Iran's subsidy reforms will likely be delayed

TEHRAN, May 11 (MNA) – MP Kazem Delkhosh, the spokesman of the Majlis Economic Development Plan Committee, has said that the implementation of the subsidy reform plan will probably be postponed.

“The ground for the implementation of the plan is not prepared yet and further delay is expected,” he told the Mehr News Agency on Monday.

It takes time to gather information about people’s economic status and identify those who are eligible to receive cash subsidies, he explained.

Earlier the administration had announced that it would commence implementation of the plan from the beginning of the summer and the Majlis had called on the administration not to delay the plan.

Inefficient implementation will negatively affect low-income families

MP Emad Hosseini, spokesman of the Majlis Energy Committee, has warned that an inefficient implementation of the subsidy reforms will adversely affect the living conditions of the low-income families.

“The redirection of subsidies should be carried out carefully and the amount of cash subsides should be proportional to the rise in the costs of living, otherwise the low-income families will face serious problems,” he told the MNA.

Subsidy eliminations will aggravate economic problems

MP Hamid-Reza Fuladgar said the implementation of the plan, while the country is faced with deep recession, will undoubtedly harm the economy.

“Subsidy reforms can be carried out when the economy is booming and when the country is in recession, it will not solve anything.”