Analysis by PMOI/MEK
Iran, April 29, 2019 – Media outlets associated with the regime in Iran announced an increase of 22% in the price of paper on Monday, pushing the paper industry into an economic shock.
Head of the Paper and Cardboard Association said the price of each bundle of paper in the market has increased by 1,000,000 rials (equal to $24 at the official rate). This is an increase in the price of paper, from 4.5 million to 5.5 million rials per bundle.
This sudden increase, according to state-run media, is considered a major challenge to ordinary Iranian families who have kids in school and have to pay extra for schoolbooks and notebooks for their children.
The high cost of paper for Iranians is a critical issue prompting the mullahs’ supreme leader Ali Khamenei to voice concern during a visit to a book exhibition in Tehran on Monday. He criticized the ministers of Culture & Islamic Guidance and Industry for the sudden increase in the price of paper.
“You must resolve the issue of the paper, it cannot go on like this. The Minister of Culture and the Minister of Industry must sit down and figure out a way to resolve this problem,” Khamenei warned with remarks attempting to claim innocence of any personal role in creating this crisis.
