Drug and Medical Equipment Prices Jump 70% in IranFollowing the activation of snapback sanctions against Iran’s regime and the return of international sanctions, medicine prices in Iran—from specialized drugs to basic cold tablets and syrups—have multiplied several times, and citizens often have to visit multiple pharmacies to obtain what they need. Nevertheless, officials of Iran’s regime attempt to downplay the impact of the sanctions’ return in their statements. Arianeyad emphasized that if herbal medicines are provided without proper knowledge and awareness, they will create many problems for patients. He also referred to the quality of domestically produced medicines in Iran, saying that at times local pharmaceutical products may lack the necessary quality. This member of the Health Commission called for an investigation into the “poor quality” of products from certain pharmaceutical companies and brands. Salam Sotoudeh, another member of the Health Commission, told didbaniran on November 10 that the shortage and high cost of medicine affects the entire country, especially deprived regions where essential medicines are scarce and prices extremely high. He added: “At present, patients’ worry is not only their illness, but the cost of the medicine.” This regime parliament member warned that unless serious solutions are implemented to supply medicine and reduce prices, the consequences will be extremely severe. In August, the state-run newspaper Resalat reported that based on the results of a national study, about 40% of Iranians—especially low-income groups—visit a dentist only when the pain becomes unbearable and extraction is the only option. The state-run website Rouydad24 previously reported that the implementation of the so-called “Daroyar” plan and the removal of the preferential 4,200-toman exchange rate (equivalent to 42,000 rials) caused the cost of medicine, medical equipment, and healthcare services to increase by an average of 70%. Currently, the price of each U.S. dollar is about 1,130,000 rials, and the monthly wage of a worker with two children barely reaches 130 dollars. On October 4, the Health Commission of Iran’s regime parliament warned of potential “human catastrophes,” citing delays by the Central Bank in allocating foreign currency for medicine. Reports from the parliament’s Research Center and official statistics show that patients’ share of healthcare expenses in Iran has risen to 70%, and more than 83% of the pharmaceutical market is controlled by fifty-five quasi-state companies. A 2020 study by the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare showed that about 16% of Iran’s population—around 13.5 million people—had no health insurance. This figure rises to 21% in Tehran Province. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Iranians personally paid about 35% of their medical expenses, nearly twice the global average. According to the Ministry of Welfare, in the same year about 2.4 million Iranians fell below the poverty line due to heavy medical expenses. International studies also show that surgical costs in Iran are higher than in ninety-three countries worldwide.
Iranians Are Giving Up Visiting Doctors Due To High Cost of Treatment and Medicine
Ahmad Arianeyad, a member of the Health Commission in Iran’s regime Majlis (parliament), told the website didbaniran that with the rising cost of medicine and doctor visits, some people with limited financial means are giving up on seeing doctors or taking prescribed medication and are forced either to endure their illnesses or turn to herbal remedies. For non-Iranian readers: the Health Commission is the parliamentary body overseeing medical and pharmaceutical policies.
He added: “In 2025, we have faced unbelievable and unaffordable increases in the price of medicine.”
Iranian Authorities Confirm Death Sentence of Three Political Prisoners in Ahvaz
The death sentences of three political prisoners—Farshad Etemadifar, Masoud Jamei, and Alireza Merdasi—have been confirmed and officially communicated to them in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz.
The death sentences of the three political prisoners were confirmed and conveyed to them after months of detention, torture, illness, and legal limbo in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz. These three political prisoners are now at imminent risk of execution.
According to received reports, the death sentences of political prisoners Farshad Etemadifar, Masoud Jamei, and Alireza Merdasi have been confirmed and delivered to them in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz. On July 10, 2025, they were sentenced to death by Judge Adibi-Mehr, the head of Branch One of the Revolutionary Court in Ahvaz, on charges of “spreading corruption on earth,” “membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK),” and “propaganda against the regime.” Revolutionary Courts operate under Iran’s regime and are used extensively for political cases.
Iran’s ‘No To Execution Tuesdays’ Campaign Marks 94th WeekFarshad Etemadifar: Eighteen Months of Detention, Torture, and Uncertainty Political prisoner Farshad Etemadifar, born in 1996, was arrested on June 15, 2023, along with two other young men named Saman and Davood Hormatnejad by intelligence agents and transferred to the detention center of the Ministry of Intelligence in Yasuj. From the moment of their arrest, the three young men were subjected to intense security pressure, prolonged interrogations, and physical and psychological torture inside the IRGC Intelligence detention facility. The IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) is the main military-security arm of Iran’s regime. According to the indictment, they were charged with serious offenses, including “armed rebellion due to membership in the PMOI/MEK,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “assembly and collusion against national security.” After fifteen months of detention and uncertainty, the three prisoners were summoned to court in September 2024. Masoud Jamei: Father of Four, Suffering from Life-Threatening Illnesses and Denied Treatment Political prisoner Masoud Jamei, son of Moalla, born in 1977 and a resident of Ahvaz, worked as a guard at oil wells and is the father of four children. He was arrested on August 1, 2023, and after extensive interrogations, transferred to Sheiban Prison. In the winter of 2025, he was tried along with his wife and three young children in the Revolutionary Court of Bavi on the charge of “links with groups opposing the regime.” The process placed immense pressure on the entire family. Masoud Jamei suffers from advanced stomach cancer and multiple other conditions, including severe internal infection, neurological headaches, liver and kidney failure, high blood pressure, and fatty liver disease caused by prison malnutrition. According to informed sources, torture during interrogations and the hardships of prison have worsened his illnesses. His condition is reported as “very critical.” Alireza Merdasi: Beloved Ahvazi Teacher and Political Prisoner Denied Medical Care Political prisoner Alireza Merdasi, a well-known teacher with twenty-five years of experience in Ahvaz elementary schools, was arrested by intelligence agents on August 3, 2023, and after interrogations was transferred to Ward Five of Sheiban Prison. He was born in 1973 and holds a bachelor’s degree. His students and colleagues have always described him as “a kind, caring, and beloved teacher.” This political prisoner suffers from respiratory illnesses and severe allergies, but despite his urgent need for specialized treatment, prison authorities have prevented his transfer to outside medical facilities. His relatives describe this as white torture and systematic pressure. The confirmation of the death sentences for these three political prisoners comes amid the fact that all three have faced intense security pressure, prolonged detention, denial of independent legal counsel, torture, serious illnesses, and widespread violations of basic rights. The imminent risk of the executions has created widespread concern among families, human rights activists, and the broader community.
UN Rapporteur Condemns Destruction of Iranian Political Prisoners
Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, once again condemned the destruction of Section 41 of Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery in southern Tehran and rejected the explanations offered by officials of Iran’s regime to justify the act.
Sato wrote on X on Friday, November 14, that she and other UN experts had condemned the destruction of Section 41 of Behesht-e Zahra in a letter addressed to officials of Iran’s regime.
She added that reports also indicate the destruction of the graves of those killed during the 2022 protests and the victims of the downing of the Ukrainian airliner.
The letter, dated October 30, was signed not only by Sato but also by Alexandra Xanthaki, Special Rapporteur on cultural rights; Gabriella Citroni, from the Working Group on Enforced Disappearances; Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; and Bernard Duhaime, Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth and justice. On August 19, Davoud Goodarzi, deputy to Tehran’s mayor Alireza Zakani, announced that the municipality had turned the burial site of political prisoners executed in the 1980s into a parking lot in Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery. This section is the burial site of hundreds of members and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), the largest opposition group. The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran continued in her message on X: “As explained in our correspondence with the Government of Iran, international law obliges states to investigate potentially unlawful deaths, preserve evidence, and ensure respectful treatment of human remains.” Sato added: “Destroying these sites erases not only individual stories but also collective memory. The destruction of such places constitutes a violation of international law and deepens the suffering of families.” Section 41 of Behesht-e Zahra is one of the most well-known burial sites of opponents and critics of Iran’s regime; a place where many political prisoners executed over the past decades, especially members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, are buried. This section is referred to as the “execution section,” and it is said that in addition to MEK members, several individuals connected to the Nojeh coup attempt as well as some business owners executed in the early years after the 1979 revolution are also buried there. From the early years following the 1979 revolution, this site has continuously faced destruction, desecration, and severe restrictions imposed on families and survivors. Before the latest wave of destruction, graves in this area and in similar cemeteries had been repeatedly subjected to damage, desecration, and successive cycles of destruction over past decades.به همراه سایر کارشناسان سازمان ملل تخریب قطعهٔ ۴۱ بهشتزهرا در تهران را محکوم کردیم.
— Mai Sato (@drmaisato) November 14, 2025
در اوت ۲۰۲۵ (مرداد ۱۴۰۴) ، گزارش شد که مقامات این بخش را تخریب کردهاند و قصد دارند آن را به پارکینگ تبدیل کنند؛ با این توجیه که این قطعه «رها شده» است، ادعایی که خانوادهها بهشدت آن را رد می…
IRGC Seizes Oil Tanker in Persian Gulf Waters
Reuters reported that the IRGC directed the Talara oil tanker toward the shores of Iran. The Colombian company that owns the Talara also confirmed that it has lost contact with the vessel.
A U.S. official said on Friday, November 14, that Iran’s regime seized the Talara oil tanker, which sails under the Marshall Islands flag, in the Strait of Hormuz and transferred it into its territorial waters.
The United States Fifth Fleet also announced in a post on the social platform X that it is aware of the incident involving the Talara vessel. The Fifth Fleet is responsible for U.S. naval operations in the Persian Gulf region.
This military body emphasized that commercial vessels have the right to unobstructed navigation and trade in international waters.
The Associated Press wrote that a U.S. Navy drone patrolled for hours over the area where the tanker was present and witnessed its seizure.
Earlier, Ambrey, a maritime security company based in the United Kingdom, stated that an oil tanker near Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates suddenly deviated from its route and was heading toward Iranian territorial waters.
The company also reported that the tanker had been traveling from Ajman in the UAE toward Singapore and had previously been attacked by three small boats while passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
On November 11, Ali Abdollahi, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters—a key military command within Iran’s regime—said during a visit to the Naza’at islands in the Persian Gulf that the purpose of the trip was to “assess the readiness of the IRGC Navy,” adding that “good measures” had been taken in several areas.
Iran’s regime has repeatedly seized foreign vessels in the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf in recent years.
On July 16, the chief justice of Hormozgan Province announced the seizure of a foreign oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on charges of “fuel smuggling.”
Mojtaba Ghahremani stated that the vessel was first inspected “due to incomplete legal documentation related to its cargo,” and was later seized for allegedly “carrying 2 million liters of smuggled fuel.”
He did not specify the owner of the ship or the country whose flag it was sailing under.
On July 29, 2024, the IRGC announced the seizure of the Pearl G oil tanker, sailing under the flag of Togo, and the arrest of its nine crew members in northern Persian Gulf waters near the Arash oil field, accusing the vessel of carrying “more than 700,000 liters of smuggled oil.”
A week earlier, on July 21, Ambrey, the British maritime security company, announced that the IRGC had seized another Togo-flagged tanker managed by the United Arab Emirates near the port of Bushehr.
On April 13, 2024, the IRGC Navy seized a Portuguese-flagged cargo ship named MSC Aries in regional waters. Shortly afterward, the foreign ministry of Iran’s regime claimed that the vessel belonged to Israel in an attempt to justify the action.
Meanwhile, for decades, officials of Iran’s regime have repeatedly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the world’s main energy arteries and a critical route for global oil shipments.
Has Tehran Begun Rebuilding Its Uranium Enrichment Facilities?
Masoud Pezeshkian, the president of Iran’s regime, recently announced a major reconstruction of the country’s nuclear industry. His statement, made after visiting nuclear facilities in Tehran, has intensified speculation about the resumption of nuclear activities.
Background of the Uranium Enrichment Crisis and the JCPOA
For more than two decades, uranium enrichment has been the central point of conflict between Iran’s regime and global powers. After the “12-day war” and a U.S. military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the U.S. president claimed that Iran’s nuclear capability had been completely destroyed.UN Watchdog Unable to Verify Tehran’s Uranium Stockpiles for MonthsDespite the damage to its facilities, Iran’s regime has declared it will rebuild them. Regime officials have emphasized resuming uranium enrichment and nuclear fuel production. It remains unclear whether the revival of enrichment will take place at the same sites or through newly built facilities. A U.S. think tank has reported that construction has resumed at one of Iran’s facilities damaged during the 12-day war. These reports come as U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly hinted at possible military action, warning that if Iran restarts its nuclear program, the United States “will deal with it.”
Warnings from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has said that Iran must take its cooperation with the agency more seriously to avoid escalating tensions with the West. He told the Financial Times that if cooperation does not improve, he will be forced to report that oversight of these materials—408 kilograms of highly enriched uranium—has been lost. Tehran appears to be paying little attention to Trump’s threats. Immediately after the attacks, Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, announced readiness to rebuild the nuclear facilities. Eslami said: “We have taken the necessary measures… and our planning is aimed at preventing any interruption in production and services.” Reports by Western media and think tanks, based on satellite imagery, indicate that Iran has resumed construction. This activity has been observed at an underground site that was reportedly intended to become the third uranium enrichment facility prior to the 12-day war. In June, the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution against Iran. Just hours before the attack, Tehran announced it would activate its third uranium enrichment facility. Speculation suggests that this new site was being built near Natanz, deep within the Kolang Gaz La mountain. Construction of this underground complex began about five years ago, following a sabotage operation at the Natanz advanced centrifuge assembly center. Western media report that the new site was intended to be a secure location for building and assembling advanced centrifuges. It is built at a depth far greater than the Fordow facility. Researchers at the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) claim that construction has resumed at one of Iran’s uranium enrichment sites. They note that it is too early to make definite judgments about the nature of the new activity. CSIS researchers put forward three possibilities for the activity at Kolang Mountain: 1. Iran’s regime is attempting to build the centrifuge assembly facility according to its original plan, with construction speed indicating earlier-than-expected operational readiness. 2. The regime may have expanded the mission of Kolang Mountain and moved activities such as metallurgy there. 3. Iran may be pursuing a covert uranium enrichment facility inside Kolang Mountain, which could increase its existing stock of 400 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium. Official sources of Iran’s regime have remained silent about the reconstruction plans and how nuclear activities will be resumed. It is unclear how much the IAEA knows about the new activity at Kolang Mountain, and the agency has not issued any statement acknowledging the construction of new uranium enrichment facilities by Iran. For decades, Iran’s regime sought to conceal all of its nuclear activities. The world learned of the program only after the National Council of Resistance of Iran exposed it in 2002. Iran’s regime has never ceased pursuing the development of its nuclear program to obtain nuclear weapons and, according to some sources, has spent 2 trillion dollars on it. Meanwhile, more than half of Iran’s population faces poverty and hunger. Iran’s regime has an urgent need for nuclear weapons to ensure its survival, allowing it to continue suppressing the Iranian people and maintaining its terrorist interventions outside Iran.Renewed Surge in Dollar and Gold Prices in Iran
A renewed surge in the price of the US dollar and gold in Iran has deepened public concern about the future of the country’s economy.
As foreign currency rates continue to climb alongside the worsening economic situation in Iran, the price of the US dollar in the free market surpassed 1.13 million rials. Gold prices also rose following this upward trend.
On Thursday, November 13, the price of the dollar reached 1.136 million rials, about 10,000 rials higher than Wednesday’s peak, before pulling back slightly to 1.128 million rials.
Iranian Regime MP: The Government No Longer Has Money To Import GasolineThese fluctuations come as the pace of foreign-currency appreciation has accelerated since the beginning of the week. The dollar, which traded at 1.08 million rials on November 8, has now risen by more than 50,000 rials—an increase of about 5.2%. The euro and British pound also continued their upward trajectory on November 13, trading at 1.305 million rials and 1.495 million rials respectively in the free market. Gold prices continued rising as well. The new-design gold coin reached 1.2 billion rials, the half-coin 625 million rials, the quarter-coin 368 million rials, and the price of one gram of 18-karat gold surpassed 116 million rials. In recent weeks, runaway inflation and the steep rise in foreign-currency rates have intensified concerns about the deterioration of Iran’s economy. This trend has accelerated following the activation of the “snapback mechanism” and the reinstatement of United Nations sanctions against the country. For non-Iranian readers: the snapback mechanism refers to a process defined in UN Security Council Resolution 2231, allowing previous UN sanctions to be automatically restored if Iran is deemed non-compliant with nuclear-related commitments. On November 6, Farid Mousavi, a member of the economic committee of Iran’s regime parliament, warned that with ongoing inflation growth, “a 1.3-million-rial dollar in winter is not unlikely.” For non-Iranian readers: Mousavi is a lawmaker within the regime’s parliament, an institution tightly controlled by the ruling establishment. The latest report from the regime’s Central Bank shows that capital flight in the spring of this year reached a historic record, highlighting the depth of Iran’s financial crisis. On Wednesday, November 12, the state-run news website Rouydad24 reported on findings from a recent confidential survey conducted by the Iranian Students Polling Agency (ISPA), details of which were recently leaked to the media. The survey shows that public dissatisfaction with the state of the country has reached about 92%.
U.S. Sanctions 32 Individuals and Entities Linked to Iran’s Missile and Drone Programs
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned 32 individuals and entities based in Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, China, Hong Kong, India, Germany, and Ukraine for operating procurement networks supporting the Iranian regime’s ballistic missile and drone production.
John K. Hurley, U.S. Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, announced the sanctions on Wednesday, November 12, saying that the Iranian regime abuses global financial systems to launder money, purchase components for its nuclear and weapons programs, and support its proxy groups worldwide.He said: “At the direction of President Trump, we are putting maximum pressure on Iran to end its nuclear threat.”
The Trump administration official added: “The United States also expects the international community to fully implement UN snapback sanctions on Iran to cut off its access to the global financial system.”
Washington Sanctions 26 Companies Linked To Tehran, Including U.S. Chipmaker SubsidiariesAccording to the Treasury Department’s statement, the newly sanctioned individuals and companies pose a threat to commercial shipping in the Red Sea and to U.S. forces and their allies in the Middle East.
Purchase of missile fuel raw materials
In its latest action, OFAC sanctioned a multinational network known as “MVM Partnership” for supplying chemical materials to the Iranian regime’s missile program. Since 2023, this network, in coordination with Parchin Chemical Industries (PCI)—a subsidiary of Iran’s Defense Industries Organization—has been purchasing sodium chlorate, sodium perchlorate, and sebacic acid from China. These materials are used to produce solid-fuel propellants and resins used in ballistic missiles. Since its establishment, the MVM network has purchased and transferred hundreds of tons of these materials from China to Iran. The U.S. Treasury also sanctioned Marco Klinge, based in the United Arab Emirates, and Majid Dolatkhah and Vahid Qayumi, based in Iran and Turkey, respectively, for their roles in this network. Klinge conducted purchases from China and India and collaborated with the Chinese company China Chlorate Tech; Dolatkhah acted as the liaison between Parchin and Klinge, while Qayumi managed domestic chemical operations and communications with Iranian companies. Additionally, the companies EVA, Framlane, MVM Amici, Zagros Shimi Far, Furqan Novin Pars, and VGGW were added to the sanctions list for being owned by or cooperating with these individuals. In a February report, the Financial Times revealed that two Iranian vessels carrying over 1,000 tons of solid rocket fuel materials were en route from China to Iran, with the shipment destined for delivery to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Bandar Abbas.Supplying critical drone components for the IRGC Quds Force
OFAC also sanctioned several individuals and companies linked to the Iranian firm Kimia Part Sivan (KIPAS), which has cooperated with the IRGC Quds Force in its drone program. The Iranian company Bespar Pouya (Pardo), a subsidiary of KIPAS, has produced and repaired drone components through early 2025 and maintained contact with personnel affiliated with KIPAS and the Quds Force. Pars Novandishan (ARIAPA), another KIPAS front company, provided technical support for drone production, including the development of electronic systems. Both Bespar Pouya and Pars Novandishan were sanctioned.UN Watchdog Unable to Verify Tehran’s Uranium Stockpiles for Months
In a confidential report, the International Atomic Energy Agency announced that since the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities during the 12-day war, it has lost the ability to verify Iran’s uranium stockpiles enriched close to weapons grade.
The Associated Press wrote on Wednesday, November 12, that in this confidential report—shared with member states—the Agency emphasized that the continuation of this situation prevents assessment of the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program, and rebuilding a complete picture of Iran’s uranium stockpiles will be a long and difficult process.
Reuters also reported on Wednesday, citing the same confidential document, that the Agency has had no access to Iran’s nuclear material for five months.
Iran’s Regime Leader: Negotiation Is Useless and Uranium Enrichment Will ContinueThe confidential report stresses that the amount of highly enriched uranium produced and stockpiled by Iran is “a matter of serious concern.” According to the IAEA’s last official report in September, Iran’s regime possesses 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60%, a level only one technical step away from the 90% weapons-grade threshold. However, Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s regime foreign ministry, stated on November 10 that Iran remains a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and that IAEA inspectors visited several nuclear facilities in Iran last week. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi had warned that this amount of uranium, if Iran decided to build a nuclear weapon, would be enough for up to 10 nuclear bombs, although he emphasized that such a decision has not yet been made.
IAEA’s request for a special report
According to the safeguards agreement between Iran’s regime and the IAEA, Tehran is obligated to submit a special report following incidents such as attacks or earthquakes, detailing the condition and location of its nuclear materials, including highly enriched uranium stockpiles. This report must also describe the condition of facilities damaged during the June war. The Agency stated that receiving this report is “essential and irreplaceable” to ensure that nuclear materials remain within peaceful activities and are not diverted for military use. Nevertheless, on November 11, Tehran informed the Agency in a letter that “any cooperation with this body will depend on the decision of Iran’s regime Supreme National Security Council.” The report also confirms that Tehran has not yet allowed IAEA inspectors access to damaged facilities, although following Rafael Grossi’s agreement with Iran’s regime foreign minister Abbas Araghchi—known as the Cairo Agreement—visits were carried out at several undamaged sites, including the Bushehr nuclear power plant, the Tehran research reactor, and several other centers. The Agency added that its inspectors would travel to Iran on Wednesday to inspect the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center, located about 350 kilometers southeast of Tehran. The facility employs thousands of nuclear specialists and hosts three China-built research reactors and several laboratories linked to Iran’s nuclear program.Sanctions and Iran’s further isolation
After the end of the 12-day war, Iran suspended its cooperation with the Agency, and the United Nations Security Council reimposed extensive sanctions on Iran by activating the “snapback” mechanism. This move angered Tehran and ultimately prevented the implementation of the Cairo Agreement. Under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Iran is legally obligated to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency. However, the return of UN sanctions has frozen Iran’s assets abroad, halted arms transactions with Tehran, and imposed new penalties on the regime’s missile program. According to the Associated Press, as a result of these developments, Iran is now more isolated than ever, and the crisis of trust between Tehran and international institutions over the true status of its nuclear program has intensified to an unprecedented degree.Seven Million Hungry People in Iran
Hossein Raghfar, a state-affiliated economist, stated that currently around 10% of Iran’s population is suffering from malnutrition and hunger. He warned that if current trends continue, “the poor population” will reach about 40% of the total population.
On Tuesday, November 11, in an interview with the state-run news website Khabar Online, he described the malnutrition that affects seven million people in Iran, saying: “Even if these individuals spend all their income on food, they still cannot get enough calories.”
Raghfar blamed this situation on the “discriminatory system of resource and opportunity allocation,” adding: “Today we see that the closer someone is to the power structure, the greater resources or opportunities they have captured.”
The university professor also pointed out another social observation: “On one side, poverty is growing, and on the other, a small but extremely wealthy class has emerged, which is influential within the system and manipulates policymaking in its favor.”
Iranian Regime’s Failure to Curb Inflation Fuels Economic Anxiety and DistrustHe compared the current hunger situation to the famine during the British occupation of Iran in World War I, saying: “That disaster resulted from the deliberate actions of the British, but the current hunger is caused by stupidity and greed combined with betrayal.” The state-affiliated economist described the notion of people “waiting forever” as “a hollow and naive idea,” warning: “It is wrong to think that people will just sit by and watch themselves grow hungrier. The continuation of this situation will ultimately lead to severe social reactions.”
Growing hunger and wages that cannot fill dinner tables
In mid-October, domestic Iranian media reported that about 35% of all registered deaths in Iran are due to malnutrition. According to estimates by the Ministry of Health, at least 10,000 people die each year due to omega-3 fatty acid deficiency, about 10,000 due to inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, and another 25,000 from a lack of whole grains and bread in their diet.Millions of Iranians Living Below the Poverty LineBetween 50% and 70% of Iran’s population also suffers from vitamin D deficiency—a crisis that directly results in weakened immune systems and increased bone diseases. Majid Mirlatafi, a faculty member of Tarbiat Modares University, recently warned that “the price of yogurt will soon double, and people will no longer be able to afford even bread and yogurt.” In this regard, labor activist Faramarz Tofighi, a former member of the wage committee of the Supreme Labor Council, told the state-run ILNA news agency on Sunday, November 9: “The cost of the so-called living basket, even based on official calculation standards, has now reached around 580 million rials.” This figure comes while the Supreme Labor Council had set the base wage for workers covered by labor law in March 2025 at less than 110 million rials (about $100). With benefits included, the total is around 150 million rials.
Frozen meat has become a dream
Mansour Pourian, head of the Livestock Supply Council, told the state-run news site Didban Iran on Tuesday, November 11, that prices have risen so sharply that “a significant portion of society can no longer afford Brazilian frozen meat.” Pourian added about frozen meat: “The real price of such meat should not exceed 4 million rials (about $3.6), but it is currently being sold in the market for as much as 6.5 million rials (about $6).” Raghfar also referred to car imports under the fourteenth government, noting that the regime had spent about $4 billion over the past year on importing cars, while lacking sufficient foreign currency to import medicine and other essential goods. He considers such decisions the result of “prioritizing the interests of super-capitalists” over people’s needs, stressing that the policies are designed so that “a tiny minority” benefits while leaving millions hungry. As the Iranian regime continues to fail in addressing the demands of various groups, workers, employees, and retirees across Iran have staged strikes and protests in recent weeks and months. On Tuesday, the Coordinating Council of Teachers’ Trade Associations reported nationwide protests by employees of the Welfare Organization, noting that staff in over 20 cities held signs at their workplaces protesting poor working conditions, injustice, and their deteriorating livelihoods.Gathering of three thousand contract oil workers in Asaluyeh
Simultaneously, more than 3,000 contract workers from the South Pars Gas Complex gathered in front of the central building in Asaluyeh, demanding wage equalization, changes to the work schedule model, and the complete elimination of contractors.Continuing protests by permanent oil workers
Permanent employees of the Offshore Oil Company in Siri and Lavan regions also held gatherings as part of their ongoing labor protests. They demanded “the correction of base salaries for minimum-wage employees, removal of wage caps for operational staff, and elimination of fictitious job titles” in operational areas. The employees also demanded “full payment of retirement bonuses, reimbursement of excess taxes collected, full implementation of Article 10 of the law concerning official employees along with its back pay, and complete independence of the Oil Pension Fund.” Gathering of retirees in Kermanshah and continued protests by nurses in Mashhad A group of government and Social Security retirees gathered in front of the National Pension Fund building in Kermanshah province.Thousands of Oil Workers in Iran Demand Removal of Contractors and Equalization of WagesThe retirees protested their poor living conditions and demanded implementation of the wage equalization plan, improvements to their insurance coverage, and fulfillment of other pending demands. Other demands included the release of political prisoners and an end to execution sentences. Meanwhile, a group of nurses and healthcare workers in Mashhad gathered and marched for the second consecutive day in the courtyard of Imam Reza Hospital.
Iran’s Regime Executes 12 Prisoners in Three Days
welve prisoners were executed in Birjand, Yasuj, Yazd, Sabzevar, Shiraz, Sanandaj, Jiroft, Borazjan, and Dezful prisons. One prisoner in Yasuj was executed in public. The executions took place between Sunday, November 9, and Tuesday, November 11.
Execution of Khodayar Jaghatai in Sabzevar Prison
On the morning of Tuesday, November 11, Khodayar Jaghatai was executed in Sabzevar Prison. The charge against this prisoner is under investigation.Iran’s ‘No To Execution Tuesdays’ Campaign Marks 94th Week
