he Iranian government’s Information Council said in a statement on Sunday that the administration will henceforth supply foreign currency to basic goods and production inputs through a secondary market platform, known as the Second Hall, operated via the Central Bank (CBI).Under the plan, which will be implemented within the framework of next year’s budget law starting on March 21, 2026, foreign currency for basic goods and inputs will be prioritized through the so-called market platform and the Central Bank’s dedicated gateway.“From now on, foreign currency for inputs and basic goods will be supplied from the Second Hall and through the Central Bank’s dedicated portal, with priority given to currency supply,” said the statement carried by Mehr News Agency.The core of the policy is a shift from allocating foreign currency at the beginning of the supply chain to transferring subsidies to the end of the chain and final consumers. The government said the redesign aims to eliminate rent-seeking caused by multiple exchange rates, reduce uncertainty for economic actors and create lasting stability in the market.Under the new mechanism, in addition to streamlining currency supply channels, some institutions and companies will be allowed to use their own foreign currency resources directly to import basic goods without standing in long queues.The government said implementation of the policy began on December 22 and that any potential price changes will be gradual, managed and closely supervised to prevent sudden market shocks and to ensure the benefits of reform are fully passed on to the public.Separately, the presidency’s website said that amid continued economic pressures and with the aim of ensuring food security, improving livelihoods and increasing stability and predictability in the economy, a comprehensive government support plan comprising 15 articles has formally entered the implementation phase.The plan’s executive bylaw was finalized on Sunday in a high-level online meeting attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian, the first vice president, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, ministers and economic cabinet members, representatives of relevant executive bodies and provincial governors nationwide, after which its implementation was officially launched.In the first phase, and on an interim basis, the plan will allocate 10 million rials per month (approximately $7) in purchasing credit per person for 80 million Iranian citizens for a period of four months.Addressing the meeting, Pezeshkian said the government has prioritized protecting people’s livelihoods and providing effective support for producers, shopkeepers and guilds.“Accordingly, the demands, concerns and issues of actors across the production-to-consumption chain will be examined carefully and pursued and resolved through regular provincial meetings with governors, county officials and process owners, and the plan’s implementation must be monitored and reported on a daily basis,” he said.“The government’s policy in this plan is not to remove or reduce subsidies, but to transfer subsidies from the beginning of the chain to the final consumer, so that any potential price increases are fully compensated and households’ purchasing power is preserved,” Pezeshkian said.“Under no circumstances should the prices of other goods and services increase, and oversight in this regard will be applied seriously, decisively and on the ground,” he added.The plan, with a focus on stabilizing markets, strengthening production, boosting purchasing power and closely supervising the supply chain, has been placed high on the government’s economic agenda for the coming months.Meanwhile, the minister of cooperatives, labor and social welfare said on Saturday that the government would also continue paying cash handouts to more than 70 million people, who currently receive an average of 4 million rials (approximately $2.90) per month.He added that the government had originally planned to launch the expanded food coupon program in October, noting that individuals will receive a total credit of 40 million rials (approximately $29) for their January allocation to compensate for the four-month delay.  (ICE TEHERAN)

Fonte notizia: Iran Daily