Iran’s proposed budget for next year contains serious flaws and unexplained spending lines, a lawmaker said on Thursday, criticizing pay rises that lag inflation and new allocations linked to the president’s office.
Alireza Salimi, a member of parliament’s industries and mines committee, told ILNA that the draft budget submitted by President Masoud Pezeshkian failed to address soaring living costs while expanding opaque budget items.
Salimi said the plan envisaged a 20% increase in public sector wages despite inflation running near 50%, arguing that workers should not bear the cost of inflation he blamed on government policy. He questioned whether the president was fully aware of current prices for essentials such as meat, rice and cooking oil.
He also criticized the addition of new budget lines within the presidency, including a large allocation to the executive deputy’s office for providing “assistance” to individuals and entities, saying its purpose was unclear.
Salimi further questioned funds set aside for provincial travel by the president, calling for justification of what he described as discretionary spending.
Salimi said parliament would pursue the issue during budget debates, signaling resistance to provisions he said lacked transparency or economic rationale.
