Tyranny of numbers

Last week, the Statistical Center of Iran published its inflation report for Esfand (ending March 20), the final month of the Iranian year 1404. Despite the record-high inflation reported for the year, its most noteworthy fact is its release amid heavy bombing by the United States and Israel. It is a reminder of the resilience of the Iranian spirit—not only on the battlefield, but also in maintaining the state’s core functions on schedule. Perhaps more damaging than the destruction of the country’s physical capital is the erosion of its institutions, of which the production of accurate statistics—even when politically inconvenient—is essential and far harder to rebuild.