Rising Dairy Prices Send New Shock to Lives of People in IranOn May 25, Reza Bakri, secretary of the Iran Dairy Industries Association, said that dairy product prices have increased several times over the past year and have risen by approximately 90% overall. Ahmad Esmaeilzadeh, director of the Community Nutrition Improvement Office at Iran’s Health Ministry, told Khabar Online that the standard recommendation for different age groups is to consume two to three servings of dairy products daily. However, average consumption in Iran is about one serving or even less, meaning that less than 50% of society’s dairy needs are being met. He expressed concern about insufficient intake of protein, calories, and other essential nutrients among different age groups and added: “If the necessary nutrients do not adequately reach different groups, especially high-risk groups such as pregnant women, growing children, and the elderly, we will face serious health risks in the coming years.” On May 25, 2025, Ali Ehsan Zafari, CEO of the Dairy Cooperatives Union, told the state-run ILNA news agency that the increase in raw milk prices from 460,000 rials per kilogram to 610,000 rials per kilogram was responsible for the rise in dairy prices. He warned that the price increases implemented from the beginning of Khordad would affect per capita consumption.
Experts Warn About Declining Dairy Consumption and the Risk of Expanding Malnutrition in Iran
With dairy prices rising again and consumption declining in Iran, experts have warned about the spread of anemia, osteoporosis, malnutrition, and short stature in future generations.
The state-run Khabar Online news website reported on May 31 that rising dairy prices, combined with the declining purchasing power of households, have reduced dairy consumption in Iran to levels below recommended standards.
Khabar Online wrote that estimates indicate per capita dairy consumption in Iran has fallen to about 50 kilograms, while the global average exceeds 250 kilograms.
According to the report, the chairman of the board of the National Union of Dairy Industry Cooperatives said that raw milk prices have increased by about 40% to 43%, a development that could further reduce dairy consumption.
Burial Costs in Tehran Increase by Up to 50% as Inflation Soars in Iran
A new resolution by the Tehran City Council shows that the cost of cemetery services in the capital—from transporting and washing the deceased to shrouding, burial, and funeral ceremonies—has increased by an average of 40% to 50%, making the final farewell significantly more expensive for bereaved families.
The state-run Didban Iran news website reported on May 31, in an article titled “Million-Rial Farewell to the Dead; Even the Dead Are Not Safe from Inflation and Rising Prices,” on the details of the Tehran City Council’s new resolution regarding cemetery service fees for 2026.
Didban Iran wrote that the price increases cover a wide range of services, including transportation of the deceased, morgue storage, washing of the deceased, shrouding, burial, gravestone installation, and funeral ceremonies.
Director of Tehran’s Largest Cemetery Confirms ‘Coup De Grâce’ Shots to Wounded ProtestersUnder the resolution, the cost of transporting a deceased person within Tehran and up to a 10-kilometer radius has increased from 6.5 million rials in 2025 to 9.75 million rials in 2026, representing a 50% increase. The cost of transporting the deceased to the Kahrizak Forensic Medicine Center, as well as private ambulance services, has also risen significantly. These fee increases are being implemented at a time when citizens have been facing numerous economic hardships in recent months, including high inflation, economic stagnation, widespread layoffs, and the consequences of internet shutdowns.
Sharp Rise in Burial Costs
According to Didban Iran, the cost of several public cemetery services has increased, and items related to washing and shrouding, morgue storage, preparation of the deceased for transport, burial services, and gravestone installation have become more expensive compared to last year. The price hikes are not limited to burial services. Fees for holding funeral ceremonies—including the rental of chairs, tables, canopies, audio equipment, and ceremony management—have also increased, with some services experiencing price rises of up to 50%. According to Didban Iran, rates for grave allocations have also increased. The cost of usufruct rights—the right to use certain graves in various sections of Behesht Zahra cemetery and the new cemeteries of Tehran—has risen significantly compared to last year. However, the City Council has provided certain facilities and discounts for specific groups and vulnerable populations. The resolution also states that if energy prices increase, cemetery service fees will be reviewed and raised accordingly. Earlier, in May 2025, Mehdi Pirhadi, a member of the Tehran City Council, warned that burial capacity at Behesht Zahra cemetery would soon be exhausted and that if the issue was not resolved, the deceased would “certainly remain above ground.” Didban Iran wrote that the explanatory report accompanying the Tehran City Council resolution cited the growing gap between the actual cost of providing services and the amounts collected from citizens as one of the main reasons for the sharp fee increases. The municipality itself proposed the price hikes despite its slogan of running the city at low cost. The new Tehran City Council resolution means that many families, while already facing mounting economic pressure and declining living standards, will now have to pay higher costs for the burial and funeral ceremonies of their loved ones.Iran’s Regime Executes Two More Protesters from the January Uprising
This morning, two more protesters were executed by Iran’s regime.
Mizan, the state-run news agency affiliated with the judiciary of Iran’s regime, reported the execution of Mehrdad Mohammadinia and Ashkan Maleki, two individuals who had taken part in the January protests.
According to Mizan, the two citizens had been tried and sentenced to death on charges including setting fire to a center of repression run by the regime, damaging public property, and clashing with security forces. The judiciary of Iran’s regime claimed that the sentences had been upheld by the Supreme Court before being carried out.
Iran’s ‘No to Execution Tuesdays’ campaign marks 122nd weekThe execution of Mehrdad Mohammadinia and Ashkan Maleki once again demonstrates that the regime’s judicial system operates not to deliver justice but to take revenge on protesters and instill fear in society. For years, issuing and carrying out death sentences against those detained during protests has been one of the regime’s tools for suppressing street demonstrations, silencing public dissent, and intimidating families seeking justice. Mai Sato, the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, had previously warned about the increase in executions and said that Iran’s regime uses the death penalty as a tool to suppress protests, create fear in society, and silence dissenting voices.
The Collapse of Iran’s Economic Resilience
The latest international reports show that the Iranian regime’s economy ranks near the bottom among 130 global economies. This ranking does not merely reflect vulnerability to war or natural disasters; rather, it presents a picture of the exhaustion of economic, institutional, and social structures—structures that, over decades of management by Iran’s regime, have reached a point of fragility.
Economic resilience does not only mean resisting crises. A resilient economy can attract capital, sustain production, create employment, and return to a development path after every shock. But when chronic inflation, institutional corruption, political uncertainty, and weak infrastructure become permanent features of an economy, its capacity for recovery also disappears.
The Vicious Cycle of Poverty in Iran
Why has the resilience of the Iranian regime’s economy declined?
In recent years, inflation has become the most important factor eroding the resilience of the Iranian regime’s economy. Inflation does not only reduce purchasing power; it also deprives households, businesses, and investors of the ability to plan. In such conditions, no economic actor can make long-term decisions about the future. At the same time, the water crisis, aging infrastructure, declining investment, and rising uncertainty have increased production costs. The result of this process has been capital outflow, the emigration of skilled human capital, and a decline in national production capacity. But perhaps the most important factor is the institutional structure of the economy. Economies that benefit from transparency, competition, and the rule of law can recover even in difficult conditions. In contrast, economies based on rent-seeking, monopolies, and political connections become crisis-prone even under minor shocks. In recent years, the idea of assigning key economic roles to a limited group close to centers of power has resurfaced. This view is presented under labels such as “national capitalism” or “productive capitalists,” but in practice it leads to the expansion of crony capitalism. Global experience shows that whenever regulation, resource allocation, and economic decision-making are concentrated in the hands of a small group, competition weakens and innovation disappears. A healthy economy relies on thousands of entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized enterprises, and independent actors—not closed circles of economic power. In such a structure, the most profitable activity is no longer production but access to rents and influence within decision-making centers. This trend not only reduces productivity but also destroys public trust in economic fairness.The middle class: the main victim of economic collapse
Perhaps the most important sign of declining resilience in the Iranian regime’s economy can be seen in the condition of the middle class. This social stratum, which in all developed countries is considered the main pillar of economic and social stability, is now shrinking at an alarming pace. Field reports from Tehran show that many salaried and educated families can no longer afford their monthly expenses. The return of buying on credit, reduced food consumption, purchasing fruit by piece, and even requesting bread on credit are signs of a deeper crisis. When the middle class struggles to meet its basic needs, it can no longer invest in education, culture, innovation, and development. In such conditions, the engine of economic growth is effectively shut down.The resilience crisis: the result of a structural deadlock
The low resilience ranking of the Iranian regime’s economy is not the result of a single incident or temporary crisis. It is the product of decades of inefficient economic governance, the expansion of rent-seeking structures, the destruction of competition, and chronic instability. An economy whose middle class has resorted to buying on credit, whose investors are leaving, and whose entrepreneurs see no clear future cannot withstand future crises. The decline in economic resilience is in fact a reflection of the declining resilience of society as a whole.Iranian Nurses Protest Unpaid Outstanding Claims
On May 30, a group of nurses in Yazd Province held a protest rally outside the Governor-General’s Office, demanding payment of their outstanding claims. The gathering took place as participating nurses stated that they had not received payments for nursing service tariffs for approximately six months, despite repeated follow-ups that have so far yielded no results.
According to reports from the protest site, nurses carrying placards and handwritten signs identified their primary demand as the immediate payment of overdue claims and clarification regarding accumulated debts owed to them. Some participants also protested working conditions and ongoing delays in the payment of salaries and benefits.
Nurses’ Protest Rally to Secure Their Claims
The nurses participating in the protest emphasized that nursing service tariffs are part of their legal rights and that the prolonged delay in payment has imposed significant financial pressure on healthcare workers. They said that as living costs continue to rise, the failure to pay nurses’ claims has created substantial economic hardships for their families. Images published from the gathering showed protesters carrying banners and signs demanding immediate action by authorities regarding overdue payments. One of the main banners also emphasized opposition to mandatory overtime and the need to respect nurses’ rights. Participants stated that nurses’ claims should not become a forgotten issue and that officials are obligated to announce a specific timetable for settling accumulated debts. According to them, the continuation of this situation could negatively affect the motivation and working conditions of healthcare staff.Continuing Labor Protests in the Healthcare Sector
The protest rally by nurses in Yazd took place amid repeated labor protests by nurses across various cities in Iran in recent years. A significant portion of these demonstrations has focused on overdue payments, staff shortages, excessive workloads, and mandatory overtime. The protesting nurses in Yazd stated that they expect provincial authorities and relevant institutions to take prompt action to pay nurses’ claims. They stressed that a six-month delay in paying nursing service tariffs is unacceptable and that a sustainable solution should be implemented to prevent similar problems from recurring. The protest rally was held outside the Yazd Governor-General’s Office and continued for several hours. Reports indicate that the protesters conveyed their demands to regime officials involved in the matter and are awaiting a response and concrete action regarding their outstanding claims. Overall, Saturday’s protest rally in Yazd once again brought the issue of nurses’ claims into the spotlight. The participating nurses emphasized that they will continue pursuing their labor rights until their claims are resolved and the overdue payments are made.Physician Migration, A Warning Alarm for Iran’s Healthcare System
With physicians and nurses emigrating abroad, the human resources crisis in Iran’s healthcare system has entered a new phase. The findings of a research report announced on May 30 by the spokesperson of the Iranian Psychiatric Association in the state-run Khabar Fouri news outlet show that a large proportion of medical residents intend to leave the country, and many regret choosing their specialty training path. These figures are being released amid numerous reports in recent years about the emigration of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
Physician Migration; The First Choice for Many Residents
Amirhossein Jalali Nadoushan, spokesperson for the Iranian Psychiatric Association, stated on May 30 that according to the results of a multicenter survey conducted at four medical universities across the country, 81.5% of 254 medical residents expressed a desire to emigrate.Iranian Regime Medical Council Confirms Arrest of Doctors After ProtestsAccording to the study, 79.5% of participants said that if they had known the actual conditions of residency training before entering their specialty programs, they would have preferred emigration over becoming residents. These figures indicate that dissatisfaction with educational and professional conditions among a segment of young medical professionals has reached an unprecedented level. Jalali Nadoushan emphasized that about 28% of participants had moderate to serious plans to emigrate. Nevertheless, he described the level of physician migration as highly significant.
The Erosion of Hope Among Medical Residents
The spokesperson for the Iranian Psychiatric Association believes that the gap between the desire to emigrate and concrete plans to leave reflects a deeper issue. He stressed that the matter is not solely physician migration, but also diminishing hope for professional prospects and a lack of confidence in the possibility of improving working conditions in the country. According to the same study, 81.1% of residents reported having little or no hope for improvement in the current situation. Healthcare experts view this figure as a potential sign of a broader human resources crisis within the healthcare system. Jalali Nadoushan warned that if this trend continues, it could directly affect the quality of healthcare services, public access to specialist physicians, and the level of burnout among healthcare workers in the coming years.Heavy Workloads and Controversial Policies
One of the most important issues highlighted in the report is the working conditions of medical residents. Nadoushan also criticized certain policies in medical education, stating that some decisions made in recent years have not only failed to solve existing problems but have worsened the crisis, ultimately contributing to physician migration. According to him, at a time when some specialists are leaving the country or exiting the healthcare workforce, expanding educational capacity without providing the necessary resources could undermine the quality of medical education.Expanded Enrollment and Concerns About Educational Quality
Jalali Nadoushan said in another part of his remarks: “Medical education requires specialized infrastructure, hospital facilities, and appropriate educational equipment, and increasing capacity without providing these resources can have extensive consequences for the healthcare system.” He warned that decisions made in this area have not only failed to reduce existing crises but have also created new problems, including physician migration.Physician and Nurse Migration; A Crisis Beyond Statistics
In conclusion, the spokesperson for the Iranian Psychiatric Association referred to the ongoing departure of nurses and healthcare workers from the country. According to him, large numbers of trained Iranian nurses have been recruited by European and North American countries in recent years. He emphasized that when physicians emigrate, replacing professionals who have been trained for years within the country’s healthcare system is not easily possible. These individuals possess experience, expertise, and social understanding that will take considerable time to pass on to future generations. The statistics showing widespread interest among residents in emigration are more than just numbers or survey results. They portray a deeper crisis, one in which some of the country’s youngest and most highly trained professionals are seeking their future beyond Iran’s borders. When more than 80% of medical residents are disillusioned with current conditions and many prefer emigration over continuing their careers in the country, the issue extends beyond physician shortages or educational problems; it reflects an erosion of confidence in the future.Dissatisfaction Has Spread Across All Segments of Society
At the same time, growing labor and social protests among various groups—including workers, teachers, retirees, nurses, and physicians—suggest that dissatisfaction with current conditions is not limited to any single segment of society. Many critics believe that fundamental change in Iran will not come through repeated promises or unsuccessful reforms, but through social organization, the expansion of resistance, and the role of forces seeking change.Denmark Accuses Iran’s Regime of Terrorism Threat
According to Al Arabiya, Denmark’s Security and Intelligence Service (PET) announced that Iran’s regime has played a more prominent role in terrorist threats against the country in recent years. In its latest assessment of Denmark’s security situation, released on Friday, May 29, the agency stated that the overall terrorism threat level remains at 4 out of 5. However, Danish security officials emphasized that the nature of these threats has changed compared to the past and has taken on new dimensions.
The new PET report states that the activities of foreign state actors in terrorist threats against European countries have increased. Danish security officials specifically named Iran’s regime and stated that Tehran has had a more active presence in security operations and threatening activities on European soil in recent years.
IRGC Threatens Public with a Harsher CrackdownThe terrorist threat posed by Iran’s regime in Europe has been repeatedly raised by European countries over the years. Denmark had previously accused Iran’s regime of planning assassination operations against dissidents on Danish soil. In 2018, Danish police announced that they had foiled a plot to assassinate an Arab activist opposed to Iran’s regime. That case led to a new phase of tensions between Copenhagen and Tehran.
Espionage Operations, Threats Against Political Opponents, and Planning Targeted Attacks
In its new report, Denmark’s Security and Intelligence Service stated that the terrorism threat is not limited to religious extremist groups. The agency emphasized that foreign governments now play a significant role in security threats against Europe. Danish officials said that espionage operations, threats against political opponents, and planning targeted attacks are part of these threats. The report also points to increased pressure on opponents of Iran’s regime in European countries. Many Iranian political and media activists have reported threats, surveillance, and security-related pressure over recent years. European intelligence agencies have repeatedly warned about the activities of networks linked to the Islamic Republic.Iran’s Regime and Terrorism Threats in European Countries
The terrorism threat associated with Iran’s regime in recent years has not been limited to Denmark. The Netherlands, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom have also, at various times, reported uncovering networks linked to Iran’s regime or thwarting security plots. Some European governments have even expelled Iranian regime diplomats due to security-related activities. Security experts in Europe say that growing domestic pressure on Iran’s regime and the expansion of public protests have led the regime to place greater emphasis on controlling opponents abroad. Many opponents of Iran’s regime live in Europe and have repeatedly been subjected to threats over the past several years. The report by Denmark’s Security and Intelligence Service was released at a time when relations between Iran’s regime and European countries are experiencing one of their most tense periods. The suppression of protests, widespread human rights violations, and the detention of dual nationals are among the most significant points of contention between Tehran and Europe.Terrorism Threats Among Europe’s Primary Security Concerns
Terrorism threats have now become one of Europe’s most significant security concerns. In recent years, European governments have sought to increase monitoring of networks linked to Iran’s regime. Many European security agencies believe that Tehran uses security apparatuses and tactics to silence critical voices.Workers At Iran’s Makran Steel Face Nine Months of Unpaid Wages
The ongoing crisis of unpaid workers’ wages in contracted projects has once again made headlines at Makran Steel in Chabahar. A number of workers at the company say they have not received any wages for nine months and are enduring difficult conditions without legal support or transparent responses from management. This situation has placed a heavy burden on workers’ families and pushed many to the brink of economic collapse.
According to a report published by local media outlets in the region on Thursday, May 28, a group of workers at Makran Steel in Chabahar reported that their outstanding wages remain unpaid. The company operates across from the fuel station on the Konarak Road along the Chabahar route and is active in the electrical sector. The project’s contractor has been identified as Savan Sanat Company.
The Vicious Cycle of Poverty in IranThe workers say their wages have not been paid since last July. They have repeatedly contacted company officials and followed up on their claims but have received no results. According to the workers, project managers have offered only repeated promises and have continuously postponed wage payments. The issue of unpaid workers’ wages in this project has now become a serious crisis. According to reports, 13 workers remain on the company’s official payroll, yet they have not received even one month’s wages during the past nine months. The workers emphasize that they have received neither a clear explanation about the project’s financial situation nor a specific timeline for the payment of their claims.
Unpaid Wages and Severe Economic Pressure
Makran Steel workers say they have faced extensive financial difficulties during this period. The costs of rent, healthcare, food, and their children’s education have placed their lives under severe strain. According to the workers, part of the project’s financial obligations has already been paid by the employer to the contractor, but workers’ wages remain unresolved. This issue has increased workers’ frustration and concern and raised serious questions about the management of the project’s financial resources. The workers also describe an insecure working environment at the project. They say fear of dismissal and the lack of effective legal protections have eliminated the possibility of openly protesting. Many workers feel compelled to remain silent to avoid losing even their unstable jobs.Contracting Projects and the Recurring Crisis of Unpaid Workers’ Wages
What has occurred at Makran Steel in Chabahar is an example of the broader situation facing workers in contracted projects across Sistan and Baluchestan Province. In recent years, numerous reports have documented lengthy delays in wage payments. Baluch workers in many projects face temporary contracts, inadequate insurance coverage, and difficult working conditions. Labor activists say the contracting structure used in many projects has created conditions that facilitate violations of workers’ rights. Under such circumstances, workers have very limited ability to pursue their claims and often choose to endure harsh conditions rather than face unemployment. The crisis of unpaid workers’ wages in Chabahar continues as inflation and rising living costs have further intensified economic pressures. Many working-class families are now facing severe livelihood challenges, and the continuation of this situation could have far-reaching social consequences.Trump Leaves Advisors’ Meeting Without Reaching a Final Decision
A meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and his senior national security and political team regarding the course of negotiations with the Iranian regime ended after more than two hours of consultations without reaching a final decision.
The New York Times reported early Saturday, May 30, citing a senior U.S. administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity, that Trump was unable to reach a definitive conclusion during the meeting regarding the proposed memorandum of understanding with the Iranian regime.
Before the meeting began, Trump had said that the Friday session in the White House Situation Room was intended to make a final decision regarding the outcome of several weeks of negotiations with Tehran. He also emphasized that any agreement aimed at reducing tensions must include a commitment by the Iranian regime to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and to eliminate its stockpiles of enriched uranium.
Meanwhile, hours after Trump’s remarks, a spokesperson for the Iranian regime’s Foreign Ministry also stated that no final understanding had yet been reached between the two sides and that negotiations were still ongoing.
This comes as conflicting reports have emerged in recent days regarding the fate of the talks between Washington and Tehran, and uncertainty about the possibility of reaching a final agreement continues to persist.
Iran’s Regime Grudgingly Backs Down from its Longest Internet Shutdown
The widespread shutdown of international internet access, which began in January 2026 alongside the escalation of the nationwide uprising, has finally forced the Iranian regime into retreat after months of social pressure, economic crisis, and political isolation. The government of Iranian regime president Masoud Pezeshkian has now ordered the full reopening of international internet access while society remains gripped by severe political and economic unrest.
According to a resolution approved on Monday, May 25, during a meeting of the regime’s cyberspace headquarters chaired by Mohammad Reza Aref, the Ministry of Communications has been instructed to restore international internet access to its status prior to the January massacre. The decision came after months of severe restrictions and the near-total disconnection of Iran from the global internet network.
Netblocks: Iran’s Internet Faces Heavy Filtering Despite Restored Connectivity
