In response to growing social pressure stemming from the deepening economic crisis, the Iranian government announced on Monday a plan to distribute the equivalent of about $7 per month to every citizen. Iranian government spokesperson Fatameh Mohajerani said the plan aims to “maintain household purchasing power, control inflation, and ensure food security.” Over the past year, the Iranian currency has depreciated by more than half against the U.S. dollar, and official statistics show that the inflation rate exceeded 42% in December alone.