Low and middle-income Iranians are grappling with a contracting economy and a currency that has only recovered partially after having lost some 60 percent of its value last year. Alaa al-Marjani/Reuters
Al Jazeera: With oil sales hobbled, Iran faces tough budget choices
Iran looks to cut benefits and overhaul taxes as United States sanctions ravage its economy.
"Dear head of the household, your subsidies have been eliminated".
That was the text message sent to hundreds of thousands of Iranians over the summer informing them that they and their dependents were no longer eligible for monthly cash subsidies from the government.
Some 78 million of Iran's 83 million citizens receive government cash handouts of around 455,000 rials ($10.8) a month under a programme launched in 2010 by former populist President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
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WNU Editor: Cutting services and raising taxes is what the Iranian government is facing. Good luck on implementing that on a people who are already upset with the mullahs.
