivdivdiv classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodiv

pIran‘s official inflation rate is around 40, and some estimate it is over 50. Almost half Iran’s 82 million population are now below the poverty line.p

pThe government plans to offer digital coupons in the next couple of months for limited amounts of bread at subsidised prices. The rest will be offered at market rates. Other food items will be added later.p

pThere were scattered protests in a number of cities, according to IRNA, in which crowds chanted slogans against price rises and some shops were set on fire.p

pIn total, 22 people were arrested.p

p“Despite attempts by provocateurs to incite protesters, the rallies ended with the intervention of security forces,” said IRNA, adding that calm had been restored.p

pThe largest protest was in Dezful in the oilrich southwestern province of Khuzestan, where IRNA said an estimated 300 people were dispersed by security forces. It said 15 people were arrested for “trying to create chaos” in the city.p

pAbout 200 people demonstrated in Shahre Kord in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province in western Iran on Thursday, IRNA said.p

p“The rally ended at the request of law enforcement agents to prevent thugs from exploiting the situation,” IRNA said. p

pIn the first signs of discontent over price rises, Iranian media last week reported disrupted internet services, an apparent attempt to stop the use of social media to organise rallies and disseminate videos.p

pWhile Friday‘s IRNA report was the first acknowledgement of the protests by Iran’s official media, videos uploaded by social media users this week have showed protests in Dezful and other cities chanting slogans against price hikes and the countrys leaders.p

pReuters could not independently authenticate the videos. p

pWheat prices have drastically increased globally since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, adding to the cost of subsidies in Iran.p

pIranian officials have also blamed the price hikes on the smuggling of subsidised bread into neighbouring Iraq and Afghanistan.p

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