As President-elect Hassan Rouhani tries to take control of economic matters, and as the Central Bank halves the value of the Iranian currency, a telling reminder from the Central Bank of the challenge….

On Monday, the Bank released figures for annual price increases in food items in Tehran. The lowest rise was 11.9% for chicken, but almost all other items was above 40% — including grains at 111.1%, tea at 100.8%, and fresh vegetables at 84.4%.

The increases elsewhere: rice 64.2% dairy products 40.7%; eggs 59.7%; fresh fruit 18.3%; red meat 55.6%; sugar 41.2%; and vegetable oil 58.2%.

The unofficial numbers could be higher, with reports periodically pointing to spikes in prices amid issues of production, imports, and currency.

The Central Bank released the statistics just ahead of Ramadan, the religious month when Iranians stock up on food to break the daily fast.

Head of Central Bank: Currency Reserves At 65%

The head of Iran’s Central Bank has claimed that the Islamic Republic’s currency reserves have increased to between 60-65%, Mehr News reports.

Mahmoud Bahmani said that the currency reserves had seen a “dramatic” increase over recent years and now stand at $40 billion. Bahmani said that the issue of Iran’s foreign exchange reserves was confidential.

Defense Minister Vahidi Praises Rouhani’s “Awareness” Of Defense Issues

Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi on Monday praised President-elect Hassan Rouhani for his “awareness” of defense matters, according to Fars News, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards.

Vahidi said the ministry had tried to give a clear picture of the country’s defense situation to the President-elect.

Suspected Suicide Bomber Killed by Security Forces in Chabahar

A suspected suicide bomber has been shot and killed by security forces outside a police station in the Sistan and Baluchistan port town of Chabahar, in the southeast of the country. Amin Khorami reports that a soldier was also injured in the gunfire.

FM Salehi: New Administration to Review Ties With Other Countries

Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has declared that the new administration, under president-elect Hassan Rouhani, will review the country’s ties with other countries while maintaining its “principles and framework of policies.”

Salehi said, “The principles and framework of policies will be maintained but the approaches may change just as the [Iranian] president-elect (Hassan Rohani) had stated, during the election campaign, that he will reconsider Iran’s diplomatic relations with other countries; and that he will do,”

Rafsanjani Posts Clip Of July 2009 Friday Prayer Speech

Former President Hashemi Rafsanjani has posted a clip on his personal website of his controversial July 2009 Friday Prayer speech in Tehran.

In the speech — which was not broadcast live on State TV — Rafsanjani said Iran was in crisis.

Rouhani Confirms Date Of Inauguration Ceremony

President-elect Hassan Rouhani has tweeted details of the dates for the inauguration ceremony — August 3rd.