Protests have flared up in Iran on account of a 50% increase in the price of petrol. The curb on the subsidy on petrol is levied to support 60 million poor Iranians.
Crux of the Matter
Supreme Leader Khamenei has backed the Iranian government’s decision to cut the petrol subsidy, which shot the petrol prices up by 50%. The fuel subsidy was 1.6% of Iran’s 2017-18 GDP. The cost of petrol in Iran is one of world’s cheapest.
Protests took place in several cities as protestors were skeptical about the flow of the additional $2.5 bn from the cut. Nearly 22 people have died.
The government is using severe violent measures and internet shutdown to combat the protestors.
The curb was also proposed by the International Monetary Fund so as to allow the government to maintain its spending.
The Iranian government has announced measures such as a monthly bonus as compensation for the increased fuel price.
Curiopedia
The 2017–2018 Iranian protests refer to a series of public protests occurring in various cities throughout Iran beginning on 28 December 2017 and continuing into 2018. The first protest took place in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city by population, initially focused on the economic policies of the country’s government; however, as protests spread throughout the country, their scope expanded to include political opposition to the theocratic regime of Iran and its longtime Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Read More
Curated Coverage
Kommentare