In a rare move, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said Thursday that he regrets any troubles with the distribution of a food ration to the poor, following reports that three people have died waiting for the goods in subzero weather. Local media have reported that the three died in recent days while standing in line in freezing temperatures. Authorities were quoted as saying that they had pre-existing heart problems. Most provinces in Iran have experienced unusually low temperatures in recent days. Rouhani told state TV that he “as the president expresses regret if people have faced trouble in receiving the commodity basket.” It’s unusual for an official in Iran to take responsibility for problems in a governmental plan. The ration for the poor includes eggs, cooking oil, chicken, rice and cheese. The program was instituted under Rouhani’s predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, originally just for government workers. Rouhani’s […]