Iran is to create a $1.3 billion "love fund" to encourage poor young people to marry, the country's vice president said on Tuesday. Iranian youngsters often complain they cannot afford to get married because of Iran's economic woes and are living with their parents longer than ever before.
"The love fund is a realisation of the new government's slogan - taking oil money to the tables of the people," state television quoted Vice-President Farhad Rahbar as saying.
Populist conservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad swept to election victory in June on a pledge to distribute the oil earnings of the world's fourth biggest crude producer more fairly.
"The government's share in the $1.3 billion for the 'Reza Love Fund' will be deducted from the oil income of the National Iranian Oil Company," Rahbar said, without elaborating on how the money would be used to help young couples. Each province would have a board of trustees to determine how much money needy couples should get.