Inflation in Iran has risen to its highest level in decades more than three months after the start of the war, with the consumer price index in urban areas standing 77.2% above the previous year's figure in May, state news agency IRNA reported on Wednesday, citing the central bank.
The average inflation rate over the past 12 months stood at 53.9%.
The Bamdad Institute, a Tehran-based think tank specializing in economic issues, said these were the highest recorded price increases since World War II.
Individual sectors also became significantly more expensive in Iran compared to the previous month: Restaurant and hotel prices rose by 88% compared to April, according to the report, while Iranians had to pay around 20% more for health care, transport, telecommunications and household services.
Residents of major cities report far larger price jumps in food and cafés, which have in some cases more than doubled since the war began at the end of February. Many people have consequently cut back and are buying only essentials. Iran's currency, the rial, has also continued to lose value.
Israel and the United States attacked Iran at the end of February. A ceasefire has been in place since early April, though it has recently been overshadowed by mutual exchanges of fire in the Gulf.
Shortly after the war began, Iran's armed forces took control of the strait that serves as a key export route for fertilizer, oil and liquefied natural gas and is of great importance to the global economy. The US has imposed a naval blockade to prevent Iran from exporting oil.
