Settlement delays hit Iran's food-voucher scheme as more shops stop accepting it

A field survey by Eghtesad Online published on Sunday 26 July 2026 (4 Mordad 1405) found that a growing number of shops are no longer accepting Iran's electronic food voucher, known as kalabarg. Retailers said that after roughly 25 days they still have not been paid for goods sold against the voucher.

The Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare said part of the delay is caused by mismatches in shops' banking details, and that the timing of payments also depends on securing and collecting the funds. As of publication, no decision had been announced to halt the scheme.

The electronic voucher is the mechanism through which part of Iran's basic-goods subsidy is distributed, and disruption in its settlement cycle directly affects the working capital of the retailers enrolled in it.