Updated

Iran's central bank governor and other officials have dismissed claims of economic collapse even as inflation approaches 90% year-on-year and households report struggling to afford medicine, housing, car repairs and basic goods. Iranians receiving unemployment benefits say payments are delayed by up to two months, wheat farmers face a cash crunch for autumn planting as government payments lag and the rial slides, and Tehran's hardline mayor has rolled out price freezes and payments to new parents seen by critics as a bid to boost his presidential ambitions. A former labor minister was mocked after claiming Iran has no economic problems beyond inflation, while Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf mocked the US Treasury Secretary for missed predictions of Iran's economic collapse.