The 'Zero Inflation' plan recently introduced by the Tehran Municipality is considered an effective measure to assist the livelihoods of Tehran residents in difficult economic conditions. This plan includes stabilizing the prices of 12 essential items in the household basket and has been in effect since October 7, 2026.
Details of the Plan and Included Goods
The goods included in this plan are: rice, frozen beef and lamb, various legumes (red beans, pinto beans, lentils, split peas, and chickpeas), pasta, soy, dates, sugar, and oil. The aim is to keep the prices of these items stable for six months, and even if prices increase in the market, the prices offered at the participating centers will not change.
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The implementation of this plan will be carried out through the municipality's distribution network, including fruit and vegetable markets and Shahrvand stores. Additionally, the option for non-face-to-face purchases through the Shahrzad system has been made available for citizens, allowing them to order goods and receive them at home. The share of purchasing certain goods is also determined based on the number of household members and consumption patterns.
Reactions of City Council Members to the Plan
Since the launch of the 'Zero Inflation' plan, City Council members have shown varied reactions to this initiative. Mehdi Chamran, the Chairman of the Islamic City Council of Tehran, referred to the municipality's months-long planning for implementing this plan during the 435th council meeting and announced coordination with the Central Bank for foreign and domestic purchases. He also responded to criticisms with the question of why previous governments did not take such action.
Parviz Sarvari, the Vice Chairman of the City Council, regarded the implementation of this plan as an honor for urban management in the hardest days for the people and questioned critics on why some want to eliminate the ray of hope that the municipality is trying to preserve.
Ahmad Sadeghi, a member of the council's Planning and Budget Commission, stated that the aim of urban management with this plan is to reduce the pressure of inflation on the people and addressed critics by saying that one cannot talk about the hardships of people's lives and label every solution as political. He emphasized that the Mayor of Tehran has the support of council members in effectively serving the people, and political labels cannot hinder support for well-considered actions.
Challenges and Hopes in the Zero Inflation Plan
Seyyed Ahmad Alavi, another member of the City Council, emphasized that if a group can do something for the people and does not take action, it is betraying the Islamic Republic. He believes that criticizing and cursing the people's situation does not help, and acting is the only way to improve people's conditions.
Alireza Nadali, the spokesperson for the Tehran City Council, also referred to the political confrontations of some critics and stated that unprofessional and political criticisms in the past five years have hindered the success of urban management in serving the people. He emphasized that in the current situation, instead of focusing on whether this action is political or not, its impact on people's lives and its success in practice should be evaluated.
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