Iran's budget organisation makes payment of basic-goods importers' debts conditional on a re-audit of documents

Iran's Planning and Budget Organisation has made payment of the debts owed to importers of basic goods conditional on a fresh audit of the underlying documents. According to Tejarat News on Tuesday, 28 July 2026 (6 Mordad 1405), the organisation had earlier tied payment of the debts owed to shops contracted under the food coupon scheme to the collection of government revenue.

The decision leaves two payment chains stalled at once: importers who supplied staples using preferential currency or under state commitments, and retailers who accepted household food coupon credit and are waiting to be settled. In recent days a number of contracted stores had reported waits of more than two weeks for their receivables.

The importers' claims file also came up at government level the same day. Asked about the 4 billion euro claim held by importers, agriculture minister Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh said he had no information on the timing or method of settlement. Delays in settling basic-goods importers typically show up in the pace of order registration and supply of imported items, and ultimately in the landed cost of those goods.