Azernews.Az

Iran's inflation rate is highest among the Middle East countries, ILNA news agency reported, citing the Iranian parliament's research center.

The country also was 6th on the list of countries with highest inflation rate among Southwestern Asian nations in 2012.

The inflation rate in Iran is 4.3 times the average rate among Southwestern Asian nations, according to the report.

In December 2012, IRNA news agency quoted Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Shamseddin Hosseini as saying that the Iranian administration has special plans to curb a probable surge in inflation during the final months of the current Iranian calendar year, ending on March 20, 2013.

"Since recent rises in prices of goods are in close relation with rises in foreign currency prices, so we should rein in foreign currency shocks," he added.

Seventeen million Iranians will receive staple food rationing cards, as the administration and the parliament have agreed to adopt policies to assist low-income families.

Rice, sugar and edible oil will be distributed among low-income strata of society.

Earlier, the Majlis (parliament) and the administration agreed to allocate $2 billion from the National Development Fund to support low-income families. The funds will be used to provide staple foods to poor families.