Iran government sells subsidised meat for Eid al-Adha under blockade

US blockade and sanctions have driven up the cost of meat and other essentials in Iran, creating pressure during Eid al-Adha. Eid al-Adha is an important Islamic holiday, and qurbani involves animal sacrifice carried out through authorized livestock and slaughter centers under Islamic law in hygienic conditions. A Tehran municipality body set a price of 7.4 million rials per kilogram for sacrificial meat at designated shops, far below market prices that can be more than three times higher. With minimum wages under $100 per month, many families treat meat as a luxury. Some households shift toward chicken, eggs, and legumes, though their prices have also risen. Demand for red meat has fallen by about 50 percent, and existing livestock supply is reported to cover market needs despite some imports.

"Iranians are seeing the price of meat, and other basics, escalate due to the US blockade and sanctions. Eid al-Adha, one of the most important dates in the Islamic calendar, comes at a critical time for Iranians this year. Meat from sacrificed animals is often eaten at Iranian tables, but a blockade on Iranian ports and sanctions by the US has led to escalating costs across the country."

"Unlike Nowruz, the Persian New Year, Eid al-Adha is not as widely celebrated in Iran, but mosques and other institutions still observe the ritual of animal sacrifice, known as qurbani, through authorised livestock and slaughter centres. Here, animals are sacrificed according to Islamic law in a hygienic environment. But another goal of the network is to control runaway inflation by offering meat at lower prices than market rates."

"A Tehran municipality body announced on Tuesday that each kilogramme of sacrificial meat would be sold at 7.4 million rials ($4.30) at designated shops. The price for a similar cut on the market can be more than three times that, depending on its quality and the location of the butchers. The minimum wage is currently less than $100 per month in Iran."

"Masoud Rasouli, a meat-packing industry representative, told the state-linked Mehr news agency earlier this week that demand for red meat has decreased by 50 percent compared with last year. He said some meat was imported to counter any effects of the US blockade, but local demand is currently so low that existing livestock population is enough for all the needs of the market."

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