Iran’s new government considers slashing cash handouts - FT.com

Iran’s new government considers slashing cash handouts - FT.com:

"Iran’s cash-strapped government is looking to slash monthly handouts given to almost all Iranians in a move that could provoke popular anger as the country struggles with high inflation and unemployment.
When the government of Hassan Rouhani, the president, took office in August he promised to ease economic hardship. But a priority, officials say, is to reduce the deficit – unofficially estimated to be as high as $28bn – caused by the policies of the previous government and international sanctions over the nuclear programme.
To do this, officials are rethinking the payment mechanism by which 76m Iranians have been receiving cash each month over the past three years to help with the cost of energy and basic commodities."

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