Ex-Minister Advocates Rationing of Essential Goods

Rationing of essential goods is a less corruption-inducing approach in the current economic situation facing Iran, says Mostafa Hashemitaba, a veteran politician who served as industries minister for three years during the 1980-88 Iraq-imposed war.
With the reimposition of sanctions against Iran, depreciation of the country’s national currency and the resulting cash squeeze, the supply of essential goods has become the government’s top priority. The allocation of subsidized foreign currency for the import of essential goods and raw materials, which controversial policy was implemented by the government past year, has led to large-scale fraud and malpractices by some importers as well as complications with money transfer and delays in the delivery of products.