BERSHINK DOLATYARI

News Center — Inflation in Iran is no longer merely an economic indicator to be read in official reports; it has become a daily burden imposing itself on the details of millions of lives. The emerging figures reveal a dangerous acceleration in the pace of price increases, particularly in the food sector, where securing basic necessities has become a daily battle for many families.

According to data from the Statistical Center of Iran, the annual inflation rate reached approximately 73.5% in March-April, while food inflation soared to 115%. Basic goods such as cooking oil, rice, and chicken were among the items experiencing the sharpest increases, gradually placing them beyond the reach of broad segments of low-income populations.

At the broader economic level, the International Monetary Fund projects average inflation in Iran for 2026 to be around 68.9%, coupled with a real contraction in GDP of -6.1%. These figures do not merely reflect a price crisis but also indicate a declining capacity to secure food, an erosion of public health standards, and a shrinking space for normal family life.

In a related context, the joint 2025 report by UNICEF and WHO warns that sustained high food inflation threatens the ability of millions to access healthy, balanced nutrition, with women and children bearing the heaviest burden of this crisis.

The report indicates that a 10% increase in food prices is linked to rising rates of food insecurity and an increased risk of severe wasting due to malnutrition among children under five. It also notes that women are more vulnerable to the repercussions of these shocks due to economic and social gaps, limited access to resources, and their bearing of the greatest share of caregiving burdens.

Inflation Weighs Heavily on Women and Families

In this context, Shiva R., a researcher in social welfare studies from Tehran, stated: "What is happening is not merely a rise in the prices of certain goods, but a gradual disintegration of a food basket that was once within families' capacity. When food inflation exceeds general inflation, families first begin to eliminate higher-cost foods such as meat, dairy products, fruits, and vegetables, then move to reducing the quality of protein sources and meal diversity. In the most severe phase, mothers begin to forgo part of their own food portions to keep food available for their children."

She added: "During the first months of this year, this disparity became clear. While general inflation was unprecedentedly high, food prices were rising even faster, effectively pushing a number of basic goods out of the consumption circle of the poor."

She explained that women are the first to pay the price of such crises, "because they are often the first line of defense within the family in the face of crises. They are responsible for managing the food budget, shopping, cooking, and daily care. At the same time, many of them face more fragile economic situations due to lower or unstable income."

She noted that the 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report indicates that gender-related constraints—from limited access to economic resources to the unequal burden of care—reduce women's ability to cope with rising prices and may push them to reduce their own food consumption before others.

Maternal Malnutrition Threatens the Health of Generations

She believes that the cultural dimension deepens the problem, as a mother's sacrifice of her own nutritional needs is often viewed as a virtue or act of devotion, when in reality it is a reflection of accumulated economic and social pressure.

On the impact of these crises on pregnant women, she said: "For a pregnant woman, the crisis is not just about a lack of food quantity but about the loss of essential nutrients for healthy growth, such as iron, iodine, folic acid, calcium, and zinc. UNICEF explains that malnutrition during pregnancy can lead to serious complications such as anemia, pre-eclampsia, hemorrhage, and even maternal death. It can also affect the fetus by increasing risks of fetal death, low birth weight, severe wasting, and stunted growth."

The World Health Organization also confirms that low birth weight is not just an individual problem but an indicator of a broader public health crisis linked to maternal malnutrition, disease, and poor care during pregnancy, as Shiva R. explained.

She stressed that in Iran, food insecurity among pregnant women is no longer a future possibility. A meta-analysis of studies on Iranian pregnant women showed a food insecurity prevalence rate of approximately 45%, while a recent study in Qazvin recorded an even higher rate of 71.4%.

The Food Crisis Threatens the Future of Iran's Children

Asked whether Iranian society is facing a silent threat to the next generation, she replied: "Yes, when pregnancy begins under conditions of food insecurity, the harm does not stop at the mother's current health but extends to the child's developmental trajectory and future."

She continued: "Global food security reports indicate that rising food prices are linked to increased rates of malnutrition and severe wasting among young children." UNICEF also affirms that ensuring women and children have access to nutritious food is a fundamental priority, as the quality of their diet can rapidly deteriorate during economic crises.

She added: "Food inflation does not just mean the table has become smaller; it means the child's future itself becomes more fragile—from physical growth to learning ability, immunity, and overall health. Iran's food crisis is measured not only by what appears in the markets but by what happens inside bodies and homes, where entire families are forced to reduce their needs day by day just to survive."