Potato prices in Iran have surged by a staggering 217% in the past year, according to the Statistical Center of Iran, highlighting a sharp increase in the cost of essential food items.
The sharp rise in the price of a staple food, now a lifeline for an increasingly impoverished population, has become a major public concern in recent weeks, a trend now confirmed by official data.
The average price of potatoes reached over 500,000 rials (about 54 US cents) per kilogram in February, up from approximately 150,000 rials a year earlier. Today, the average Iranian worker earns roughly $120-170 per month, while official estimates suggest that a minimum of $500 is needed for the basic survival of a family of three.
The surge positions potatoes as the food item with the highest price increase in the past 12 months, significantly exceeding the country's general inflation rate, which according to official figures hovers around 35%.
Attributing the sharp rise in potato prices to increased exports and smuggling, Agriculture Minister Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh said on Sunday that exports have been halted. "More potatoes were exported this year compared to last year, and some were also smuggled," he said.
Due to fuel and other government subsidies, it is cheaper to produce food staples in Iran than in some neighboring countries. Also, as Iran's currency has lost 50% of its value since September, exporting any homegrown product for foreign currency has become more rewarding.
Paradoxically, Deputy Agricultural Minister Akbar Fat'hi announced in January that Iran was importing 50,000 tons of potatoes to combat soaring prices.
The imported potatoes, aimed at stabilizing the market, were to be sold at approximately 30 US cents per kilogram, significantly below current prices. He warned further imports may be necessary if the market remains volatile.
Eggplant also saw a substantial price increase of 123%, ranking second among food items with the highest annual inflation.
The Statistical Center's report revealed that a broad range of essential goods, including legumes, rice, and dairy products, have experienced significant price hikes in recent weeks. Pinto beans, for instance, saw a 30% increase in just one month, while Iranian rice rose by an average of 13.5%.
While many food categories experienced significant inflation, chicken and beef prices remained relatively stable, with increases of 4% and 8%, respectively. This stability is likely due to decreased demand as rising costs force many Iranians to reduce meat consumption.
Directors Behtash Sanaeeha and Maryam Moghaddam, actors Esmail Mehrabi and Lily Farhadpour, producer Gholamreza Mousavi, and one of the film’s cinematographers faced charges of propaganda against the state, promoting immoral content, and screening the film without a permit, according to US-based rights group, Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA).
A day after the hearing, Farhadpour wrote a post on her Telegram channel recounting details of the session.
Describing the trial as an inquisition rather than a judicial process, she wrote that the courtroom featured a “Prosecutor’s Desk” where no one sat. “The judge is both the judge and the prosecutor—but mostly the prosecutor,” she added. “You do not feel like you are being judged; you feel like you are only being prosecuted.”
She later deleted the post, writing, “They told me to delete the previous post. I said: ‘Of course.’” She did not specify who instructed her, but Iranian authorities have increasingly restricted artists' social media activities and pressured them to self-censor.
My Favorite Cake tells the story of an elderly woman living alone in Tehran, navigating the loneliness of old age while seeking new experiences. The film explores themes of personal freedom, love, and human connection.
Authorities have taken issue with the film’s portrayal of life outside state-imposed social restrictions, particularly its depiction of women without mandatory hijabs and scenes that hint at relationships outside conservative norms of unmarried couples.
The film also features scenes where the characters consume alcohol—an act that, while common in private homes, is illegal under Iran’s strict laws. In Iran, the production, sale, and consumption of alcohol have been prohibited since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Despite the ban, alcohol consumption persists through underground networks, with many Iranians producing homemade wine and spirits in private settings.
The film was awarded the FIPRESCI Jury Prize at Berlinale and the Silver Hugo at the Chicago Film Festival.
Moghadam and Sanaeeha, known for their previous festival appearances, were unable to attend their film’s premiere last year due to a travel ban imposed on them by Iranian authorities.
The film crew's trial comes amid an intensified crackdown on independent filmmakers and artists in Iran, particularly those who challenge state-imposed restrictions.