Grand ayatollahs call on govt. to tackle high cost of living

TEHRAN,Sept.22(MNA) – A number of Iranian maraja taqlid (Shia clerics who are regarded as sources of emulation) have called on the relevant officials to take the measures necessary to resolve the problem of high cost of living in the country. The Grand ayatollahs made the remarks during a meeting with members of the clerical faction of the Majlis in the holy city of Qom on Thursday. Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi said, “The issues of rising prices and economic problems are putting (more and more) pressure on the people day by day.” Grand Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi Golpayegani told the MPs, “If rising prices and inflation are curbed, the people’s confidence in the Islamic system will increase, otherwise, we will face more problems in the future.” And Grand Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani noted, “Many people come to us and say that although they receive cash subsidies, the cost of living and high prices” have made life difficult for them. Officials should take measures to improve the country’s economic situation, Ayatollah Sobhani stated, adding, “The next president will be facing a large number of problems, including unemployment, rising prices, and moral corruption in the society, and we hope that he will be successful in running the country.” In addition, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamedani said, “The people are suffering from the high cost of living, and serious measures should be taken to curb rising prices and inflation.” “We see that in many countries the prices of goods remain unchanged for several years,” he added