A real potato problem: Iran to import 50,000 potatoes to combat rising prices

Iran's Deputy Agricultural Minister said that Iran will be importing 50,000 tons of the staple vegetable, according to Iran International. 

The imported potatoes will be sold at a target price of about 30 US cents per kilogram, less than half of the current market prices, with the anticipation that the influx of imported and domestically stored potatoes will lead to price reductions in the coming days.

Iran has been dealing with soaring inflation over the past several months and even years, with some saying the actual inflation rate is around 50-60% for basic goods rather than the official 40% rate.

This means that average Iranians are finding all sorts of basic foodstuffs increasingly out of reach or seeing them become relative luxury items.

Inflation is also affecting medical care, as tens of thousands of doctors are refusing to practice for the pay given them by a government price system, as they claim it does not account for the impact of inflation. Inflation has also affected medical products, driving up the price and creating a serious shortage.

Iran, a major producer of oil and gas, is also facing serious fuel shortages due to aging infrastructure and US sanctions. The result is frequent brownouts and even businesses and factories shutting down. Iran also faces a serious unemployment problem, with 50% of those aged 24-50 out of work.

Compounding all this is an ongoing currency crisis, with the rial consistently collapsing against the dollar to historic lows.

Iranian leaders are meantime divided on the question of whether to negotiate with the incoming Trump administration to try and secure sanctions relief. The Iranian President has expressed interest in speaking with President Trump, but any decision to do so must be approved by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who is known to be a hardliner on any concessions regarding things such as Iran's nuclear weapons program.