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Unprecedented Surge in Foreign Exchange Rates in Iran as Result of Regime Policies

Esmaeil Mohades
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Unprecedented Surge in Foreign Exchange Rates in Iran as Result of Regime Policies

Iran’s foreign exchange market once again witnessed unprecedented turmoil, delivering a heavy blow to the regime’s fragile economy. On Wednesday, October 1, the US dollar rose to 1,142,000 rials, while the euro passed 1,341,600 rials, setting a new record. The Canadian dollar reached 838,200 rials, and the Emirati dirham climbed to 313,500 rials in the same surge. This rise in exchange rates has further plunged the rial into collapse, pushing household living conditions into a critical state. Soaring inflation, declining purchasing power, and rising living costs have placed Iranian families under unprecedented pressure.

The roots of the currency crisis: the regime’s destructive and treacherous policies

The surge in foreign exchange rates and the collapse of the rial are not random events but direct results of the regime’s ruinous policies, which critics say have stripped it of legitimacy. International sanctions, a sharp decline in oil revenues, and economic mismanagement have shaken the country’s financial foundations. Opaque monetary policies, irrational allocation of foreign currency reserves, and the absence of coherent economic planning have dragged the foreign exchange market into instability.

Rising Dollar Rate and Stock Market Decline in Iran

Meanwhile, rising public demand for foreign currencies to safeguard assets against runaway inflation has created a vicious cycle of devaluation of the rial and uncontrolled price hikes.

Social consequences: public anger and a prelude to uprisings

The economic pressures caused by the collapse of the rial and the surge in exchange rates are not limited to livelihoods; this crisis has pushed public anger and discontent to a boiling point. The regime’s ineffective policies, which have placed the entire burden of the crisis on the people, have completely eroded public trust. Popular uprisings and widespread protests are clear signs of the downfall and deadlock of a ruling power that, many believe, has no path forward except collapse. Reform within this system, as critics say, is like “trying to fish in the arid desert”—an impossible and futile task.

A future in uncertainty: a downfall beyond the economy

As long as current policies continue, the collapse of the rial and the surge in exchange rates will only remain part of a broader crisis. This trajectory has not only paralyzed Iran’s economy but also undermined the foundations of the regime. With growing protests and mounting social pressures, the path ahead for Khamenei’s rule is moving toward total overthrow. The only way out of these crises is fundamental change. For this structure, no future other than collapse is conceivable.

Some Iranian Cities Can’t Afford Firefighting Uniforms

Hoshang Amiri
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Some Iranian Cities Can’t Afford Firefighting Uniforms

Ghodratollah Mohammadi, CEO of Tehran’s Fire Department and head of the Firefighters’ Task Force, announced that due to severe economic problems, some cities in Iran do not even have enough funds to purchase firefighting uniforms.

On Monday, September 29, Mohammadi said: “One firefighting uniform now costs 3 million rials (about $2,730). Some cities cannot even afford to buy firefighting uniforms and are really struggling to pay their [employees’] salaries.”

He called for firefighting shortages to be addressed through the national budget and added: “A large portion of firefighting equipment is imported, and customs exemptions for rescue equipment need to be considered.”

This is not the first time firefighters have protested shortages of equipment and livelihood hardships.

These problems have become particularly evident during crises such as forest fires or building accidents.

Experts say mismanagement, flawed domestic and foreign policies, and the squandering of national resources have led to much of Iran’s budget being spent on the regime’s nuclear and missile programs as well as support for proxy groups in the region, while insufficient attention is given to strengthening civilian infrastructure and public services such as firefighting.

Exhausted forces, worn-out equipment, and a shortage of 3,000 vehicles

The state-run news website Rokna, in a report marking September 29 as Firefighting and Safety Day in Iran, listed “a shortage of nearly 3,000 vehicles, outdated equipment over 25 years old, a lack of specialized personnel, and the absence of basic facilities” as the main challenges facing firefighting in the country.

The report stated: “Many stations in small towns do not even have a single working fire hydrant. In industrial towns, villages, and dilapidated urban areas, a small incident can turn into a disaster, because firefighters must travel tens of kilometers with outdated vehicles to reach the scene.”

Rokna warned that in the event of an earthquake similar to the devastating 2003 Bam earthquake, no city in Iran would “have the ability to cope,” and in such a situation, firefighters themselves, already facing shortages of equipment and resources, would be the first victims.

The outlet also pointed to the “transfer of non-specialized personnel from other departments and high physical strain” in the firefighting profession, adding that firefighters are forced to “save lives with tired bodies and minds, under conditions where international standards are not observed.”

In May, media outlets reported that one of the reasons for the slow firefighting operations at Rajaei Port was the poor state of firefighting facilities in the area, to the extent that in some cases there wasn’t even a bulldozer available to build embankments.

Silent Execution of Political Prisoners in Iran: Death Under Medical Deprivation

Jubin Katiraie
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Silent Execution of Political Prisoners in Iran: Death Under Medical Deprivation

The death of Somayeh Rashidi, a jailed laborer in Qarchak Prison in Varamin, once again highlighted the longstanding issue of medical deprivation in Iran’s prisons. Reviewing past cases shows that these deaths are not exceptional events but part of a systematic pattern that for decades has claimed the lives of political prisoners.

Prisons under Iran’s regime, since their very inception, have not merely served as places for enforcing judicial rulings but have also been used as tools for social control and silencing dissent.

Political opponents and critics, journalists, labor and religious activists, and even ordinary citizens who merely joined street protests or were convicted of other charges are kept in prisons where the conditions go far beyond deprivation of liberty.

In these prisons, the health of prisoners is not only neglected but deliberately ignored.

Medical deprivation, as part of a suppression strategy, can include delays in hospital transfers, confiscation of medicine sent by families, or restrictions on access to specialists. Under such conditions, sick prisoners are effectively exposed to a “gradual death,” which human rights literature refers to as “silent execution.”

Medical deprivation as white torture

Denying sick prisoners proper medical care goes beyond negligence or bureaucratic disorder. UN human rights experts consider this practice equivalent to torture.

Sometimes prisoners must sign pledges or even give televised confessions in order to receive medical permission. Families send medicine, but it either never reaches the prisoner or arrives after long delays.

This situation exposes prisoners to a slow death. They grow weaker each day as their hope for survival diminishes. In many cases, by the time permission for hospital transfer is finally granted, it is too late for treatment to be effective.

Reactions and the regime’s lack of accountability

Families of the victims have repeatedly raised their voices in protest, but they are often met with threats and security pressure.

International bodies, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have repeatedly issued statements, but Iran’s regime has never held any judicial or prison official accountable for these deaths.

Even in cases such as Sattar Beheshti or Behnam Mahjoubi, which drew global attention, the cases were eventually closed and the officials acquitted.

Somayeh Rashidi: the latest victim

The death of Somayeh Rashidi, a jailed laborer in Qarchak Prison, is a telling example. She suffered from illness for a long time, but prison authorities refused to transfer her to a hospital in time.

Iran: Political Prisoner Somayeh Rashidi Dies After Denial of Medical Care, Prisoners Commemorate Her Life

Only when her condition became critical and she fell into a coma was she transferred to a hospital.

But the delayed transfer was useless, and on September 25, her death was officially announced.

Human rights activists have emphasized that Rashidi’s death was not merely an “incident,” but a clear example of the policy of medical deprivation.

As many describe it, she was the victim of a “deliberate slow killing.” Rashidi’s memory quickly turned into yet another symbol of structural oppression in Iran’s prisons.

In the past year alone, about 30 prisoners have died in Greater Tehran Prison due to lack of doctors and medical facilities.

This number is shocking on its own, but examining the details provides a fuller picture of the crisis.

Ward 5 of Greater Tehran Prison is particularly in crisis. Overcrowding, lack of space, and absence of social services have forced many prisoners to live in inhumane conditions.

Some do not even have beds to sleep on and spend nights on the floor or in hallways.

The prison clinic lacks specialized equipment and permanent doctors, and any transfer to an outside hospital requires security permits that are often either denied or severely delayed.

In just a short span between September 12 and 25, at least five other prisoners died in various prisons, including Qarchak (Varamin), Kachuei (Karaj), and Yazd.

Among these victims were four women, which once again drew public attention to the plight of female prisoners.

No independent supervisory body exists over prisons. A culture of impunity dominates: no guard or official fears prosecution for prisoner deaths and ultimately medical deprivation has itself become a tool of political pressure and intimidation.

The death of political prisoners is not just an individual tragedy. These deaths carry broader consequences for society.

The regime creates public fear, showing that even if it does not directly kill someone, it can condemn them to a slow death.

These deaths are the product of a system where medical deprivation has become a tool of repression. Yet experience has shown that the deaths of these prisoners have not silenced voices but have instead strengthened symbols of resistance.

17 Prisoners Executed in Iran in One Day

Sia Rajabi
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17 Prisoners Executed in Iran in One Day

According to the latest reports, the number of executions since September 23 has reached 46 prisoners. This means that more than six people are executed every day in Iran, or one prisoner every four hours.

On Monday, September 29, 2025, the Iran Human Rights Society reported that 17 prisoners were executed in the prisons of Qom, Isfahan, Semnan, Yasuj, Sari, Bam, Shiraz, Khorramabad, and Malayer. Including the execution of Bahman Choobi Asl in Ghezel Hesar Prison, the total number of executed prisoners since September 23 has reached 46.

Three Executions in Qom Prison

On the morning of Monday, September 29, three prisoners were executed in Qom Prison. Their identities are as follows:

Iran’s Regime Executes Bahman Choobi Asl, Uses Gallows as Tool for Political Survival

Kamal Almasi, 38, from Saveh, who had been arrested three years ago on drug-related charges and sentenced to death.

Morad Jafar Beigi, 31, from Qom, who had been arrested four years ago on drug-related charges.

Samad Rezapanah, 40, from Karaj, convicted on drug-related charges.

Two Executions in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan

At dawn on Monday, September 29, two prisoners were executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan. Their identities are:

Milad Kiani, from Minadasht, Falavarjan, convicted of murder.

Behnam Mirahmadi, from Isfahan, convicted on drug-related charges.

Execution of Yaser Bakhshi in Semnan Prison

On the morning of Monday, September 29, Yaser Bakhshi was executed in Semnan Prison. He was convicted on drug-related charges.

Execution of Salahuddin Aghamohammadi in Yasuj

On Sunday morning, September 28, Salahuddin Aghamohammadi was executed in Yasuj Prison. He was 40 years old, a father of a young child, and a resident of Yasuj. He had been arrested four years earlier on drug-related charges and sentenced to death.

Execution of Ali and Saman Samsari in Sari Prison

At dawn on Sunday, September 28, Ali Samsari, 29, and Saman Samsari, 26, were executed in Sari Prison. The two prisoners, who were related, were convicted of murder in a joint case.

Execution of Aziz Ghorbanifar in Bam Prison

On Sunday morning, September 28, Aziz Ghorbanifar, 30, from Khonak village in Khafr county, Fars province, was executed in Bam Prison. He had previously been arrested on drug-related charges and sentenced to death.

Three Executions in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz

On Sunday morning, September 28, four prisoners were executed in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz. Their identities are:

Mehran Sahraei, 30, from Isfahan, who had been arrested five years ago on murder charges and sentenced to death.

Ghodrat Dehghani, from Shiraz, arrested four years ago on drug-related charges and sentenced to death.

Manouchehr Shahbazi, 33, from Kazerun, arrested four years ago on murder charges.

On the same day, another prisoner named Esmail Rahimitabar was also executed in Adelabad Prison, Shiraz, as previously reported by the Iran Human Rights Society.

Execution of Ghodrat Nazari in Khorramabad Prison

On Saturday morning, September 27, Ghodrat Nazari, 46, from Khorramabad, was executed in Khorramabad Prison. He had been arrested eight years ago on murder charges and sentenced to death.

On the same day, two other prisoners named Mehdi Veysi and Younes Ahmadi were also executed in Khorramabad Prison.

Execution of Mostafa Kadkhodaei in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan

On Saturday morning, September 27, Mostafa Kadkhodaei, from Kerman, was executed in Dastgerd Prison, Isfahan. He was convicted on drug-related charges.

Execution of Hossein Ahmadvand and Mehran Biranvand in Malayer Prison

Two prisoners were executed in Malayer Prison

At dawn on Saturday, September 27, Mehran Biranvand was executed in Malayer Prison on murder charges.

On Wednesday morning, September 24, Hossein Ahmadvand, 56, from Malayer, was executed in Malayer Prison. He had been arrested two years ago on murder charges and sentenced to death.

According to the Iran Human Rights Society, the Iranian regime has executed 1,166 people in 2025.

Workers, Retirees, Employees, Farmers, And Drivers Hold Protest Rallies In Various Cities of Iran

Esmaeil Mohades
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Workers, Retirees, Employees, Farmers, And Drivers Hold Protest Rallies In Various Cities of Iran

With the Iranian regime’s continued inability to address the demands of different professional groups, a number of workers, retirees, employees, farmers, bakers, and drivers held protest gatherings in several cities across Iran.

Videos posted on social media show that the official employees of the South Pars Gas Complex held a protest on Monday, September 29.

The protesters objected to not receiving their full salaries and benefits.

On the same day, protesting workers of the Iran National Steel Industrial Group also gathered in front of the Khuzestan provincial governor’s office.

They continued their protest march—under the heavy presence of security forces—by moving toward the Ahvaz governor’s office and then the National Bank of Khuzestan headquarters.

The Iran Steel workers have staged multiple protests over the past two weeks, stating that despite repeated visits and ongoing protests, they have not received any effective response from the employer or Khuzestan officials.

 Iranian Steel and Contract Workers Hold Protest Gatherings

They are demanding payment of overdue wages, the reopening of suspended production lines, and proper supplementary health insurance.

The protesters also objected to the sudden and unjustified reduction of overtime pay, the cancellation of meal provisions, and the exclusion of their work from being classified as hazardous and strenuous for retirement calculations.

Mounting economic pressure on workers, retirees, and pensioners has significantly increased the number of labor-related protests in recent years.

Large protest by retirees

Videos circulating on social media show that retirees in Fars province held a protest in Shiraz on Monday, September 29.

Telecommunications retirees also continued their series of protests on September 29 in the cities of Isfahan, Ahvaz, Babol, Bijar, Tabriz, Tehran, Zanjan, Sanandaj, Kermanshah, Marivan, and Hamedan.

These retirees protested against professional hardships and the government’s failure to implement regulations related to supplementary health insurance services.

A call was also issued for a protest by military, state, social security, healthcare, telecommunications, and other pensioners in Kermanshah province on Tuesday, September 30.

On September 29, owners of old and worn-out vans in Mashhad also held a protest.

On the same day, a number of bakers in Isfahan staged a protest in front of the provincial governor’s office against the non-payment of bread subsidies.

The protesting bakers said that no subsidies had been deposited into their accounts since July, and given the rising costs of production, it is no longer possible for them to continue operating.

On September 29, a group of farmers gathered in front of the Khuzestan provincial governor’s office, protesting water shortages and the damages resulting from them.

Education Stratified with Decline in Quality of Iran’s Public Schools

Jubin Katiraie
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Education Stratified with Decline in Quality of Iran’s Public Schools

The state-run Etemad daily, in a report comparing public and private schools, wrote that non-profit private schools have been successful due to recruiting experienced teachers and offering visible facilities, while public schools, on the other hand, have lost their appeal because of declining educational quality.

According to Etemad, this trend has further weakened public schools and strengthened the risk of a “two-tier” education system. As a result, low-income families lose equal access to quality education, and the educational inequality gap deepens.

Educational Disaster in Iran: 70% of Students Suffering from Learning Poverty

The newspaper added that, according to the deputy minister of education, the minimum tuition for private elementary schools outside Tehran is between 192 to 530 million rials (Approximately $175 to 482). In Tehran (excluding extracurricular programs), the minimum tuition is about 300 million rials (Approximately $273) for elementary, 360 million rials (Approximately $327) for lower secondary, 370 million rials (Approximately $336) for upper secondary, and for some specialized fields up to 520 million rials (Approximately $473).

Meanwhile, the minimum monthly wage of a worker with two children, including benefits, hardly reaches $180, and 60% of workers are forced to have a second job.

However, the newspaper’s field report shows that some schools charge much higher fees: for example, 2.6 billion rials (Approximately $2,364) in District One (elementary), 2.05 billion rials (Approximately $1,864) in District Two, and amounts of 1.8 billion and 1.5 billion rials (Approximately $1,636 and $1,363) in other districts.

In addition, in many schools’ tuition fees for the new academic year have increased by between 40% and 70%, and in some cases, schools have even exceeded the official ceiling (a maximum of 1.45 billion rials or $1,318).

88th Week of ‘No To Execution Tuesdays’ Campaign in 52 Prisons Across Iran

Sia Rajabi
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88th Week of ‘No To Execution Tuesdays’ Campaign in 52 Prisons Across Iran

Political prisoners in 52 prisons across Iran went on hunger strike as part of the “No To Execution Tuesdays” campaign. This protest action is aimed at opposing the massive wave of executions, the issuance of new death sentences, and demanding the abolition of the death penalty.

This hunger strike comes at a time when shocking news has recently emerged from Iran’s prisons: the death of political prisoner Somayeh Rashidi in Qarchak Prison due to medical neglect, the execution of Bahman Choobi Asl on charges of espionage, the issuance of death sentences for Hamed Validi and Nima Shahi, and the confirmation of Peyman Farahavar’s death sentence. Alongside these, a United Nations report and the unprecedented figure of 871 executions in the past six months paint a horrific picture of widespread human rights violations in Iran.

Iran: Political Prisoner Somayeh Rashidi Dies After Denial of Medical Care, Prisoners Commemorate Her Life

The statement of the prisoners participating in the 88th week of the “No To Execution Tuesdays” campaign is as follows:

“The 88th week of the ‘No To Execution Tuesdays’ campaign in 52 prisons

This week we once again stand with deep sorrow and endless solidarity in memory of Somayeh Rashidi, a political prisoner who lost her life due to lack of medical care. Her tragic death is part of the policy of ‘slow-killing’ prisoners and a bitter warning about the condition of sick inmates in the country’s prisons—prisoners deprived of the most basic human rights. Members of the ‘No To Execution Tuesdays’ campaign express their heartfelt sympathy with her family and friends.

“At the same time, the execution of Bahman Choobi Asl on espionage charges in a vague process on September 29, the death sentences for two political prisoners, Hamed Validi and Nima Shahi, in the Karaj Revolutionary Court, and the confirmation of Peyman Farahavar’s death sentence by the Supreme Court, all indicate the continuation of a troubling trend of repression and violence against the people of Iran and prisoners. These unjust rulings are a blatant violation of human rights and a tool of repression that must be stopped immediately.

“In this regard, the position of Ms. Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, once again drew the world’s attention to the disastrous state of Iran’s prisons. The statistics—46 executions in the past week, 190 executions between August 23 and September 23, unprecedented in the past 35 years, and 871 executions in the past six months—paint a horrifying picture of the ruthless violation of human rights.

“The ‘No To Execution Tuesdays’ campaign, while condemning these crimes, once again demands the immediate halt of death sentences and an end to this inhumane process. Our voice is a cry of solidarity with all prisoners trapped in oppression and injustice. As before, while thanking all campaign supporters around the world, we emphasize that the execution machine can be stopped through solidarity and unity.

“Every protest against a death sentence is a step toward halting this cruel process. We call on all opponents of the death penalty to raise their voices against these inhumane rulings.”

On Tuesday, September 30, 2025, members of the “No To Execution Tuesdays” campaign, in its 88th week, went on hunger strike in 52 prisons across the country.

Iran’s Regime Executes Bahman Choobi Asl, Uses Gallows as Tool for Political Survival

Mehdi Hosseini
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Iran’s Regime Executes Bahman Choobi Asl, Uses Gallows as Tool for Political Survival

At dawn on Monday, September 29, the state-run Mizan news agency, affiliated with the Iranian regime’s judiciary, reported the execution of Bahman Choobi Asl in Ghezel Hesar Prison on charges of espionage.

He was an employee of the Telecommunications Company. He had been arrested in 2023 on espionage charges.

Escalation of executions after the ceasefire

The execution of Bahman Choobi Asl took place amid reports showing that following the recent ceasefire between Iran’s regime and Israel, a wave of executions in Iran’s prisons has intensified. Independent sources say the regime has once again turned to the policy of “demonstrating power through the gallows” by exploiting this seemingly calm atmosphere. In recent months, dozens of prisoners have been executed in various prisons across the country, including Ghezel Hesar, Adelabad in Shiraz, and Dastgerd in Isfahan.

More Than 1000 Executions in Iran Over Past Nine Months

According to human rights activists, this sudden increase in executions is not aimed at delivering justice but at creating an atmosphere of fear and preventing social protests. The experience of recent years has shown that whenever signs of public discontent or political crises appear, the regime tries to keep society under control by raising the number of executions.

Execution as a political tool

Cases like that of Bahman Choobi Asl are only one example of the broader policy of using executions as a tool. Experts say that charges such as “espionage,” “enmity against God” (moharebeh), or “corruption on earth” are repeatedly used to instill fear and suppress society. In many cases, there is no transparency regarding the judicial process, and families are not informed of the date or location of the execution until the very last moment.

This practice has not only destroyed judicial security for citizens but also shows that in Iran, execution has been transformed from a judicial instrument into a political and security tool for systematic repression.

International organizations have repeatedly stressed that Iran has one of the highest execution rates in the world. According to these bodies, the continuation of such practices not only violates Iran’s international obligations but also shows that the regime has no intention of reforming its criminal laws or moving toward justice.

Outlook for the future

The execution of Bahman Choobi Asl, regardless of the specifics of his case, reflects the regime’s general policy of using the death penalty as a means of political survival. However, this policy cannot suppress protests and public anger forever. With increasing economic pressures, social inequality, and human rights violations, the people’s tolerance threshold is dropping day by day, raising the likelihood of a new wave of protests in the near future.

Iranian Regime Leadership Faces Existential Crisis Amid Nuclear Deadlock

Jubin Katiraie
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Iranian Regime Leadership Faces Existential Crisis Amid Nuclear Deadlock

The leaders of Iran’s regime are experiencing one of the most serious crises since the 1979 revolution. According to Reuters, this crisis is caused on the one hand by growing public discontent inside the country and on the other by the deadlock in nuclear negotiations—a situation that has further isolated and divided Iran.

On September 27, the United Nations reimposed sanctions on Iran’s regime that had been suspended under the 2015 nuclear deal. This action came after the failure of intense negotiations between the Iranian regime and three European countries—Britain, France, and Germany—held in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Four Iranian officials and two informed individuals told Reuters that without progress in the talks, Iran’s economic isolation will intensify and fuel public anger. However, they added that accepting Western demands could also deepen rifts within the ruling structure and force a retreat from the regime’s ideological belief of “never surrendering to Western pressure.”

UN Snapback Sanctions Imposed on Iran’s Regime 10 Years After JCPOA

In reaction, Abbas Goudarzi, spokesperson for the presidium of the regime’s parliament (Majlis), announced that withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and pursuing the building of an atomic bomb are being considered under the supervision of the National Security Commission and in coordination with other regime institutions.

Concerns over possible Israeli attacks

The mullahs’ rule in Iran is trapped in a severe dilemma. The very existence of the regime is at risk. People can no longer endure more economic pressure or another war.

These concerns have escalated with the possibility of new Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities if nuclear diplomacy fails. In June, just one day before a new round of planned negotiations with the United States, Israeli airstrikes followed by three U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities shocked Tehran and led to a 12-day war.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have warned that if uranium enrichment resumes, they will strike Iran again.

Sanctions and doubts in Tehran

On August 28, the three European countries triggered the “snapback” mechanism and accused the Iranian regime of violating the 2015 agreement. The return of sanctions was implemented after unsuccessful attempts to delay it during the UN General Assembly.

Officials of the regime have said these sanctions will push them toward adopting a tougher stance in the nuclear file. However, analysts believe the threat of Israeli strikes has tied Tehran’s hands. Nevertheless, Hossein Shariatmadari, representative of regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Kayhan, the regime’s main state-run daily, wrote: “Now that the officials are not willing to withdraw from the NPT, the parliament should pass a triple-urgency bill to bar the IAEA inspectors.”

According to sources, disagreements among ruling elites on how to manage the crisis have increased. Some demand a tougher stance, while others warn that such an approach could accelerate the regime’s collapse. Meanwhile, with the revival of Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign, some decision-makers in Tehran believe that “maintaining the status quo—no war, no deal, and continued negotiations—is the best option.”

UN sanctions further restrict Iran’s trade. These sanctions include severe restrictions on oil exports, the banking and financial sectors, an arms embargo, a ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing, limits on missile activities, asset freezes, and travel bans on Iranian officials.

Public anger and economic pressure

Alongside these challenges, public dissatisfaction over economic problems is also increasing. The official inflation rate is announced at about 40%, but some estimates put it at more than 50%. Domestic media have reported a sharp rise in the prices of food, housing, and public services.

An elementary school teacher in Tehran told Reuters: “We are already struggling to make ends meet. More sanctions mean more economic pressure. How are we supposed to survive?”

The leaders of Iran’s regime fear that this public dissatisfaction could turn into widespread protests and further weaken their position both domestically and internationally. So far, the regime has managed to avoid complete economic collapse with the help of China, its main oil buyer, but with the return of UN sanctions, the future of Iran’s oil exports and foreign trade is facing even greater uncertainty.

Runaway Inflation and Soaring Prices of Essential Goods Have Brought Workers’ Livelihoods to a Dead End

Hoshang Amiri
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Runaway Inflation and Soaring Prices of Essential Goods Have Brought Workers’ Livelihoods to a Dead End

The state-run ILNA news agency, referring to the sharp rise in Iran’s inflation rate, reported that under current conditions, working-class families need a monthly income of 500 million rials to survive.

On Monday, September 29, ILNA wrote that “while government officials keep preaching frugality to the people and workers, prices are rising weekly and even daily; no law or decree can stop the relentless speed of the inflation train.”

The news agency added that the price of one kilogram of red meat has surpassed 10 million rials (around $10), and a family of four with a monthly income of 200 million rials (around $180) must spend nearly one-quarter of its salary just to afford one kilogram of red meat per person each month.

Warnings About a Wave of Worker Layoffs in Iran Intensify as Industrial Power Outages Continue

ILNA also pointed to the “daily” increase in dairy prices and reported that bread, described as “the simplest item on people’s tables,” had risen by about 95% in September compared to the same period in 2024.

In recent weeks, runaway inflation and the rise in foreign currency exchange rates have fueled concerns over the worsening economic situation in Iran—a trend that has intensified following the activation of the snapback mechanism and the return of UN sanctions.

On September 27, Iran’s Statistics Center announced that the annual inflation rate for September was 37.5%, point-to-point inflation was 45.3%, and the monthly inflation rate was 3.8%.

Experts believe that the announced inflation rates, due to the weighting methods used by the Statistics Center for consumer groups, do not reflect the real market situation, and the actual level of inflation is higher than the official figures.

Criticism of the government’s opposition to raising workers’ wages

ILNA further wrote: “When food items have increased by 57.9% in September and the price of bread has nearly doubled since the beginning of the year, why has the minimum wage of workers, which is supposed to be the sole means of supporting a family, remained fixed and frozen?”

The agency added that the minimum wage for workers, even including benefits, is about 200 million rials, which with an exchange rate of 110,000 rials per dollar equals about $180 per month—equivalent to just one day’s wage in countries where the hourly minimum wage is $20 to $25.

Faramarz Tofighi, a labor activist, in an interview with ILNA, criticized the government of regime president Masoud Pezeshkian for opposing wage increases, saying: “We should no longer talk about point-to-point inflation; we need an index called daily inflation. But why, under these circumstances, are the labor minister and the government talking about a ban on adjusting wages?”

As a result of the Iranian regime’s failed economic, domestic, and foreign policies over the past decades, rising inflation has severely impacted citizens’ lives, especially the low-income classes, while the prices of essential goods have seen unprecedented surges.

Somayeh Golpour, head of the Federation of Labor Associations, warned on September 29 that due to declining purchasing power and wages being far below real inflation, having multiple jobs has become both a “habit and necessity” for most workers.

She pointed to the sharp rise in housing, commuting, children’s education, food, and healthcare costs, adding that currently 60% of workers hold more than one job.

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