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The Spread of Poverty in Iran

Mehdi Hosseini
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The Spread of Poverty in Iran

Poverty has become one of the biggest social challenges in Iran. Inefficient economic policies, chronic inflation, and unequal income growth are the main factors behind this crisis.

According to reports, the poverty rate in Iran has significantly increased in recent years, with more than one-third of the population now living below the poverty line.

One of the most important reasons for the spread of poverty is high inflation. In recent years, the prices of essential goods and services have increased at a much faster rate than people’s incomes.

Inflation in the housing sector, in particular, has put significant pressure on households. Many families can no longer afford to buy or even rent suitable housing.

Over 80% of Iranian Households Below the Global Poverty Line

This has forced many people to live in extremely difficult conditions and in underprivileged areas.

Widespread corruption prevents support programs from reaching those who truly need them.

These structural problems have turned poverty from an exception into the norm, making the descent of individuals into lower strata of society a routine occurrence.

Despite vast oil resources and natural wealth, Iran has been unable to implement effective policies for equitable wealth distribution.

The dimensions of poverty in Iran are not limited to economic issues.

Income poverty, which means the inability to meet basic needs such as housing, food, and healthcare, is prevalent, but there are also other aspects such as educational and cultural poverty.

Many children are deprived of education because their families cannot afford tuition and related expenses.

Another major issue is economic policies that exacerbate poverty instead of reducing it.

For example, unjust and inefficient tax policies have increased pressure on the lower income deciles of society.

According to available reports, the poverty rate in Iran has surpassed 30% in recent years. However, this figure is based on the regime’s official statistics.

Many experts and economists present significantly higher figures than this.

In contrast, neighboring countries of Iran show different poverty rates. In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the poverty rate is significantly lower.

For instance, the poverty rate in Qatar is just 0.4%, while in Saudi Arabia, it stands at 13.6%.

These differences reflect the impact of varying economic and social policies in these countries.

In Turkey, the poverty rate has decreased in recent years to around 21.3%, thanks to the implementation of economic and social reform programs in the country.

These statistics indicate that Iran has a higher poverty rate compared to some neighboring countries.

Multiple factors, such as inefficient economic policies, corruption, and unequal resource distribution, may contribute to these differences.

According to available reports, Iran holds 209 billion barrels of oil reserves, accounting for about 18% of the world’s oil reserves, ranking third globally after Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, Iran possesses 32.5 trillion cubic meters of natural gas reserves, making it the world’s second-largest holder of gas reserves after Russia.

The value of Iran’s natural resources is estimated at approximately $27.3 trillion.

However, given Iran’s population of approximately 85 million, the share of these natural resources per individual is lower compared to some countries with similar resources.

 

Iran Faces a Harsh Summer Ahead

Hoshang Amiri
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Iran Faces a Harsh Summer Ahead

Water scarcity has become one of Iran’s main crises. Due to declining rainfall in recent years and mismanagement of water resources, it is predicted that the upcoming summer will pose even more serious challenges in this regard.

Climate change, overexploitation of groundwater resources, and the lack of sustainable planning are among the key factors exacerbating this crisis.

Water consumption naturally increases in the summer. This, combined with declining reservoir levels and the erosion of groundwater tables, puts additional pressure on the limited water resources.

Reservoir water levels in Iran have drastically declined. If reduced rainfall is not compensated by the end of winter, the water supply crisis will worsen. Reports indicate that as of January 12, six dams in the country are holding less than 10% of their capacity.

The volume of water in reservoirs has been reported at only 44% of capacity. Inefficient management of energy resources in Iran has caused numerous problems. Power shortages in the summer have become a perennial issue. This time, experts are warning of water shortages and a challenging summer ahead.

Water Crisis and Air Pollution in Iran: Mismanagement and Environmental Consequences

Abbas Aliabadi, the Minister of Energy, has described the potential power and water shortages in the upcoming summer as a major problem. He stated that he prays such a crisis does not occur.

The spokesperson for the water industry also reported in early January a 33% decrease in rainfall since September 2024. He emphasized that solving the water crisis has become even more challenging than addressing the electricity problem.

Statistics show that apart from three provinces, other regions of the country are experiencing reduced rainfall. This situation has also affected major cities, including Tehran.

The average fill level of dams around Tehran is reported to be only 19%. Water resources behind dams are expected to be stored for the summer during winter. However, Iran’s dams currently hold less than half of their capacity.

Dam outflows have increased by 4%. The reduction in dam reserves is attributed to decreased inflow and poor management. Some government insiders also claim that the previous administration depleted dam reserves.

With the start of Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration, some of his associates stated that the previous administration of Ebrahim Raisi (the former president of the regime who died in a helicopter crash) had increased hydroelectric production. This action by the previous government left the new cabinet facing an 8,000-megawatt deficit in hydroelectric energy.

Water Outages, Drought, and Dust Storms Await Iranian Citizens

Increased consumption of water resources and excessive exploitation of groundwater reserves have intensified land subsidence. Several of Iran’s main dams used to generate 10 to 13 percent of the country’s electricity annually.

However, efforts to compensate for power shortages in the spring led to the depletion of significant volumes of dam water. This action was taken in the hope of abundant rainfall, which did not materialize, resulting in reduced water reserves.

Now, with only two months left until the dry season, there is insufficient time to replenish water shortages. Past rainfall models indicate that only two or three strong rainfalls will occur during this period.

If rainfall remains below consumption levels, Iran will face a gradual drought. Continuing this trend will result in persistent drought, water shortages, and serious agricultural problems.

Water consumption rises during the warmer months, and evaporation will further exacerbate the crisis. Additionally, electricity consumption will increase, placing further strain on dams.

Iran endured a tough winter, but the upcoming summer will be even more challenging. In winter, heat production is supported by gas, whereas summer requires more electricity. Increased energy consumption during summer will aggravate the existing imbalances.

Approximately 85 to 90 percent of Iran’s water consumption is allocated to agriculture. Water shortages in the summer will impact agricultural production and the prices of goods. Experts believe the upcoming summer will be particularly challenging for Iran in terms of energy and water supply.

 

Warning from the “No to Executions Tuesdays” Campaign on the Death Sentence of a Prisoner Accused of Rebellion

Esmaeil Mohades
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Warning from the “No to Executions Tuesdays” Campaign on the Death Sentence of a Prisoner Accused of Rebellion

In the 52nd week and on the eve of the anniversary of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign, prisoners in 34 prisons across the country issued a statement on Tuesday, January 21, announcing that over 110 executions had occurred in the past month, bringing the total number of executions since March 21, 2024, to 950.

The imprisoned members of the campaign stated in the statement that the removal of two notorious judges, Mohammad Moghiseh and Ali Razini, who were responsible for issuing thousands of death sentences for political and non-political prisoners over four decades, reflects the profound aversion of the Iranian people to the death penalty and the consequences of 45 years of policies of repression and killings.

This move was widely welcomed in society, particularly among the families seeking justice for the thousands of victims of political executions.

Members of the campaign in 34 prisons nationwide warned that Malek Davarshenas (Mousavi), a 26-year-old political prisoner from the city of Karkheh, has been sentenced to death on charges of “rebellion (Baghi).”

Campaign “No to Executions Tuesdays”: 21 Executions in Iran Coinciding with the New Year

Detained since 2021, he was forced under psychological and physical torture to confess and now faces the imminent risk of execution.

In response to such inhumane sentences, society and prisoners continue to resist governmental violence.

Another part of the statement noted that the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign has so far expanded to 34 prisons and has garnered widespread domestic and international support.

Eleven teachers’ unions in various provinces of the country, despite security pressures, have bravely supported the “No to Executions” campaign and have repeatedly raised this slogan in their weekly gatherings.

Additionally, religious leaders in various cities in Kurdistan have taken a stance against the death penalty.

The campaign once again emphasized the inhumanity of the death penalty and called on all prisoners to join this movement.

It also supported the general strike of the people of Kurdistan against executions, scheduled for Wednesday, and called on the public to participate in these protests.

 

Latest News and Reports on the Killing of Two Death Judges in Iran

Jubin Katiraie
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Latest News and Reports on the Killing of Two Death Judges in Iran

Following the announcement of the killing of clerics Mohammad Moghiseh and Ali Razini in Tehran, government officials and media released contradictory reports.

The state-affiliated Mizan News Agency, linked to the regime’s judiciary, reported that the assailant was an armed individual who entered the office of the two judges and killed them. The agency denied reports of injuries to a third judge.

The government media outlet Khabar Fori quoted Moghiseh’s statement from a month ago, in which he had said: “Insecurity in society is our red line!”

Ali Rabiei, a former advisor to the regime’s president and an intelligence operative, wrote about the killing of these two clerics: “Public vigilance will neutralize these conspiracies in the continuation of Iranian solidarity. Whenever a glimpse of hope and resolution appears, Iran’s ill-wishers engage in targeted and hypocritical acts of violence, such as today’s bloody assassination within the judiciary.”

Who Were Razini and Moghiseh?

In the early 1980s, Ali Razini served as the Revolutionary Prosecutor in Mashhad, overseeing the arrest, execution, and torture of members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and other dissidents in Khorasan Province. During his tenure, thousands of PMOI members were executed by firing squads across cities in Khorasan.

In March 1985, in recognition of Razini’s loyalty to his regime,Ruhollah Khomeini, the former Supreme Leader of the Iranian regime, appointed him as the Central Revolutionary Prosecutor, succeeding Asadollah Lajevardi, a notorious torturer. From then on, executions of prisoners in Tehran were carried out under his supervision and orders until 1987.

High-Ranking Iranian Regime Judges Mohammad Moghiseh and Ali Razini Killed

After the 1979 Revolution, Mohammad Moghiseh joined the prosecutor’s office. Due to his cruelty and brutality, he became a lead interrogator at one of Evin Prison’s notorious branches in 1981, sending prisoners to execution fields in groups.

In 1984, Mohammad Moghiseh, under the alias “Naseri,” was appointed as the deputy prosecutor overseeing Ghezel Hesar Prison. After Ghezel Hesar Prison was emptied of political prisoners in 1986, he was appointed as the chief deputy prosecutor of Gohardasht Prison.

Moghiseh did not even spare sick prisoners from execution. In August 1988, at Gohardasht Prison, he insisted on executing all prisoners whose sentences had been completed.  

According to state media reports, two judges involved in the 1988 summer massacre, Moghiseh and Razini, were targeted and killed on the morning of Saturday, January 18, in the Supreme Court building.  

The state-run Fars News Agency reported, quoting an informed source, that the judges were targeted with live bullets, killing two of them and injuring a third one. According to the report, the assailant committed suicide after the shooting.  

In March 1981, Ali Razini became a judge at the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran while simultaneously serving at the “Revolutionary Military Court” and the “Revolutionary Court of the IRGC.”  

In the fall of 1981, he was sent to Bojnourd and subsequently appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council as the head of the Khorasan Provincial Court. He moved to Mashhad, where, alongside Mostafa Pourmohammadi, who held the position of Revolutionary Prosecutor, he orchestrated the massacre of political dissidents in the province, particularly members of the PMOI. Many were sent to execution squads, prisons, and torture chambers under his orders.  

The execution of women in Mashhad began under Razini. During this period, numerous reports emerged of women being subjected to sexual assault before execution following his involvement in the Mashhad Revolutionary Court.  

Razini actively participated in the massacre of political prisoners in the 1980s, issuing death sentences for many political detainees.  

Razini was also appointed by Khomeini as a judge on the Death Committee, which in the summer of 1988 massacred over 30,000 political prisoners, most of whom were members or supporters of the PMOI.  

Iran’s Regime Denies Reports of Oil Company Building Being Shut Down in Rotterdam

Sia Rajabi
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Iran’s Regime Denies Reports of Oil Company Building Being Shut Down in Rotterdam

Ismail Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian regime’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described reports about the seizure of another building of the National Iranian Oil Company in Rotterdam, Netherlands, as “inaccurate” but did not clarify what had happened to the building.

On Monday, January 20, the Ministry’s spokesperson reacted to the matter, stating: “This case is being pursued by the Presidential Legal and International Affairs Center and the National Iranian Oil Company.”

According to published reports, despite the National Iranian Oil Company’s opposition, the transfer of its building in Rotterdam was approved to settle a $2.6 billion debt to the UAE-based Crescent Company, and the building was officially awarded to Heuvel Company.

The building, seized under an international arbitration ruling, was transferred to the company through a public auction on April 20, 2023.

The state-run Shargh newspaper reported that the National Iranian Oil Company had previously requested the Dutch court to annul the April 2023 auction and restore the building’s ownership, arguing in its defense that the building belonged to a state-owned company and that, under international law, state-owned assets should be immune to seizure and auction.

IEA Weighs in on The Impact of New U.S. Sanctions on Iran’s Oil Exports

In contrast, the auction winner and buyer of the building stated that the property was purchased in a legal auction conducted in accordance with the law and emphasized that it is the official owner of the building.

Ultimately, the court rejected all requests from the National Iranian Oil Company, including the recovery of the building.

What is Crescent?

The contract between the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and Crescent Petroleum, known in the media as the “Crescent Case,” was signed in 2002. Under this contract, unprocessed gas from the Salman gas field, which shared reserves with a gas field in the United Arab Emirates, was to be exported to the UAE.

In 2005, coinciding with a change in Iran’s administration, the Iranian regime’s Court of Audit halted the contract. The UAE party, Crescent Petroleum, filed a complaint with international arbitration authorities over the unilateral termination of the contract.

Seizure of NIOC Assets in Favor of Crescent

So far, Crescent has successfully claimed part of the damages related to the Crescent contract in foreign courts.

Prior to and on April 18, 2024, a British court issued a ruling to seize a building owned by the National Iranian Oil Company, valued at £100 million ($125 million), in central London. Known as NIOC House, the building is located near the British Parliament and Westminster Abbey and had been owned by Iran for approximately 50 years.

Following the seizure of its offices in London and Rotterdam, the company no longer has any offices in Europe.

 

Protests by Various Groups of People in Iranian Cities

Mehdi Hosseini
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Protests by Various Groups of People in Iranian Cities

Protests by various groups of people continue to expand. On Sunday, January 19, different groups of Iranians, including social security pensioners, steel retirees, and others, gathered in various cities to protest poor economic conditions and neglect of their demands. These protests reflect the growing public discontent with the government.

Ahvaz: Steel retirees, after holding a protest march, gathered in front of the governor’s office, chanting slogans such as “Our problem is livelihood and healthcare.”

Tehran: Steel and mining retirees, along with teacher and teaching assistant exam candidates, gathered in protest. Demonstrators chanted slogans against IRGC commanders and demanded reforms in assessments.

Iranian Regime Security Forces Attack Protesting Steel Industry Retirees  

Teacher exam candidates protested against biased and unfair evaluations for teaching positions. During their protest, they chanted, “False promises no longer work.”

Kermanshah: Social security retirees demanded the release of imprisoned workers and an increase in wages.
They also held placards reading “Wage suppression is life suppression,” protesting government policies on wages and livelihoods. Protesters chanted:
Plundering the people’s pockets, under the slogan of justice,
Enough with the warmongering, our tables are empty,
Workers, retirees, unite!
Gathering, protesting is our unalienable right!
Inflation, high prices, no to war and destruction!

Kerman: Mining, steel, and coal retirees gathered to protest unfulfilled promises and economic pressures.

Isfahan: Steel retirees demanded attention to their rights, chanting, “Don’t say there’s no budget, we’re tired of these lies.”
Social security retirees from Haft Tappeh, Karkheh, and Shush protested government failure to fulfill its promises, chanting:
They looted social security, left us destitute,
High prices and inflation are destroying people’s lives,
Devastating inflation rules the market,
Our rights can only be claimed in the streets,
Retiree, shout and demand your rights.

Fars: Regional power station operators protested pay discrimination and demanded fair wages. Contractual operators from regional power stations in Fars protested against the stark disparity in wages and benefits, while their share of wages is overlooked. They declared in their protest, “Don’t cut our wages!”

Demands of Protesters Across the Country

Protesters across the country demand improvement of living conditions and payment of overdue wages, fulfillment of government promises regarding wage increases and welfare services, reform of the evaluation and recruitment system, and an end to corruption and the plundering of national resources.

 

Wages of Iranian workers cover only 30% of household expenses

Sia Rajabi
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Wages of Iranian workers cover only 30% of household expenses

Hamidreza Emamgholi Tabar, an inspector of the Iranian regime’s Supreme Assembly of Workers’ Representatives, announced that the cost of a livelihood basket for a 3.3-person working class family has reached 400 million rials (approximately $494), while the average wage of workers is only 150 million rials (approximately $185), which covers only 30% of household expenses. The minimum wage for a worker with two children is around 110 million rials (approximately $136).

While some labor unions have called for a review of wage policies and the implementation of Article 41 of the Labor Law to set wages in line with living costs, government officials have announced wage increases based on the “difficulty of work.”

According to the state-run Tasnim News Agency, Emamgholi Tabar emphasized the need to increase wages, stating that around 9% of workers in some provinces receive wages below the legal standard, ranging between 70 to 80 million rials (approximately $86 to $99).

Many Workers in Iran Have to Wait Six Months to Receive Their Wages

Additionally, 35% of the labor community live on minimum means and are in challenging economic conditions.

According to this labor activist, 60% of the country’s population, equivalent to 50 million people, are covered by labor and social security programs and mainly belong to the bottom five income deciles. He stressed that any economic changes directly affect this group, and the non-implementation of Article 41 of the Labor Law in determining wages aligned with living costs has exacerbated their problems.

Referring to the 57% wage increase in 2022, Emamgholi Tabar stated that this measure has only benefited the Social Security Organization and failed to address workers’ livelihood issues. He added that increasing wages in line with inflation is the only way to improve workers’ purchasing power.

The inspector of the Supreme Assembly of Workers’ Representatives also highlighted the issue of bank loans, saying that many workers have taken loans ranging from 100 to 300 million rials (approximately $123 to $370) to cover essential expenses, with 20 to 35% of their monthly wages going toward loan repayments.

He stated that housing costs account for about 70% of the livelihood basket, making it challenging for many worker families to even afford rent for a 50-square-meter unit. Additionally, high healthcare and medical expenses have forced workers to forgo recreational activities and medical treatments, exacerbating mental health problems among them.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Meidari, Minister of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare, stated last week, “Working conditions vary across industries, and determining the minimum wage based on the minimum cost of living and inflation is not correct. This figure should be set according to the level of job difficulty in different industries.”

This situation has caused severe dissatisfaction among workers and wage earners in Iran, leading to an upward trend in their protests in recent years.

 

Endless Wave of Price Increases Continues in Iran

Jubin Katiraie
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Endless Wave of Price Increases Continues in Iran

Reports from Iranian domestic media indicate that almost every day, some goods or services become more expensive, and in some cases, such as dairy products, official price hikes have occurred several times a year. Many analysts believe that due to its direct impact on people’s lives and well-being, surviving in Iran is gradually becoming a “luxury” trend.

The recent wave of price increases has affected many goods, with dairy products experiencing the most noticeable surge compared to other items.

The government-affiliated website Eghtesaad24 wrote, “The country’s dairy industry has increased the prices of some products; a price hike that, following previous policies, is set to deprive another portion of the population of consuming dairy products.”

According to this website, the approved prices of non-subsidized dairy products, which play a significant role in household consumption, were raised again in less than three months, shocking consumers.

Food Insecurity Is Rapidly Spreading in Iran

Eghtesaad24 pointed out that the percentage change in the consumption of food items by Iranians has dramatically decreased over the past decade, ringing the alarm bells of poverty in providing basic necessities for people’s tables.

Although officials have reacted to and denied the price increases in dairy products, Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), offers a different narrative, writing: “Even though the spokesperson for the Dairy Industry Association has denied recent price increases for dairy products, this issue is tangible in people’s lives, and by visiting stores, these price increases can be observed.”

Tasnim also emphasized that since September 28, 2024, the prices of subsidized dairy products had increased by 30%, and simultaneously, the prices of non-subsidized products had also risen.

Media outlets also reported that canned tuna, another popular item in household food baskets, is expected to face price changes soon.

In this regard, the Iranian Canned Food Industries Syndicate announced that from January 21, 2025, the price of canned tuna will increase by about 14%.

According to Eghtesaad24, the price of detergents is also facing a 40% increase request by industry stakeholders.

It has been announced that they have sent an official letter to the Organization for Consumer and Producer Protection, requesting approval of their demand due to rising production costs, especially in raw materials and packaging.

The recent price hikes have also included cooking oil, another high-demand product. According to media reports, the increase in vegetable oil prices was approved by the Market Regulation Task Force, and as of January 1, 2025, the prices of 114 types of vegetable oils have risen.

According to the Market Regulation Task Force’s resolution, the prices of various types of liquid and semi-solid cooking oils for household use increased by 15%, while confectionery oil prices rose by 21%.

Majidreza Khaki, spokesperson for the Rice Importers Association, also stated that the price of Iranian rice has increased by 30% in less than a month.

The government-affiliated website Nournews, close to the Supreme National Security Council of the Iranian regime, also reported on January 3, 2025, that tomatoes have experienced the highest price increase among agricultural products, with a 76% rise, followed by potatoes and onions, which saw increases of 74.3% and 71.1%, respectively.

Reports citing official statistics also indicate that sugar prices increased by 66%, Iranian rice by 56%, and cooking oil by 40% in November 2024 compared to the same month the previous year.

Protein products also experienced price hikes, with chicken prices rising by 40% and red meat by 39%.

Reports show that the lowest price increases were for machine-baked Taftoon and Lavash bread, with 23% and 31.5% increases, respectively.

These price hikes come as the Central Bank of Iran’s regime recently claimed that annual inflation in November 2024 reached 36%, the lowest rate in 50 months.

The price increases in Iran are influenced by economic policies, the regime’s actions outside its borders, the continued devaluation of the rial, and power and gas outages in industries. This situation has been reflected in protests by retirees, workers, and other wage earners, who have voiced their objections to Iranian government officials.

 

Severe Housing Price Increases: Home Ownership, a Distant Dream for Many Iranians

Hoshang Amiri
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Severe Housing Price Increases: Home Ownership, a Distant Dream for Many Iranians

The increase in housing prices in Iran and the mismatch between incomes and housing costs for a significant portion of the population have made homeownership a distant dream for many people, according to the Shargh newspaper.

According to this media outlet, the high prices of several billion rials even in the southern parts of the city have limited the ability of many people to purchase homes.

The report states that homes under 100 square meters, mostly with one bedroom, are priced at no less than two billion rials.

Shargh emphasized that in the Azari neighborhood of Tehran, a 54-square-meter house built in 2010 with one bedroom is priced at 31 billion rials (approximately 39,000 USD). In the Navab neighborhood, a 39-square-meter house without parking or an elevator is priced at 20 billion rials (approximately 24,700 USD).

Owning a home In Iran Has Become Nearly Impossible

Additionally, a house in the Kahrizak area, built in 2018 with two bedrooms, is being sold for 20.5 billion rials (approximately 25,400 USD).

The class gap in Tehran’s housing sector is clearly evident, as in the southern parts of the city, people are unable to purchase homes worth 20 billion rials. However, according to the government-affiliated newspaper Donya-e-Eqtesad, the average rental price in northern Tehran, based on the “suggested rent index,” is 630 million rials (approximately 778 USD) per month with a down payment of 11 billion rials (approximately 13,580 USD). 
Field research by the government-affiliated newspaper Donya-e-Eqtesad indicates that the average rent for listings in District 1 is 750 million rials (approximately 926 USD) per month, with a down payment of 11.15 billion rials (approximately 13,765 USD).

Accordingly, the newspaper reported that the monthly rent in District 3 is approximately 500 million rials (about 618 USD), with the down payment being at the same average level as District 1.

Independent experts and analysts, citing economic statistics and household living conditions, report that a significant portion of the population has exited the circle of housing demand.

In this regard, Khabar Online previously quoted a housing analyst who stated, “The main reason for housing poverty is the outpacing of costs, especially housing costs, over income, and currently, four income deciles have completely lost the ability to buy housing.”

The latest official statistics also show that from 2016 to 2022, over 48% of renters in Iran have fallen below the poverty line.

Moreover, according to statistics, the population living below the poverty line in Iran had reached over 33% by the end of 2022. Many experts believe that considering the inflation of the past two years, the rising currency exchange rates, and the further depreciation of the national currency, the poverty rate has exceeded 50%.

Reports indicate that one of the worst forms of poverty is housing poverty, which has intensified with the price per square meter in Tehran increasing from 56 million rials in March 2018 to 885 million rials in September 2024.

It is worth noting that the minimum wage for a worker with two children is approximately 136 USD per month.

 

1,500 Classrooms Without Heating and Cooling Systems in an Iranian Province

Mehdi Hosseini
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1,500 Classrooms Without Heating and Cooling Systems in an Iranian Province

Underdevelopment and poverty are two major characteristics of Sistan and Baluchestan Province in southeastern Iran. Statements by the provincial Director General of School Renovation, indicating that 1,500 classrooms in the province lack heating and cooling systems, highlight the authorities’ disregard for the plight of the Iranian people.

Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with Iran’s security apparatus, quoted Meysam Lakzaei as stating that there is a significant gap between the province’s per capita educational resources and the national average.

Some Schools in Iran Force Parents to Clean the School for Not Paying Tuition

Mohammadreza Vaezi Mahdavi, an advocate for students, stated on January 9 that 46% of girls in the province drop out of school due to the lack of educational facilities.

Mahdavi noted that one of the key indicators is per capita educational space, which stands at an average of 5.8 square meters nationally, compared to just 3.6 square meters in Sistan and Baluchestan—a gap of about 2.2 square meters.

Recently, the government-affiliated website Tejarat News quoted Farooq Azmi, Sistan and Baluchestan’s representative in the Supreme Council of Provinces, saying: “Every year, 30% of students in this province are forced to drop out due to issues such as the exorbitant cost of school transportation. These students add to the 150,000 who are already out of school. This poses a very serious and dangerous warning for the province.”

Many consider the main factor behind this situation in Sistan and Baluchestan to be the institutionalized poverty in the province, believing that Iran’s regime deliberately keeps the province underdeveloped to serve various security and social objectives.

A report by the Parliament’s Research Center also supports this theory, stating that nearly 70% of school dropouts belong to the first through fifth economic deciles, which include the poorest segments of society.

The Parliament’s Research Center reported in its latest statistics that 30% of the population was below the poverty line as of 2023, a figure that experts claim has risen to over 50% in the past two years.

This issue was indirectly confirmed by the Director General of Education for Sistan and Baluchestan on January 1, who stated that the phenomenon of school dropouts is linked to various factors such as economic poverty in some households, border advantages, child labor, early marriages, and similar issues.

 

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