The Central Bank (OTCPK:CBSU) of Iran said in a statement that the rate was 25.3 percent in the Iranian calendar month that ended May 20, PressTV reported Saturday.

The inflation rate increase comes as the Grand Ayatollah Hossein Nouri-Hamedani has expressed concern about rising consumer prices in Iran, PressTV said.

"In a phone conversation with (Iranian) President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, I urged the exertion of stricter control on the soaring prices now weighing down those at the bottom of the economic ladder," the Iranian religious leader said.