Competition Council: From Regulation To Competition Policymaking

Document Type : Research Article

Author

Assistant Professor of Law, Institute of Culture and Communication, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran

10.22059/jppolicy.2026.107805

Abstract

According to the Law on the Implementation of the General Policies of Article 44 of the Constitution, the Competition Council has two powers: adjudication and regulation of monopoly markets, which, according to Article 58, paragraph 5 of the aforementioned law, while granting the Competition Council the power to make policies, is one of its forms, price regulation. In recent years, the Council has been engaged in this regulation in various markets and has used various methods. However, its actions have in some cases been criticized and have been considered by some, as well as the Administrative Court of Justice, as an example of direct "pricing" that goes beyond legal authority. This research, using a descriptive-analytical method, examines the concept, limits, and distinction of the Council's "price regulation" from "pricing." It also analyzes the manner in which this matter is monitored and the nature of this institution's policymaking, looking at the Council's practical practice and the decisions of the Administrative Court of Justice. The findings of this research are the distinction of these two concepts and clarification of the availability of price regulatory for the council as a policy maker in the field of competition so that it is based beyond this jurisdiction with a variety of legal tools to regulate the market of goods and services.

Keywords

References

  1. Alaedini,A.A. (2013). Competition‌law‌ in‌the‌mirror of‌legislative‌developments, Tehran:MajdPublications.[InPersian]
  2. Armstrong,M.,Cowan,S.,&Vickers,J.(1994).Regulatoryreform:EconomicanalysisandBritishexperience.MITPress.
  3. Bagheri,M.,&Asgharnia,M.(2013).*Monopolyandcompetition:Reflectiononthenecessityoftheactivityofsectoralregulatoryinstitutions*.Andisheh-hayeHoquq-eKhususi(PrivateLawThoughts),1(1),31-60.[InPersian]
  4. Black,J.(2025).Criticalreflectionsonregulation:Sustainedattemptstosteerbehaviorthroughstandardsandoutcomes.JournalofLawandtheBiosciences.
  5. Cubanski,J.(2025,January23),FAQsabouttheInflationReductionAct’sMedicaredrugpricenegotiationprogram.KaiserFamilyFoundation(KFF).https://www.kff.org/other/issue-brief/faqs-about-the-inflation-reduction-actsmedicare-drug-price-negotiation-program/
  6. Dunlop,C&Kamkhaji,J&Radaelli,C&Taffoni,G&Wagemann,C(2024)Designingrulemaking:howregulatorypolicyinstrumentsmatterforgovernance,OxfordUniversityPress,2024
  7. Emami,M.,&Ostewarsangari,K.(2012).Administrativelaw,Tehran:MizanPublications.[InPersian]
  8. (2012).Regulation(EU)No531/2012onroamingonpublicmobilecommunicationsnetworkswithintheUnion,OJL172,30.6.2012,pp.10–35.
  9. FederalPowerAct,16U.S.C.§§824d–824e
  10. GhaffariFarsani,B.(2014).Competitionlawanditscivilsanctions,Tehran:MizanPublications.[InPersian]
  11. Hadavand,M.,&Jam,F.(2021).*Theconceptoftheregulatorystate:Analysisofregulationasagovernancetool*.Rahbord(JournalofStrategy),30(99),228-266.[InPersian]
  12. Hadavand,M.,&Jam,F.(2022).*Redefiningtheconceptofregulation:Fromacentralizedapproachtodecentralization*.FaslnamehyeHoquqeEdari(AdministrativeLawQuarterly),10(33),246-269.[InPersian]
  13. Hasanvand,M.,&Colleagues.(2023).*ConceptualseparationofgeneralregulationsfromcasespecificdecisionsinthejudicialprocedureoftheAdministrativeJusticeCourt*.NovinHoquq-eEdari(ModernAdministrativeLaw),5(14),179-207.[InPersian]
  14. Hempling,S.(2017).Regulationofpublicutilitycompanies'performance(F.Maleki&F.Khalili).Tehran:RahShahrInternationalGroupPublications.[InPersian]
  15. Hinterleitner,M&Knill,C&Steinebach,Y(2023).Thegrowthofpolicies,rules,andregulations:Areviewoftheliteratureandresearchagenda.
  16. Hosseini,M.(2017).CompetitionlawinthemirrorofthestructureanddecisionsoftheCompetitionCouncil,Tehran:MajdPublications.[InPersian]
  17. Https://divanedalat.eadl.ir.[InPersian].
  18. Https://www.nicc.gov.ir/.[InPersian].
  19. Iran Constitutional Act.
  20. JafariLangarudi,M.J.(2003).Legalterminology,Tehran:Ganj-eDaneshPublications.[In Persian].
  21. Memorandum of Consumers & Producers Protection Organization .[In Persian].
  22. .Momeni,F.,&Colleagues.(2016).*ComparativeanalysisofregulationwithregardtothesubjectofcompetitionlawfromtheperspectiveofIslamiceconomicsandconventionaleconomics*.Mutaleat-eEqtesad-eEslami(JournalofIslamicEconomicsStudies),9(1),149-176.[InPersian]
  23. (2015).Competitionassessmenttoolkit:VolumeI–Principles.OECDPublishing.https://doi.org/10.1787/34cee4d6-en.
  24. (2025).OECDRegulatoryPolicyOutlook2025.OECDPublishing.https://doi.org/10.1787/56b60e39-en
  25. OECD(2025),ReinforcingRegulatoryFrameworksthroughStandards,MeasurementsandAssurance:MakingBetterUseofQualityInfrastructureinPolicymaking,OECDPublishing,Paris,https://doi.org/10.1787/f398be90-en.
  26. RashvandBukani,M.(2011).CompetitionlawinImamijurisprudence,Iranianlaw,andtheEuropeanUnion,Tehran:ImamSadiqUniversityPress.[InPersian]
  27. The Law on the Implementation of the General Policies of Article 44 of the Constitution, .[InPersian].
  28. Vaezi,S.M.(2023).*Theconceptandfunctionof"competence"inadministrativelaw*.Pajouhesh-hayeHoquq-eOmumi(PublicLawResearch),25(80),205-238.[InPersian]
  29. Williams,P.(2024).Understandingtheeconomicsofmarketdominance.JournalofEconomicsandEconomicEducationResearch,25(S1),1-3,Publishingbyhttps://www.abacademies.org/articles/understanding-the-economics-of-market-dominance-16784.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
  30. Willis,E.(2025).ReviewofIntroductiontoRegulationandGovernance,byM.Maggetti.EuropeanJournalofRiskRegulation,1(1),https://doi.org/10.1017/err.2025.10051.
  31. Windholz,E.,&Hodge,G.A.(2012).ConceptualisingSocialandEconomicRegulation:ImplicationsforModernRegulatorsandRegulatoryActivity.MonashUniversityLawReview,38(49),212–237.
  32. Yavari,A.(2014).*Anintroductiontotheconceptoflegalregulation*.Majalleh-yeMutaleat-eHoquq-eTatbighi(JournalofComparativeLawStudies),5(2),629-647.[InPersian].
Iranian Journal of Public Policy
Volume 12, Issue 2
June 2026
Pages 103-123

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics