Negative Record in Iran’s Oil Exports; Consequences of SanctionsOn March 20, the U.S. Treasury Department announced in a statement that it had sanctioned a refinery known as Teapot and its CEO for purchasing and refining hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian crude oil. “Teapot Refinery” refers to small, independent crude oil refineries in China, which generally have lower production capacities than large state-owned refineries and were historically focused on meeting local demand. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, Lucheng Petrochemical, an independent refinery in Shandong Province, China, purchased millions of barrels of Iranian oil worth approximately $500 million. Wang Xueqing, a Chinese citizen and the CEO and legal representative of this company, is also included in Washington’s new sanctions list. The oil purchased by this Chinese refinery included shipments from vessels affiliated with Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Iran’s Ministry of Defense. In this round of sanctions, 19 entities and vessels responsible for transporting millions of barrels of Iranian oil have also been targeted. “Teapot refinery purchases of Iranian oil provide the primary economic lifeline for the Iranian regime, the world’s leading state sponsor of terror,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “The United States is committed to cutting off the revenue streams that enable Tehran’s continued financing of terrorism and development of its nuclear program.” The U.S. Treasury Department emphasized that Iranian crude oil is transported to Teapot refineries via a shadow fleet that employs deceptive shipping practices, such as altering Automatic Identification System (AIS) data. While the U.S. remains committed to efforts to reduce Iran’s oil exports to zero, Reuters reported on February 28 that China plans to increase its crude oil imports from Iran and Russia in the coming month. According to the report, China’s increased imports are due to the arrival of tankers that are not under U.S. sanctions and have replaced sanctioned vessels due to their high profitability. The new sanctions have been imposed under Executive Order 13902, targeting Iran’s oil and petrochemical sectors. Since returning to the White House, Trump has continued the maximum pressure policy against the Iranian regime, which he had also pursued during his first term in office.
The U.S. Sanctions Iranian Oil Transport, Purchase, And Processing Network
The U.S. Department of the Treasury, in its latest round of sanctions against the Iranian regime, targeted a network involved in Iran’s oil exports and sanctioned an individual and several entities, including an oil refinery in China, for purchasing and processing Iranian crude oil.
The sanctions announced by the U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday, March 20, mark the fourth round of Washington’s sanctions against Iranian oil sales since the reinstatement of the maximum pressure policy under the new administration of Donald Trump.
Trump has stated that the purpose of these measures is to prevent the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons and to stop its funding of Tehran-backed proxy groups.
Execution of 1,050 People and Crackdown on 30,000 Women for Not Wearing the Hijab
According to human rights sources, the Iranian regime executed at least 1,050 people in the Persian Calendar year 1403 (March 21, 2024 to March 21, 2025). Additionally, over 30,000 women faced punitive measures for not adhering to the regime’s mandatory hijab rules.
During this period, at least 3,702 protests and strikes took place, and a minimum of 355 Iranian citizens were shot by security forces.
The human rights website HRANA reported that the year 2024 was a tragic continuation of Iran’s ongoing human rights violations.
The report emphasized that “the provided statistics cannot fully represent the human rights situation in Iran” because the Iranian regime does not allow independent human rights organizations to operate freely or access necessary information.
The Resistance of Prisoners with the “No to Execution Tuesdays” Campaign, 1,148 Executions in Less Than a Year
Executions
According to HRANA’s report, the Iranian regime executed at least 1,050 people in 2024, including 29 women and five juvenile offenders. The report also states that five of these executions were carried out in public. Additionally, 189 people were sentenced to death during this period, and the Supreme Court upheld the death sentences of 55 individuals. Issuing and enforcing the death penalty for individuals under 18 is a violation of international human rights standards, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Iran has ratified. Iran remains one of the few countries in the world that continues to execute juvenile offenders. The sharp rise in the issuance, confirmation, and implementation of death sentences in recent months has sparked widespread protests both inside and outside Iran. In the latest international reaction, Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, expressed concern in his first report about the regime’s use of executions as a tool to suppress the population. On March 18, a group of families of political prisoners sentenced to death gathered in Sarab Park in Sonqor, Kermanshah province, to protest the death sentences issued against their loved ones and other prisoners.Women and Children’s Rights
In its annual report on women’s rights in Iran, HRANA stated that in 2024, the Iranian regime took punitive action against at least 30,642 women for not adhering to the mandatory hijab. The report recorded 16,567 cases of domestic violence, 125 femicides, 33 honor killings—including the murder of 19 men—five acid attacks, and three suicides during this period. Regarding children’s rights, HRANA documented at least 4,296 cases of child abuse, at least 27 instances of child rape and sexual assault, 43 cases of child homicide, 14 deaths, and 204 child injuries due to official negligence. The report also recorded 58 child suicides, five honor killings, three abandoned newborns, nine deaths, and 17 injuries among child laborers. Over the past year, at least three million students dropped out of school, and approximately two million children were recorded as child laborers.Killing of Citizens
According to HRANA’s report, a total of 355 citizens were shot by military forces throughout 2024, resulting in 156 deaths. This includes the deaths of 31 cross-border porters (kulbars), 42 fuel porters (sookhtbars), and 83 other civilians. Over the past year, 199 citizens were also injured due to indiscriminate shooting by Iran’s military forces, including 105 kulbars, 51 ordinary citizens, and 43 fuel porters. HRANA also noted that 30 other kulbars suffered accidents due to harsh environmental and geographical conditions, such as hypothermia and falling from heights. Among them, 21 were injured, and nine lost their lives. Additionally, 19 fuel smugglers were involved in accidents due to military chases, resulting in five deaths and 14 injuries. Earlier, on February 23, the Baluch Activists Campaign, which covers news from Sistan and Baluchestan province, reported that in the past seven years, at least 1,010 fuel porters in Baluch-populated areas of Iran had been killed or injured due to military shootings or pursuits. On February 22, the human rights organization HANA reported that in 2024, at least 41 Kurdish kulbars were killed by direct fire from Iranian border guards, and 216 others were injured.Protest Gatherings
According to HRANA’s report, at least 2,255 protest gatherings took place in Iran in 2024. Among these protests, 724 were labor protests, 1,187 were related to professional and trade unions, 74 were related to freedom of thought and expression, 47 were student protests, and 48 were environmental protests. Additionally, 175 protest gatherings were organized by citizens—mainly those who had lost their savings or other individuals whose rights had been violated—across 31 provinces in the country. In addition to protest gatherings, at least 70 professional strikes and 1,377 labor strikes were held. These statistics indicate a sharp rise in professional and labor protests in Iran, with a total of 3,702 protests and strikes recorded over the past year.New Global Democracy Report: Iran Ranked 147th Among 179 Countries
The V-Dem Institute at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden has released its latest global democracy report. According to this report, Iran ranks 147th out of 179 countries worldwide.
In the Liberal Democracy Index (LDI) assessed in this report, Iran’s ranking remains unchanged at 147th among 179 countries.
Among Iran’s neighbors, Qatar is ranked 150th, the United Arab Emirates 152nd, Azerbaijan 161st, Afghanistan 176th, Pakistan 116th, Iraq 111th, and Turkey 139th.
The Liberal Democracy Index (LDI) combines various elements of democracy and assesses the overall quality of liberal democracy in a country. This index particularly focuses on individual rights, civil liberties, judicial independence, and the rule of law, reflecting how these principles are incorporated into a country’s democratic institutions.
Iran’s ranking in the Electoral Democracy Index (EDI) also remains unchanged at 158th. This index emphasizes the competitiveness and transparency of elections in a country. It assesses the level of electoral freedom and fairness, considering factors such as universal suffrage, the absence of electoral manipulation, and the conduct of free elections.
In the most recent elections held by the Iranian regime in June and July 2024, citizen observations and various assessments indicated that the officially announced voter turnout rate did not align with reality.
Spanish Senate Unanimously Condemns Human Rights Violations in IranAdditionally, through the Guardian Council, the Iranian regime has significantly reduced the role of elected bodies in its structure by widely disqualifying candidates in elections and establishing new governing institutions. The latest V-Dem Institute report ranks Iran 142nd in the Liberal Component Index (LCI), with no change from previous assessments. This index evaluates individual rights and freedoms in a country, measuring the extent of respect for fundamental freedoms such as freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, and human rights. Among Iran’s neighbors, Iraq ranks 108th in this index, Turkey 146th, Pakistan 113th, Qatar 140th, the United Arab Emirates 143rd, and Afghanistan 175th. In the fall of this year, the final text of the so-called “Chastity and Hijab” law was published, in which Iranian regime lawmakers imposed severe penalties and punishments. Additionally, protests in Iran have been increasingly suppressed. In the Egalitarian Component Index (ECI), which assesses equal access to resources and opportunities for all citizens, Iran ranks 122nd. Meanwhile, in the Participatory Component Index (PCI), which evaluates the level of public engagement in democratic processes, Iran is ranked 174th. Iran’s scores in both indices remain unchanged from previous reports.
Mai Sato Issues First Report on the Human Rights Situation in Iran
The new UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, in her first report, highlighted the increasing number of executions in Iran, the lack of transparency regarding information on executions and detainees, the continued repression of protesters, and the discrimination against minorities as repeated human rights violations in the country.
On Tuesday, March 18, Mai Sato presented these findings in her first report on the human rights situation in Iran at the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
On March 12, she also referred to the high number of executions of women in Iran and expressed serious concern over the government’s use of the death penalty, stating that the number of executions in Iran has “significantly increased.”
UN Special Rapporteur: Death Penalty in Iran Must EndIn her remarks, Sato stated that in 2024, the wave of executions in Iran has reached its highest level since 2015, raising concerns that if this trend continues, the number of executions in the country could exceed “one thousand per year.” She emphasized in her report that these figures only reflect the executions for which information is available, meaning that the Iranian regime does not provide transparent statistics on this issue, and the exact number of executions remains unknown. Sato addressed the Iranian authorities, stating that such data should be disclosed transparently. In her report, Sato highlighted discrimination against Baha’is, Sunni Muslims, Christian converts, ethnic minorities, and mistreatment of women, stating that at least 13 women were executed in Iran in 2024. Referring to activists Varisheh Moradi, Sharifeh Mohammadi, and Pakhshan Azizi, who are on death row in Iran, she also addressed issues of forced marriage, child marriage, and the high rate of femicide in the country. The UN Special Rapporteur further pointed out the legal gaps in Iran regarding women’s rights, including the fact that under the current laws of the Iranian regime, a woman’s testimony is considered equal to only half of a man’s testimony. Sato ultimately emphasized that despite this repression, the people of Iran continue their “resistance.”
Reactions to the UN Report
Sara Hossein, Chair of the UN Human Rights Council’s Fact-Finding Committee, also spoke at the session, addressing the harassment and mistreatment of prisoners in Iran, particularly based on their gender, and described these actions as “crimes against humanity.” She criticized the Iranian regime for its use of “disproportionate violence” and “widespread repression” against protests and specifically expressed concern over the regime’s increasing use of facial recognition technology to enforce compulsory hijab laws. Hossein stated that women in Iran continue to be violently arrested, have their vehicles confiscated, and are sentenced to prison. Following these two speeches, Ali Bahreini, Iran’s permanent representative to the UN office in Geneva, dismissed the report as “ridiculous and insulting.” Bahreini’s remarks were so harsh that the session chair requested that member states use language appropriate to the dignity of the meeting and its mission when referring to other member states.The Resistance of Prisoners with the “No to Execution Tuesdays” Campaign, 1,148 Executions in Less Than a Year
At least 116 prisoners have been executed in Iranian prisons in the month of Esfand this year (starting on February 19, 2025).
On Tuesday, March 18, coinciding with the last Tuesday of the Iranian year (which begins on March 21), the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign marked its 60th week, while the Iranian Supreme Court rejected the retrial request of Hatam Ozdemir, a political prisoner sentenced to death.
Members of this campaign, while congratulating the Iranian people on Nowruz (the Persian New Year), expressed their hope that their resistance against “tyranny and executions” would burn as brightly as the flames of Chaharshanbe Suri (the fire festival held on the last Wednesday before Nowruz).
They pointed out that at least 116 prisoners have been executed in Iranian prisons between February 19 and now, stating that Iran has set a “shameful record” in issuing and carrying out death sentences.
Iran: The 59th Week of “No to Executions Tuesdays” with the Participation of Women’s Ward in Sepidar PrisonCurrently, prisoners in 38 prisons across the country go on hunger strike every Tuesday to protest against the implementation of death sentences in Iran. The statement issued by the members of this campaign in its 60th week is as follows: The ‘No to Execution Tuesdays’ campaign, on the eve of the New Year, congratulates the dear people of Iran and our compatriots around the world on the arrival of the national celebration of Chaharshanbe Suri. We hope that the people’s resistance against tyranny and executions in Iran will burn even brighter, like the flames of the last Wednesday of the year, and bring an end to darkness, executions, killings, and violence. The ruling religious dictatorship has executed 116 people since February 19. Additionally, in a horrifying statistic, 1,148 prisoners have been brutally executed during the year 1403 (from March 21, 2024, to March 18, 2025), setting yet another shameful record. In another inhumane act, on March 13, a citizen named Haidar Mohammadi (Hassanvand) was killed under torture by officers at the Nahavand detention center. Despite immense pressure, the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign has endured its second Nowruz (Persian New Year) with resistance and steadfastness against repression and executions. It hopes to continue standing against death sentences with even greater strength and determination in the year 1404 (beginning March 21, 2025). All the support received over the past year has been invaluable to us. We express our gratitude to political, civil, labor, and human rights organizations and groups, both inside and outside Iran. We also appreciate the various sectors of society—including workers, teachers, nurses, retirees, writers, artists, families seeking justice, and students—who have opposed executions and supported this campaign, whether directly or indirectly, in any form. We have now risen against executions in 38 different prisons, taking a small step toward saving the lives of thousands of prisoners sentenced to death. The prisons of the regime are filled with inmates who may face execution in the coming year. For example, out of approximately 130 female prisoners in Lakan Prison, 14 have been sentenced to death, and the execution orders for two of them have already been issued. Lakan Prison is just one of dozens of such prisons. In this regard, we call on all prisoners across the country and everyone who seeks freedom and justice to join and support this campaign.
The Minimum Wage for Iranian Workers in 2025 Announced
According to the Iranian regime’s Minister of Labor, the minimum wage for workers in 2025 has increased from 71 million rials (approximately $75) to 103.99 million rials (approximately $110). This indicates a more than 46% increase in the minimum wage.
According to the state-run Mehr News Agency, Ahmad Meydari, the Iranian regime’s Minister of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare, announced after the 335th session of the Supreme Labor Council that an agreement had been reached between worker representatives, the government, and employers regarding the minimum wage for workers in 2025. The final meeting was held on Saturday, March 15.
The Decline of Iranian Workers’ Purchasing PowerMeydari stated that under the new agreement, the monthly minimum wage has risen from 71 million rials to 103.99 million rials. The housing allowance remains unchanged, and the total minimum earnings for married workers with two children have increased to 163.51 million rials (approximately $172). Previously, this amount was 116 million rials (approximately $122) and has now increased to 163.51 million rials. Regarding wages for married workers, Meydari stated: “The wages for married workers without children have increased from 99 million rials (approximately $104) to 139.09 million rials (approximately $147). Additionally, the labor consumption allowance (or worker’s benefits package) has increased from 14 million rials (approximately $15) to 22 million rials (approximately $23).” The Iranian regime’s Minister of Labor added that further details would soon be made available to the media. He also announced that the seniority-based salary increment had increased from 21 million rials (approximately $22) to 28 million rials (approximately $30).
Systematic Fuel Smuggling and Corruption by Iran’s IRGC
On March 13, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of the Iranian regime’s judiciary, told the state-run Shabakeye Khabar (News Network): “They say a pipeline has been extended from the airport to the sea for smuggling… This can’t be the work of an ordinary person.”
Despite being fully aware of the scale of this disaster, Iranian regime officials—from the president to the parliament speaker—do not dare to name the main culprit. Masoud Pezeshkian, the regime’s president, merely states that “a few million liters of fuel are smuggled daily,” while Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the parliament speaker, cautiously remarks that “a powerful entity is behind fuel smuggling.” However, neither of them dares to mention the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This silence is not due to ignorance but out of fear of the consequences of exposing a network that operates under the direct protection of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Fuel Smuggling Mafia and the Policy of Concealment in IranReports from local media in Baluchestan, southeast Iran, reveal that dozens of fuel tankers—each with a capacity of 36,000 liters—are smuggled daily across the borders of Sistan and Baluchestan into Afghanistan and Pakistan. This trade, which includes both fuel and gas, is entirely controlled by the IRGC, funneling vast revenues into the military organization’s coffers. To deceive public opinion, the IRGC has ordered the killing of impoverished fuel carriers to create the illusion that smuggling is conducted by ordinary individuals. The IRGC, the military arm of Khamenei and the regime’s main pillar of survival, enjoys total immunity for its crimes. Ejei further remarked: “Today, wealth accumulation has reached the point of suffocation, while some people struggle to afford their daily bread.” Today, IRGC commanders have become the country’s most powerful financial cartel, while 96% of Iranians endure hardship and poverty. Fuel smuggling is just one part of this systematic plunder, which, under Khamenei’s support, not only continues unchecked but has also become a tool for sustaining the rule of the clerical dictatorship.
U.S. Sanctions Key Financial Channels of Iran’s Regime
The pressure of sanctions on Tehran’s economic lifeline and the regime’s nervous reactions highlight their impact on Iran’s already fragile economy. The latest U.S. sanctions against the Iranian regime once again exposed its fragile dependence on oil revenues. This time, the Iranian regime’s Oil Minister, Mohsen Paknejad, along with several oil tankers and trading companies, was placed on Washington’s blacklist. Esmaeil Baghaei, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, condemned the move, calling it “petty and contrary to international legal standards.”
The U.S. Treasury Department stated that these sanctions specifically target Iran’s “shadow fleet” and the oil tankers the regime relies on for exports to China. The objective is clear: to reduce Iran’s oil exports to zero and sever the financial lifeline that Tehran uses to advance its destabilizing agenda.
“The Iranian regime continues to use the proceeds from the nation’s vast oil resources to advance its narrow, alarming self-interests at the expense of the Iranian people,” Scott Bessent, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, stated.
U.S. Treasury Imposes Sanctions on a Covert Iranian Drone Procurement Network
From Appeasement to Supporting the Iranian People
Sanctions alone are not enough. The international community must abandon its policy of appeasement toward the “banker of terrorism and fundamentalism” and firmly support the Iranian people in their struggle to break free from religious fascism. Despite its claims, the Iranian regime does not allocate any portion of its oil revenues to improving the people’s livelihoods. Instead, these vast resources are funneled into futile nuclear projects, regional terrorism, and sustaining a crumbling dictatorship. The Iranian regime’s destabilizing ambitions are not confined within its borders. After the fall of Bashar al-Assad, the former Syrian dictator, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei made an interventionist appeal to Syrian youth, urging them to “restore his lost strategic depth.” Continuing this policy, the IRGC’s Quds Force sent weapons and funds to Assad’s remnants, attempting to legitimize their deception by establishing the so-called “Islamic Resistance Front of Syria.” Sanctions will deliver a significant blow to the foundation of the regime’s terror and oppression machine. The latest U.S. sanctions and the regime’s reactions once again expose the fact that Tehran is more vulnerable than ever to international pressure. The global community now faces a historic choice: to continue appeasing a state sponsor of terrorism or to stand with the Iranian people in their fight for freedom and justice. The choice is clear; it is time for the world to stand with the Iranian people and against religious fascism instead of reinforcing dictatorship.Pharmacists and Doctors Concerned Over the Impact of Rising Drug Prices and Shortages in Iran
The rise in drug prices in Iran, ranging from 50 to 400 percent, has once again made headlines. What deeply concerns doctors is the long-term impact of the pharmaceutical sector’s instability on public health.
Many patients must pay for their medications out of pocket. Regarding “hard-to-treat diseases,” individuals register with the Social Security Organization, health services, or the National Health Fund. Once approved, they are “tagged” in the system, but the annual medication cost coverage is capped at 2 billion rials (approximately 2,100 dollars).
Meanwhile, pharmaceutical experts report that a single chemotherapy course can cost up to 10 billion rials (approximately 10,526 dollars).
The treatment protocol for a child with cancer can impose a financial burden of at least 100 million to 5 billion rials (approximately 1,052 to 10,526 dollars) and at most 10 to 30 billion rials (approximately 10,526 to 31,578 dollars) or even more over a three-to-five-year treatment period.
In Iran, One-Third of Patients Refrain from Purchasing MedicationInsurance organizations, including health services and social security, delay payments to pharmacies for up to six months. This has led some pharmacies to stop accepting insurance prescriptions altogether. As a result, the heavy costs of medication fall on families, and in cases of life-threatening illnesses, this situation can cost patients their lives. Official statistics, which only reveal part of the reality, indicate that since March 21, 2024, more than 2,500 hemophilia patients have lost their lives. According to official reports, the number of new cancer cases in Iran stands at 141,641 per year, with approximately 390 new cases recorded daily. Some cancer patients have stopped their treatment, saying, “Last year, we managed to obtain the medication somehow, but this year, we simply can’t afford it.” Last year, the cost of a single course of treatment with the anti-cancer drug Venetoclax was around 900 million rials. However, the same drug now costs 1.9 billion rials (approximately 2,000 dollars), making it unaffordable for most families due to economic conditions. It is worth noting that the minimum wage for a worker with two children in 2024 was approximately 116 dollars. Even those willing to pay exorbitant prices to save their own lives or those of their loved ones are searching for medication online. This issue is not limited to specialized or new drugs; it also affects common medications.
Shortage of Essential Vaccines
Poor planning and officials blaming each other have made common vaccines, such as the flu shot, unavailable. Even vulnerable individuals and healthcare workers miss their vaccinations before the peak season of viral outbreaks. The head of the Communicable Disease Control Center at the Ministry of Health stated that this year, only about 500,000 to 600,000 flu vaccines were distributed, some of which were domestically produced. According to specialists, there was little public demand for the Iranian-made vaccines. Regarding COVID-19, while most countries provide updated vaccines for their citizens, in Iran, effective vaccines and antiviral pills from Pfizer are unavailable due to the policies of the Iranian regime. Additionally, a significant portion of vaccines is being sold on the black market at prices three to four times higher than the official rate.Government-Imposed Pricing and Decline in Domestic Production
While imported medications, particularly for serious illnesses and cancer, are scarce and highly expensive, pharmaceutical industry experts state that since drug pricing is controlled by the Ministry of Health and subject to “government-imposed pricing,” the prices of domestically produced medications do not adjust in line with the country’s inflation rate. Pharmaceutical industry experts report that the Ministry of Health pressures the Food and Drug Organization to keep prices low. Consequently, with rising costs of raw materials—most of which are imported from countries like China—and other production expenses, profit margins have drastically shrunk. As a result, companies are facing financial losses, leading to a decline in domestic production. Under these circumstances, the government occasionally grants temporary import permits for the same medications that are produced domestically, with most of these imports coming from India.Tehran Housing Prices Surge: Average Price Per Square Meter Reaches $1,100
The state-run Etemad Online website reported on Saturday, March 15, regarding the real estate market in Iran’s capital, stating: “Field observations and a review of listed advertisements on websites show that the average price per square meter of housing in various areas of Tehran has surpassed 1.03 billion rials (approximately 1,084 dollars).”
The report, noting that “in recent months, Tehran’s housing market has witnessed a significant price increase,” states that “the average housing price in Tehran, based on listings on real estate platforms, rose from approximately 950 million rials in September 2024 to 990 million rials by November, 1.01 billion rials by January 2025, and 1.03 billion rials by February.”
Previously, economist Farshad Momeni had stated: “Housing prices have increased by approximately 1,700 percent from March 2019 to August 2024.”
Etemad Online, emphasizing that these figures “are in stark contrast with the purchasing power of Tehran’s residents,” added: “The rise in housing prices in Tehran has made access to housing more difficult for many families, particularly the middle and low-income classes. This issue could lead to increased social inequality and a decline in overall public welfare.”
According to the report, rising housing costs could also negatively impact other economic sectors, as families allocate a larger portion of their income to housing expenses, leading to reduced spending in other areas.
Iran: Housing Constitutes 70% of Workers’ ExpensesThe website noted: “Given the current conditions and the instability in financial markets, it is predicted that housing prices in Tehran will continue to fluctuate.” Previously, housing market expert Mahmoud Olad told the regime’s Khabaronline website: “On average, the waiting time to purchase an ordinary home has reached up to 35 years, which is a terrifying figure.” He added: “This means that in some cases, it takes two generations of work to become homeowners.” The latest official statistics show that from 2016 to 2022, more than 48 percent of renters in Iran have fallen below the poverty line. Additionally, according to statistics, the population living below the poverty line in Iran reached over 33 percent at the beginning of 2023. Many experts believe that, considering the inflation of the past two years, the rising exchange rates, and the further depreciation of the national currency, the percentage of the impoverished population has now exceeded 50 percent.
