Iran’s Supreme Leader: “My Children and Family Shop for Themselves — They Notice Price Changes Too”

According to the political affairs desk of Saeed News, quoting Mashregh, Mohammad Hossein Saffar Harandi, former Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, spoke about Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani’s disregard for the Supreme Leader’s warnings regarding the deteriorating economic situation of the people: “In early 1991, the Leader of the Revolution had told Mr. Hashemi that life was becoming very difficult for the people and that rising prices had exhausted their patience. ‘I do not agree with the continuation of policies that are making the people poorer,’ he said. (At that time, policies aimed at removing subsidies were being pursued.)

The Supreme Leader stated: ‘I am opposed to this.’

Mr. Hashemi had responded, saying, ‘There are some people who stir things up and tell you things. Don’t believe them. It’s not like that. People are doing fine.’

The Leader of the Revolution replied: ‘What I am telling you comes from our own experience. My own family goes out shopping and this is based on our own findings; it’s not that someone has brought us a report. My son and my family go themselves and shop themselves. They buy bread. They buy yogurt. And they notice that the price today has changed compared to yesterday.’

Some officials are responsible, yet they go an entire year without knowing the prices and rates, simply because they are never seen in any store and are not part of the daily life of the general public—so it’s clear they are unaware of the situation. Sometimes there are clever journalists who ask them about the price of a certain item, and the official knows absolutely nothing."